Mammoth is possibly the best place I'e ever skied, though the town felt rather sterile compared to even purpose built European resorts. Though certainly the oddest journey I've ever taken to go skiing, flying into LA, then a five hour drive across desert- in winter, the nearest big airport is LAX, as all the roads across the Sierra are blocked. We did do some of the tourist stuff whilst we there- there's a hot spring just down from Mammoth, and we visited June lake (still, beautiful) and Mono lake (wierd). Though the day we went to Mono lake it rained a bit. Rain. In the desert. Can you tell the scots were on holiday?