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General Reading Daze Info

WHAT? < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < <

Reading Daze is a legendary trip enjoyed by hundreds of Claremont college students. It serves as both a finale to the semester as well as a launch of the winter sports season! It is all about blowing off steam, getting sendy, and having a great time with friends before the finals grind begins! We would love to have you join us!

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > WHERE?

The highest ski resort in California, and one of our most favorite places to shred – Mammoth Mountain (about a 5 hour drive from Claremont).

Mammoth is one of the top 10 ski resorts in North America. It features 3500 skiable acres, 175 named trails, and 25 lifts. Whether you’re hitting the slopes for the very first time, or have been ripping it up since you could walk, there’s something for you at Mammoth.

We connect y’all to Convict Lake Resort, a pretty legendary and affordable lodging option a short drive from Mammoth Mountain.

 

We work with Convict to get you guys discounted prices on many different sizes of cabin but as of the 2026 ski season, booking cabins themselves will be done directly through Convict Lake Resort. 

WHO? < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < <

Students from all Claremont Colleges are welcome and encouraged to attend Reading Daze – not just Ski Club members! Every year, all 5Cs and all classes are represented in Reading Daze attendees. Fill out the form at 5cski.org/ikon (your 5C Ski discounted IKON pass works at the host resort of Reading Daze!).

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > WHEN?

Every fall semester of the Claremont Colleges during early December.

Reading Daze is typically THURSDAY thru SATURDAY.

Two nights at Convict, two days of shredding at Mammoth. Some folks drive up early Thursday morning to ski Thursday/Friday and leave Saturday morning. Others drive up later in the day Thursday to shred all day Friday and Saturday, returning to campus Saturday night to grind for finals.

< < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < WHY?

Reading Daze is a trip packed with stoke you’ll never forget. We work hard throughout the semester and it’s trips like these that keep us going.

Many 5C upperclassmen and alum call Reading Daze one of their favorite memories from college. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another opportunity to ski or ride with so many of your pals, enjoying cabin time before hitting the finals grind. Make memories with both old friends and new ones, and finish the Fall semester with a smile on your face.

Updated Info 11/11/2025

 Before signing up, please read more info about how us connecting you with convict lake will work this year here.

If you want to connect with other skiers/ppl interested in the trip, join our club GroupMe.

That’s all! Please reach out to us via IG with questions.

Happy turns,
5C Ski

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It is that time. Reading Daze!

Where hundreds of Claremont students converge upon Convict Lake Resort, to enjoy the Mammoth Mountain area for a few days before finals. Too good to be true? No, it is really that epic. We are so stoked!

Here is the link to everything you need to know.

Here is the link again in case you missed it. It is very important 🙂

TLDR;

  • This is a cabin resource, not a 5C Ski event.
  • Please please read the full document.
  • Sign-ups for small cabins are in person this year at Snowstock (Friday, Nov. 7th @ 3:30pm).
    • First come first serve!
    • Be ready to Venmo the full amount for your cabin.
  • Sign-ups for the large communal cabin (dorm style) will be released the week of Nov. 18th. These spots will be limited and sell out fast.
  • Date: December 4–6 (e.g. night of the 4th, and night of the 5th)
  • Location: Convict Lake Resort
  • Resort Website: https://convictlake.com/ ← check out the cabins here!
  • Check-in: No earlier than 3:30 PM on Thursday; Check-out: By 10:30 AM on Saturday
  • Who: 7C students only
  • Things to do: Most people go skiing/snowboarding at Mammoth, but other attractions include tubing, building snowmen, spending time in Mammoth Village, and local hikes!

Disclaimer
We’re connecting you with housing discounts as a resource to get up to the mountains, but this year, we are completely hands-off. You are entirely responsible for any activities you pursue while staying in the cabins. Additionally, you are fully responsible for any damages in your cabin, adhering to the student handbook, and following Convict Lake’s rules. Violating these guidelines will jeopardize future trips—and you will be financially responsible for fines incurred.

General FAQ

We try and help you guys work with others who are driving to up to maximize people per car. This year we will be providing a ride share resource to connect anyone who might need a ride but we cannot guarantee that people will have extra space and highly recommend this ride sheet as a last resort.

Snow Chains/4WD: Ensure you have snow chains or a 4WD vehicle WITH snow tires for safe travel (especially if snow is in the forecast). When snowing, California highway patrol may require you to carry chains, even if you have 4WD w/ snow tires

Each house in the resort has been designated a maximum “semi-comfortable” capacity. This means that we assume there will be extra people on beds, and several on sleeping bags + pads on the floor. This number is based on our institutional knowledge of what has worked best in the past.

Cabins range in capacity from 5 to 45 people.

SMALL CABINS:

  • You are NOT guaranteed privacy or bed space in the cabins.
  • We highly recommend creating a group chat with your cabin to plan on who will be arriving when, who gets the beds/who sleeps on the floor, coordinating food, and so on. GroupMe is a great resource for this!
  • If you reserve a spot, you are NOT guaranteed a bed space. Plan accordingly. 
 

LARGE CABINS:

  • If you reserve a spot, you are NOT guaranteed a bed space. Plan accordingly.
 

Pricing:

  • Pricing varies each year, but we consistently secure a discount from Convict to provide the best possible rates.
  • Given that we reserve the entire cabin resort, we are able to plan effective accommodation strategies. Prices are normalized taking various factors into account to ensure fair pricing that benefits all students. Generally, lower cabin capacity > higher price.
 

ADDITIONAL HOUSING INFO:

  • If you reserve a spot in a Cabin, you are expected to pay for both nights regardless of whether you plan on only coming for one night.
  • Wristbands Required: Students without a wristband will be asked to leave.

Mammoth Mountain offers mountainside rentals. Ski and/or snowboard rentals must be coordinated by the individual and the mountain. You can rent for the amount of days you want to ski. You can also rent gear from places like Sports Basement which offers much better prices and gear. 

Similar to gear rentals, you can buy a day pass for 2 days within a 4 day period.

Reach out to a friend or DM a 5C Ski Exec Board Member for an IKON Pass Friends & Family Code for ~20% off the daily rate.

**IF YOU ARE AN IKON PASS HOLDER, DO NOT PURCHASE A DAY PASS FOR READING DAZE! MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN IS AN IKON RESORT!**

You are responsible for your own food. All cabins have full kitchens. Small cabins can coordinate food together. If you are in a larger cabin, feel free to coordinate with others if you plan on cooking food.

DO NOT expect others to cook for you, or to be provided food which others are cooking if you have not previously coordinated with them.

At Mammoth Ski Resort, food is available for purchase at the resort (expect the usual ski resort cafeteria), but this is expensive and not enough to sustain you for the weekend. Get groceries ahead of time and bring them with you.

  • Warm clothes! It’s chilly up there, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. If you don’t know what this means, check out our Beginner Education page for info on how to layer for winter sports.
  • Gear (skis, boots, board, helmet) if you have it!
  • A swimsuit if your cabins has a hot tub, and for the nearby hot springs!
  • Lots of food
  • Sleeping bag/pad if you are not 100% certain you have a bed to sleep in

Thursday, December 5th

  • Most folks will head up to Mammoth leaving in the morning.
 

Friday, December 6th

  • Wake up and SHRED! Cars leave at varying times depending on stoke levels. Make sure to be on the same page as your driver as it can be very frustrating  
  • Cars will leave from the cabins up to Mammoth on a rolling basis. Coordinate with whoever drove you to Convict.
  • Those who bought rentals and passes beforehand can pick them up at the reservations booth in Mammoth’s lodges.
  • Ski/board until your legs give out (or until your ride leaves). 
  • At the end of the day, students return to the cabins to rest, cook some dinner, hydrate, and enjoy some lively festivities with friends.
 

Saturday, December 7th

  • Wake up and clean your cabin first thing before checkout! The only way we will be welcomed back to Convict is if EVERYONE completes the standard resort check out tasks. If all attendees contribute 5-10 minutes of help, this should be an easy process.
  • Head back over to the mountain to shred with friends once more.
  • Most cars will depart Mammoth in the early-mid afternoon to arrive back in Claremont around/shortly after dinner. Now, the finals grind begins.

Beginners and non-Club members are always welcome! Be aware that there is NO ski/snowboard instruction provided. 

POLICIES

SIGN-UP DEADLINES:

  • Housing Selections (aside from the Mt. Morrison cabin) will end NOVEMBER 7 AT 6:00pm @SNOWSTOCK
  • Mt. Morrison details are in the works, info will be released after SNOWSTOCK
  • Double and triple check EVERYTHING with you group before you finalize payment, and if you are unsure about your selections, ask us for help!

REFUND POLICY:

  • There is a no-refund policy. We will not NOT  be offering refunds, no exceptions. If you can no longer attend, it is on you/your cabin leader to find a replacement. 

GENERAL:

  • We will publish a list of people in Cabins & their phone numbers so that groups can be coordinated. If you don’t want your number shared, let us know privately by reaching out to 5c.ski.snowboard.club@gmail.com or any Executive Board member.
  • Questions, Comments, Concerns?
    • If you sign up for Reading Daze, join the club GroupMe. Updates and info will be released here. Here, you can ask leaders questions directly, and see the answers to questions other folks have asked. 
    • Email us at 5c.ski.snowboard.club@gmail.com