First chair this morning at Mammoth Mountain. (Mammoth Mountain Ski Area photo)

The ski and snowboard season at Mammoth Mountain is under way.

The resort has a base of 12 to 18 inches, and three lifts were operating, servicing six runs and 1,500 vertical feet of terrain including several park jumps and features. Conditions are expected to improve dramatically with nighttime lows dropping into the 20s – prime temps for snowmaking – and an approaching storm that may bring natural snow early next week.

Today was the opening act on a weekend that will include live musical performances, film premieres and a host of parties and competitions. More information about what’s going on this weekend is available here.

While we couldn’t make the trek up the 395 today, we’re enjoying the photos of skiers and boarders who did. >>>

(Mammoth Mountain Ski Area photo)

(Mammoth Mountain Ski Area photo)