Mammoth mountain does exactly what it says on the tin: it's mammoth! Its a ski area which isn't ideal for beginners, but it definitely is ideal for everyone else. Its regarded as the number one destination for the city folk of Los Angeles and gets a real party vibe to it. Unfortunately this also means that this otherwise epic resort can get a little busy at weekends, but its really not generally that bad during the week.

Beginners will find that there just aren't many runs for them to play on unless they quickly step up to the blue trails. That said, there are some really nice nursery slopes in the vicinity of the village so if you've only got a day or two's worth of skiing in you, then you'll have just about enough to keep you entertained.

Intermediates have got a giant shaboodle of runs to cruise down, all of which are very very well maintained. The downside is that there's no easy way down from the very top of the mountain so if you aint got the stones to ski the steep stuff, you're gonna miss out on the best of the skiing at Mammoth. You'll still find plenty of great skiing for you though, but I do warn that the main intermediate lifts are the one which suffer worst from crowding problems.

For the top gun skiers and snowboarders of you out there, this place is the perfect venue to make you feel like a bit of a rock star. The standard of riding here is high and you'll see a lot of people ripping lines really hard and fast as well as going really big. This has to be a good thing and should lift your game just that little bit higher than usual. Take one look at the piste map and it doesn't take a genius to see that the runs accessed from the Panorama Gondola are going to be completely epic. Trust me; they do not disappoint- either in terms of quantity or quality.

The park here is one of the world's best, which these days is quite a claim to be making. Just check out that picture- that isn't even close to doing it justice. The lines of features extend further than your eyes can see and the variety of jumps, spines, rails, pipes and jibs is mind bottling.

Believe it or not there is even some brilliant cross country skiing to be had in the woods surrounding the Mammoth Village. The trails are very well tended to and many of them are frequently groomed to ensure that you will have the smoothest of journeys through the picturesque mountain forests.

Apres ski isn't as expensive here as you might expect, but it can get pretty wild and messy if you're not careful. There are some chilled out family hotels and restaurants here as well, so its not just a place for the adult party animals.

The mammoth season is particularly long and has been known to run from November until June. If it wasn't for the crowds then it would be on my top three list of places to ski in the USA. As it is it is I would recommend it as being one of your top choices for an early or late season mission or a mid week rampage session. All said, even when its busy, you'll not wait to long for the lifts because they can transport so many skiers in such a short time....