Standing at more than 11,000 feet above sea level, I watched a 10-year-old confidently point her mountain bike into a ribbon of switchbacks carved into Mammoth Mountain. The trail zigzagged down the mountainside like San Francisco’s famous Lombard Street, winding through loose volcanic pumice the locals affectionately call “kitty litter.” MTB Girls Magazine Is On the Scene at Mammoth Mountain.
By Liz Donahey, Editor in Chief, MTB Girls Magazine
The little girl never touched her brakes.
She glanced back over her shoulder, smiled beneath her full-face helmet, and shouted, “Don’t get stuck in the kitty litter!”
Then she disappeared around the next corner.
I laughed inside my helmet, eased off my brakes, and followed.
That little rider had something many of us spend years trying to develop: complete trust in herself, her bike, and the trail beneath her tires. In that single moment, she reminded me what Mammoth Mountain is really about. MTB Girls Magazine Is On the Scene at Mammoth Mountain.
Not just mountain biking.
Confidence.
Community.
And discovering that you’re capable of far more than you imagined.
Arriving at a Mountain Bike Mecca
From the moment our MTB Girls Magazine team rolled into Mammoth Lakes on Wednesday afternoon, it was obvious this wasn’t just another mountain town.
The air was crisp with the scent of pine. Every other vehicle carried bikes on the back. Riders in helmets filled the sidewalks, cafés, and village plazas. Here, mountain biking isn’t simply a weekend activity. It’s woven into the fabric of the community.
After checking into Juniper Springs Resort, we took a moment to slow down after the drive from Sonoma and Napa Counties. Nestled at the base of the mountain, the resort immediately made us feel at home. The concierge staff greeted us with genuine warmth, everyone we met was incredibly welcoming, and the hospitality set the tone for an unforgettable week. MTB Girls Magazine Is On the Scene at Mammoth Mountain.
Before heading up the mountain, we wandered through The Village and stopped at Gomez’s Restaurant, where the fresh tuna tacos were the perfect way to fuel up before an evening on the trails.
Soon it was time for one of Mammoth’s most anticipated weekly traditions.
Wednesday Nights Belong to Gravity Girls
Every other Wednesday through September, Mammoth Mountain hosts Gravity Girls, an evening dedicated to bringing girls and women together for downhill riding, progression, encouragement, and community.
Nearly 50 riders gathered beneath the Panorama Gondola.
Some had been riding Mammoth for years.
Others were visiting for the very first time.
None of that mattered.
Everyone belonged.
Our MTB Girls Magazine team made the trip from Sonoma and Napa Counties, joining riders from San Francisco and throughout California.
The gondola quietly climbed from approximately 8,700 feet to more than 11,000 feet above sea level. Bikes swayed beneath each cabin while conversations shifted between introductions, trail recommendations, nervous excitement, and laughter.
“Have you ridden this trail before?”
“No.”
“It’s going to be amazing.”
At the summit, the Sierra Nevada stretched endlessly across the horizon. Granite peaks faded into the distance while Mammoth’s volcanic landscape unfolded below us in every direction.
For a few quiet moments, nobody reached for their bikes.
Everyone simply stood there taking it all in.
Then gravity took over.
Learning to Trust the Trail
Our first descent followed one of Mammoth’s signature blue trails.
On paper, it’s rated as an intermediate trail.
Standing at the top, with sweeping exposure dropping away beside the trail, it certainly didn’t feel intermediate.
The switchbacks rolled down the mountain in graceful curves, inviting riders to trust momentum instead of fear.
Many of the women were experiencing the trail for the first time.
Every rider found her own rhythm.
Some floated effortlessly.
Others carefully chose every line.
No matter the pace, every rider was encouraged, celebrated, and cheered on.
When we reached the bottom, every smile carried the same message.
“I did it.”
Riding Beside the Future
Thursday morning became one of the highlights of the entire trip.
I had the privilege of joining Mammoth’s fourth and fifth grade girls mountain bike team for practice.
Led by Coach Lindsey, Coach Tonya, and Coach Lily, the girls immediately welcomed me into their morning adventure. One of the riders laughed and reminded me there weren’t just one or two Lilys. MTB Girls Magazine Is On the Scene at Mammoth Mountain.
“There are three Lilys!”
Coach Lily and two riders proudly shared the same name, instantly bringing smiles to everyone’s faces.
Watching these 10-year-old girls ride was inspiring.
Together, we tackled the same winding descent I had ridden the evening before.
Many of the girls had never ridden that trail before.
Yet they attacked every corner with remarkable confidence.
Where I instinctively feathered my brakes, they simply trusted their bikes.
Where I hesitated, they flowed.
More than once, I found myself sprinting just to catch back up.
Along the way they generously shared their local knowledge.
“Look where you want to go.”
“Keep your momentum.”
“And don’t get stuck in the kitty litter.”
The “kitty litter” is Mammoth’s famous loose volcanic pumice, a riding surface unlike anything many visitors have experienced. It rewards commitment and punishes hesitation.
The girls knew exactly how to ride it.
I happily listened.
Eight Miles of Smiles
Together we descended nearly eight unforgettable miles from the summit all the way into The Village.
It became much more than a ride.
It became a classroom.
Every corner taught another lesson.
Every conversation built another friendship.
Before reaching town, our ride paused for something just as important as riding itself.
Trail stewardship.
Although the trails were remarkably clean, everyone grabbed a trash bag and spread out.
Within minutes, our group had filled an entire kitchen-sized bag with litter.
Watching these young riders care so deeply about protecting the trails they love was one of the most meaningful moments of the week.
Mountain biking isn’t only about riding.
It’s about giving back.
It’s about leaving the mountain better than you found it.
Racing at Elevation
Back at the resort, my teammate Kim Meredith wasn’t ready to call it a day.
While I rested and prepared for that evening’s Village Championship XC race, Kim kept riding, taking several more chairlift laps and even tackling one of Mammoth’s challenging black diamond trails.
Meanwhile, I focused on preparing for a very different challenge.
Altitude.
Coming from near sea level, racing above 8,000 feet humbles you quickly.
My legs felt ready.
My lungs disagreed.
Every climb demanded another breath.
Every acceleration reminded me I wasn’t riding at home anymore.
But that’s exactly what makes Mammoth so rewarding.
It asks every rider to grow.
Racing Through Mammoth’s Legacy
The course climbed steadily up Mountain View Trail before connecting onto Beach Cruiser Trail, named for its loose volcanic sand that somehow provides incredible traction while climbing.
Every switchback revealed another breathtaking alpine vista.
Towering pines.
Crystal-clear skies.
Snow still lingering on distant peaks.
The scenery almost distracted me from the effort.
Almost.
The Village Championship XC Series isn’t simply another race.
It celebrates the welcoming grassroots culture that has made Mammoth one of mountain biking’s most iconic destinations since the late 1980s.
Friends cheered for complete strangers.
Families lined the course.
Experienced racers encouraged first-timers.
No one cared where you finished.
They cared that you finished.
Crossing the finish line exhausted but smiling, I looked up to see my teammate Kim Meredith cheering alongside the local riders.
Those moments remind us why we race.
Not for medals.
For memories.
Celebrating Every Rider
The evening concluded with podium celebrations honoring riders of every age and ability.
Congratulations to Coach Lindsey for earning a podium finish in the Sport Women’s category.
Congratulations to Coach Tonya for taking second place in the Expert Women’s division.
An even bigger congratulations to Coach Tonya for capturing the overall Village Championship XC Series title. Watching her receive the championship medallion was a fitting reward for months of dedication, leadership, and hard work.
(Insert podium photo here.)
Want to Experience Mammoth for Yourself?
Whether you’re chasing a podium or simply looking for an unforgettable riding experience, Mammoth’s Village Championship race series welcomes riders of all abilities.
Village Championship XC Race Series
https://www.mammothmountain.com/things-to-do/events/xc-village-championships
Village Championship Downhill Race Series
https://www.mammothmountain.com/things-to-do/events/downhill-village-championships/jul-3
The races are fun, welcoming, affordable, and rooted in the same community spirit that helped shape Mammoth’s mountain biking culture decades ago.
As this story goes to press, we’re getting ready to line up for one final adventure: the Village Championship Downhill race.
Stay tuned. We’ll be sharing that story next.
More Than a Mountain
By the end of the week, after countless gondola rides, chairlift laps, new trails, and unforgettable conversations, I almost started to feel like a local.
Almost.
But what I’ll remember most isn’t simply the elevation.
It isn’t the incredible scenery.
It isn’t even the trails.
It’s the people.
The coaches investing in young riders.
The girls encouraging one another.
The volunteers.
The race organizers.
The local riders cheering every finisher.
The conversations over tacos.
The laughter shared during the Gravity Girls after-party at Mammoth Brewing Company, where stories of scary descents, personal victories, crashes, breakthroughs, and new friendships filled the evening.
Some friendships begin on the trail.
Others begin after the ride.
Both last long after the dust settles.
Thank You, Mammoth
From everyone at MTB Girls Magazine, thank you to the entire Mammoth Mountain community for welcoming us with open arms.
A heartfelt thank you to Coach Lindsey, Coach Tonya, Coach Lily, the incredible fourth and fifth grade girls team, every volunteer, every local rider, and everyone who shared your trails, your encouragement, and your passion with us.
Thank you to Mammoth Brewing Company for hosting the Gravity Girls after-party and creating the perfect place for riders to celebrate together, share stories, laugh, encourage one another, and build friendships that will continue long after this week.
A very special thank you to Gabe, Taylor, and Emily from the Mammoth Mountain marketing team. Thank you for believing in MTB Girls Magazine and for making this incredible week possible. Your generosity, hospitality, and commitment to growing girls’ mountain biking created an experience we’ll never forget.
Most importantly, thank you for helping us inspire more girls to discover Mammoth Mountain for themselves.
We’ll be back.
And next time, we hope to see even more MTB Girls joining us for the adventure.
Stay stoked. Stay wild. Live the mountain life.
We’ll see you on the mountain.
