The kind folks over at mammothmountain.com have provided us with some lovely, safety-procedure materials.
Maybe you prefer the long road, maybe trial and error is your thing. But read on, and avoid the bumps and bruises of ski and snowboard injuries!
Here Ladies & Gents; are some safety reminders:
1. Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
2. People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
3. You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above.
4. Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.
5. Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
6. Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
7. Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.
For all On-Mountain Incidents, Medical Emergencies, & Lost Person Reporting use the On Mountain Emergency Hotline:
760-934-0611
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( 3 / 10056 )Five Things Consumers Should Expect From The Housing Market In 2013
In 2012, the national housing market finally turned a corner. We’ve now experienced 13 straight months of home value appreciation. Sales were up significantly over 2011 as buyers returned to the market, boosting demand.
So what will 2013 have in store? Here are five things consumers can expect to see in the housing market next year:
Up, Up and Away
The national housing market hit bottom in October 2011, and home values have since risen 5.3 percent from that trough. The most recent Zillow Home Value Forecast calls for 2.5 percent appreciation nationwide from November 2012 to November 2013.
According to a recent Zillow survey of more than 100 economists and analysts, respondents predicted home values (based on the S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index) to rise 3.1 percent in 2013, on average.
Most markets covered by Zillow’s Real Estate Market Reports have already bottomed out, with only 10 of 255 covered metro areas not projected to hit a bottom within the next year.
Bottom Line: Homeowners looking to sell in 2013 can largely rest assured they won’t be selling at the bottom, and many will find themselves in a sellers’ market. Potential buyers in 2013 may be more motivated to get a deal done while affordability is still extremely high and mortgage rates continue to be historically low.
Real Estate Is Local Again
According to the Zillow Breakeven Horizon, buying beats renting when staying in the home for three years or more in roughly 60 percent of U.S. metros. The areas where it might make more sense to buy (if you’re planning on staying for three-plus years) are clustered in the Southwest and Southeast. If you won’t be staying put for at least a few years, consider renting in the Northeast, where buying often doesn’t make more financial sense until five years or more.
The goal of Zillow’s Buyer/Seller Index is to determine where buyers have the most leverage in a sale, and where sellers might have the upper hand. In general, we determined that metro areas in the West and Southwest – including the Bay Area, Las Vegas and Phoenix – are strong for sellers. Metros in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic – places such as Chicago, Cleveland and Philadelphia – are best for buyers.
Bottom Line: The housing market recovery has remained true to the old real estate axiom of “location, location, location.” How your local market is faring today – and if it makes more sense to buy or rent, to sell now or to hold off if possible – is largely determined by unique, local factors and fundamentals. Arming yourself with timely and comprehensive local market information is good advice at any time, but will be even more important in 2013 as buyers continue to seek bargains and sellers look to maximize returns.
Coming Up for Air
In the third quarter of 2012, the percentage of homeowners with a mortgage in negative equity – or “underwater,” owing more on their mortgage than their home was worth – fell below 30 percent for the first time since Zillow began tracking that data using an improved methodology in early 2011.
Still, 28.2 percent of homeowners with a mortgage remain underwater. Because underwater owners have a far more difficult time selling their home, a large number of homes that otherwise might end up on the market aren’t getting listed. As a result, inventory in many areas is incredibly tight, leaving buyers to fight it out amongst themselves, which in turn can help drive up prices. This, among other factors, has led to tight inventory in many of the hardest-hit cities around the country.
Bottom Line: As home values continue their upward march in 2013, more homeowners currently trapped underwater will begin to surface. This will be good for buyers exhausted by limited inventory and intense competition in markets such as Phoenix and Miami, but it will also have the effect of cooling price increases. As a result, in 2013, we predict home value appreciation in many areas will look more like a series of steps, characterized by cycles of price spikes and plateaus. Price spikes will free some homeowners from negative equity, allowing them to sell, thereby easing supply constraints and dampening prices until the cycle is repeated.
Historically Affordable
Mortgage interest rates have been hovering at or near historic lows for the past year, and the Federal Reserve has taken concrete steps to ensure they stay low for at least the foreseeable future.
At the same time, home values – while recovering nicely – still have a long way to go to reach their pre-bubble levels. Overall, national home values in November were still down 19.4 percent from their peak in May 2007, according to Zillow.
Bottom Line: Between 1985 and 2000, Americans spent, on average, about 20 percent of their household income on mortgage payments. That percentage increased to more than 24 percent by 2006, before falling to just 13 percent by the second quarter of 2012. If you can qualify for a home loan, the combination of low rates and low prices means your home-buying dollar will continue to take you farther in 2013 than in recent years, even for buyers on modest budgets.
Mortgage Interest Deducted?
Changes to the mortgage interest deduction (MID) may be a key element of any “grand bargain” reached by politicians in order to avert the year-end fiscal cliff. If adopted, any measure to limit or repeal the MID will result in some home price impacts over time and by market segment.
Home values at the high end of the market will likely be more negatively impacted by MID changes than home values overall, according to a recent Zillow survey of economists. For example, in the event that the maximum MID-eligible mortgage amount is reduced from $1 million to $500,000 and the deduction allowance for second homes is eliminated, the majority of respondents said they expect high-end home prices to fall while U.S. home prices overall experience little or no price impact.
Bottom Line: Real estate lobbying groups have long fought against changes to tax rules allowing for the deduction of mortgage interest, arguing that any changes will impact or eliminate some of the historic financial advantages of owning a home. But unless you’re buying a proportionally more expensive home or are buying in a more expensive area, the impacts of MID changes will likely be muted. The decision to buy or sell a home is highly personal and dependent on a number of factors, only one of which is potential tax implications. In 2013, make your decision to buy or sell based on your own informed opinion and your unique situation.
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( 3 / 6404 )February is one of the best months to enjoy Mammoth Mountain. We currently have the deepest snow in North America, over 3,500 acres of skiable terrain, more parks for more abilities, easy to grab direct flights from all of California's major metropolitan areas, and the best alpine dining you'll find anywhere.
$66 Threedom Tickets - Only 7 days left!
Want to enjoy the most snow in America for less? Book a Threedom Ticket for your next trip, which gives you three days of lift tickets good for use three out four consecutive days. Tickets are available now through April 21, but you have to book them by February 10 so act now! That's big mountain skiing for small mountain prices. Valid for use through April 21, 2013, excluding Feb. 16-24. Offer only available online or 800.MAMMOTH.
Taste of Mammoth - Three ways to enjoy The Mill
For years The Mill has been a favorite lunchtime hangout for Mammoth's skiers and snowboarders, and this season there are even more ways to enjoy their delicious California BBQ. Besides still being able to ski-in and grab a lounge chair under the sun at the bottom of Chairs 2 and 10, when you're on the trails, you might notice a snowcat posted up somewhere on the mountain, that's The Lil' Mill. Ski right up and grab a bite along with a seat in a lounge chair and enjoy a true on-mountain experience. Heading back to your hotel or condo? Download The Mill To Go from the Apple App Store and order food for pick-up!
Event Highlight - OutRide Insta-Jam presented by mophie
Swing by Main Park on February 9 at 10am and sign up for the Insta-Jam! This contest will be open to skiers and snowboarders of all ages and will also be the debut of Unbound's brand-new mophie-inspired feature. Want to get in on the action from behind the lens? The OutRide Cutting Rooms will be hosting a Best Edit contest, where the most impressive video of the contest to emerge will win prizes from Mammoth and mophie.
Unbound Update - Unbound Playground Camp
By now you've no doubt heard the buzz about the newest and greatest progression park in the country, the Unbound Playground. Get more comfortable with your freestyle skills at the Unbound Playground Camp from February 22-24. This three-day camp is highlighted by on-hill instruction from ski + snowboard school professionals, video analysis, equipment clinics and an apres camp party!
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