Mammoth Mountain resort and Mammoth Lakes

A late afternoon ride in a chairlift.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A skier comes back to planet earth.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The moon shines bright over Main Lodge at Mammoth Mountain resort.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Matt McCullough of Huntington Beach takes a photo of a local.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Skiers framed by a window at Panorama Lookout.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Guests enjoy drinks at the Mammoth Inn.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Seating for one on the deck at Mammoth Inn.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Children play outside the Mammoth Inn.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Jamie Estrada, left, and Jonathan Ramos, both of Long Beach, sit by a fire at the Village in Mammoth Lakes.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

An evening stroll through the Village.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Children play outside the Westin Monache Resort Mammoth.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The lobby at the Westin Monache Resort Mammoth.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The dining area at the Swiss Chalet Bed & Breakfast Inn.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Dorothy Matthews, 90, relaxes in her room at the Swiss Chalet Bed & Breakfast Inn.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A bartender serves a customer at Roberto’s Mexican Cafe in Mammoth Lakes.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The Shapiro family enjoys dinner at Toomey’s restaurant.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The fish tacos are popular at Toomey’s restaurant.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Black Velvet Coffee, which opened this year on Main Street, is a great, spare white space where baristas labor over their concoctions like post-docs solving DNA riddles.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)