Remote Avalanche Control Systems at Mammoth Mountain
Mammoth Mountain to Significantly Expand Remote Avalanche Control Systems
This summer, Mammoth Mountain is taking another significant step forward in avalanche safety with the installation of 16 new Remote Avalanche Control Systems (RACS)—15 at Mammoth Mountain and one at June Mountain.
The goal is straightforward: give our avalanche professionals another tool to manage avalanche hazard.
The approximately $5.7 million project is the result of years of evaluation, testing, regulatory work, and collaboration with avalanche professionals and industry partners.
Building on Years of Work
Mammoth began evaluating remote avalanche control technology in 2017. Since then, our teams have hosted manufacturers, evaluated available technologies, benefited from input from independent avalanche professionals, and worked with industry organizations and regulatory agencies to understand how these systems could best serve Mammoth’s uniquely demanding environment.
The evaluation process demonstrated the potential benefits of conducting avalanche mitigation at multiple points throughout the day. It also provided valuable information about operating these systems in some of Mammoth’s most extreme conditions, including winds exceeding 150 mph, wind-driven snow, and significant rime ice.
Those operational lessons have helped inform the broader installation now underway.
16 New Systems Across Mammoth and June
The current project includes 16 new towers: 15 at Mammoth Mountain and one at June Mountain.
The project incorporates multiple technologies selected based on the terrain and conditions where they will operate. All are designed around the same objective: increasing our ability to conduct avalanche hazard mitigation remotely and decreasing the need to have our team in those areas during intense storm periods.
Construction is currently underway, and our teams are working hard to have all of the new towers installed and operational for the upcoming winter season, with installations expected to continue through October.
Construction will have some impacts on Bike Park operations at times, including temporary trail closures and other changes to access. Guests planning to ride this fall should keep an eye on the Mountain Report for the latest information on construction impacts, trail closures, and operating conditions.
What Will Change This Winter?
The addition of these systems will give our teams more flexibility in how and when avalanche mitigation can be performed, particularly during prolonged or intense storms.
Opening the mountain after a big storm will continue to require extensive mitigation, assessment, and evaluation by our teams. While the increased use of remote avalanche control systems will enhance our ability to conduct mitigation, guests should still expect operational delays and a staggered approach to terrain openings following significant snowfall as teams work to assess the mountain and expand terrain.
A Long-Term Investment in Safety
The expansion of remote avalanche control at Mammoth is the culmination of nearly a decade of work.
The technology itself is not new to avalanche management. Similar systems have been successfully used at ski areas and transportation corridors around the world. What is new is bringing additional forms of this technology to California and adapting them to Mammoth's specific terrain and operating environment.
This investment isn't about replacing the people who know the mountain best. It's about giving those people more tools to do their jobs safely.
No technology can eliminate avalanche hazard, and no system can replace the experience, assessment, and judgment of an avalanche professional. As we look toward the upcoming winter, the installation of these new systems represents another important step in the continued evolution of avalanche safety at Mammoth Mountain.
