I'm gonna be totally honest, I was skeptical about this place. Seriously-- I feel that way about almost anyplace that has the word 'outlet' in the title. So yah, I profiled this place based just on the name. And later, when they started building, I was even more concerned. Location, lack of parking, size all confirmed my worries. But man, was I wrong-- at least about some of it.

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).

The fishing wasn't great, but the views were fine.

How long has this desolate little trailer been sitting there on the corner next to The Fun Shoppe? Too long.

So when I rolled into town and saw smoke billowing from behind it, I worried for a milisecond that after years of deserted neglect it had caught fire and was going down in a blaze of glory.

I know, I know. You've finally exited the 395 and the last thing you want to do before you start your vacation is to stop the car and have to collect the kids, the dogs, and the 

Some restaurant sites are cursed. You know what I mean. Once a building is tainted by terrible food, it just seems that all new restaurants that try to open in that space are doomed to fail.

So when I saw that The Warming Hut was opening where a so-unfortunate-it-shall-not-be-named restaurant used to be, I felt regret for this new place, fearing it would always be overshadowed by the painfully mediocre (at best) food and service that came before.