A viral video shot at Mammoth Mountain that is racking up millions of views on the internet this holiday season appears to show a skier’s worst nightmare: a ridiculously long lift line stretching out, with hundreds of skiers standing idly and failing to ski a fresh load of snow.
Some internet commentators claim it’s another example of how overcrowded California ski resorts have become, but officials at Mammoth Mountain say there’s more to the story.
The video, which was apparently first published by Instagram user Jake Baisley, was shot on Dec. 14 when Mammoth was experiencing significant wind with gusts as high as 100 miles per hour on the summit, according to Mammoth Mountain spokesperson Emily van Greuning, and when the majority of the mountain’s lifts were closed.
The video took place when there was one lift still running at the Canyon base area, and “everyone funneled into this line,” van Greuning said in an email. But less than an hour later, even the lift with the monstrous line shut down.
“It’s just somebody was there at the perfect time to capture something that is now exploding on the internet,” van Greuning said.
Mammoth claims that otherwise, it hasn’t seen longer than normal lift lines this month.
“Our terrain is 100% open, and it’s really enabled our guests to spread out across the resort. We haven’t seen any crowding that’s above the norm of a busy holiday season,” van Greuning said.
