My Favorite Mountain Rest Stop

There are lots of reasons that I love heading to the backside of Mammoth Mountain-- sunny afternoons, no crowds, long runs, fresh snow, breathtaking vistas, wind protection. But my favorite reason head to the Northwest face is The Outpost. (Fair Warning: Getting to the backside is a commitment and you will need to take the inexplicably speedy, tiny-chaired, 2-man lift #12).

Back to the Outpost, though.... I'll be totally honest, I've never actually eaten food there. But my kids have had the grilled cheese and the soups and they declare them all to be 'really good.' All I need while I'm there is one of their the craft beers on tap, and either a lounge chair in the sun or a cozy fireside seat in the new (as of 2017) shipping-container-lounge. This isn't your standard cafeteria-style slopeside restaurant with long, crowded tables and tons of unhappy children who wanted a corn dog, not a hot dog. In fact, there's no indoor seating at all. Just a massive patio punctuated with tables and chairs, a couple of walk-up bars and a cozy lounge with a warm and toasty fireplace. 

If you're looking to get out of the fray, and take a long, relaxing break or 2 during your day, head to the backside and get your Outpost on.