June Mountain Closes for the Season--Not Forever

There were definitely a few rocks poking out of the groomers, but the 11:00 Saturday announcement still came as a surprise to employees busy catering to the mass of guests at the mountain that day. Such was not the case for Mammoth employees, however. They had 1 to 3 days (the jury is still out on this one) of advanced notice--enough to catch June employees unaware at the gas station with comments like, "Hey man, it sucks you'll be out of a job on Sunday." What?

(According to one source, management apparently felt pretty bad about the slip up.)

Although over 50% of June's employees are estimated to have left the area, an informal Saturday poll of former June employees now working at Mammoth reveals that those who transferred over are happy to have the work, especially in light of recent company-wide layoffs.

"I feel welcome at my local lodge," said June Snowboard School Supervisor Dan Roberts, who is now teaching at Eagle Lodge. Other June employees are simply pleased to have riding and skiing privileges at Mammoth along with other June Mountain pass holders.

The lack of snow, combined with the dispersal of employees, has caused a permanent closing of the idyllic hideaway resort for the season--even if we are blessed with late season dumps. And yes, that includes the Grenade Games.

"[Closing the mountain] was totally a business decision," opined Gail Comstock, a Mammoth regular from La Cañada, as we rode up chair 5.

But June General Manager Carl Williams stands firm to his rationale for closing the resort. "[The decision was] based less on business than it was on the conditions on hill. We were not offering a quality product," he said, adding: "There was no pressure on me to make this decision. It was solely my call based on the conditions of the hill, simple as that."

Others, like Andie Peterson, thought the snow was just fine. "Every day I rode June Mountain this season--14 out of the 23 days we were open--I found 'fresh,'" said Andie, whose online moniker *Buckah0Lic* shows just how crazy she is about June Mountain. Others think the mountain could have stayed open longer if snowmaking was used to cover the trails sufficiently before an attempt at the half-pipe was made.

No one can deny it's been a tough year all around for both June and Mammoth Mountains. But for June, it may be the shortest season on history.

"It's real close--in 1977 the season lasted only 3 or 4 weeks," said Roberts, who's been skiing and riding June since the place opened in 1961. "But the next year Eric Drell and (then owner) Bud Hayward invested in snowmaking."

How much the untimely closing will affect local business owners remains to be seen. In bed taxes alone, the mountain's early closure is expected put the county down $275,000 by April. "We've got an immediate crisis," said realtor Lynda Biederman at a meeting of June Lake residents and business owners on Monday, February 5th. "We've got people out of work. We are trying to get people to come into town."

In an effort to help June Lake lodge owners weather the storm, Mammoth has extended its discounted multi-day ticket program so that June Lake lodges can offer lift and lodging deals to guests too.

Winter sports in June Lake date at least back to 1940, when the June Lake Winter Sports Association met to discuss the development of a rope tow down canyon from the current resort. According to a 1940 report in the Nevada State Journal, "Much enthusiasm was shown" at the meeting.

The same can be said of last Monday's meeting, where despite economic challenges, the 20 or so attendees remained positive and supportive of one another. "Even the Tiger Bar, the hub of the town, has been affected," said Jill Wallentine of the June Lake Women's Club, which is offering support services to individuals and businesses. Even so, she concluded, "June Lake is awesome. We're all here for each other. This little town will survive probably better than any other little town could."

Still, the question of June Mountain's future looms heavy. "If they can get away with closing early this year, what's to keep them from not opening the resort next year?" said one employee.

"Let me give you a scary statistic: in the last 25 years we have gone from approximately 1500 ski areas in the United States to 400," said Vicki Bauer, Mono County Supervisor, at an informal gathering of concerned employees. "Things have changed in the ski industry. Ski areas are closing."

According to Williams, June has turned a slight profit in the last few years, but "all the years before that it cost Mammoth money just to keep June open, as it will this year." Nonetheless, he emphasized that June is prized for the unique experience it provides its guests, and is an important part of the destination resort package. When asked point-blank if June Mountain will open next season, Williams replied, "Well, I can't predict the weather, but opening day is scheduled for December 15th."

On closing day, while locals and guests alike drowned their sorrows in good cheer at June's World Famous Antler Bar, he told me simply: "It was the right thing to do." In a less resigned manner, a couple of rowdy locals hushed the crowd to flip a lyrical bird at Rusty Gregory, but it was all in good fun.