I love it when my friend Karen, who also happens to be my real estate agent, calls me. Usually, she's planning a trip by my house, or we're coordinating a bluebird slopes day. But this call came a little out of the blue. Not pre-text, no warning. Just her number on my caller ID. "You know how you thought you'd never get into John's new project? she asked. "Someone backed out ... but you've gotta get up here to check it out." We had wanted to buy into this project for a while, but had been half-heartedly looking at other places since Mountainside had been sold out for over a year.

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).