So you're a leap-of-faith kind of rider? The plunge off the summit ridge offers a slew of descents with one thing in common: All are so sickeningly steep you can easily reach out and touch the snow while turning. Want to test Newton's theory of gravity? Drop into the steeps of Climax, pop the cornice into Dave's Run, dance between the rocks in The Wipeout Chutes or jump into Hangman's Hollow. If you really want to shake up your innards, dart through the rocks at the top of Phillipe's and straight-shoot it all the way to the bottom.

Mammoth is definitely one of the carving capitals of the West, so check out the arcs and deep trenches below while riding up the chair, and then slice some yourself. St. Anton, Stump Alley and Gremlin's Gulch are just three of the carving runs to hit. Just make sure to get up early if you expect freshies or perfect corduroy. For long mellow cruisers with a view, explore the backside off the Face Lift Express, wander through Dry Creek's canyon and natural gullies, or ride Ricochet's open glades.

MORE PARKS AND PIPE INFORMATION

Parks and pipes
Mammoth puts mammoth amounts of money—more than $1 million—into 75 acres of parks and pipes. Main Park is arguably one of the best freestyle areas in North America. Due to its proximity to the Southern California world of skate and surf culture, Mammoth is an industry leader so progressive that each season's new park features are kept mum until opening day. A ride on Thunderbound Express is entertainment in its own right, as most freeskier and snowboarder pros pass though here—if they don't call it home. You'll find a 600-foot-long super-duper pipe—with walls that are a soaring 18 feet high—and a superpipe with 15-foot walls. Both are sculpted every night. In addition to urban art-like features for top performance, including a 16-foot-by-32-foot wall ride, kinked boxes, c-boxes, hits and tables as big as 80 feet in length, Mammoth also has fully developed parks for the smaller skill set. Two Family Fun Zones are located at both the Main and Canyon Lodge learning areas, and include low-to-the-snow rails and a minipipe with 5-foot walls. Mammoth has the intermediate South Park, on Roller Coaster West, and Jibs Galore on Carousel, where rails are tucked among the trees. One thing is for sure: With eight runs dedicated to parks, freeriders won't be bored.

Photos courtesy of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area