Staff had to dig snow lifts out. how intense was that? >> it took days to get dug out. >> reporter: this lodge was submerged. some 900 inches of snow piled up here on the summit, shattering previous records and stretching the ski season well into summer. a silver lining, some say, to a rough winter. >> it's great that we can enjoy it now. >> reporter: speaking of enjoying it, we can confirm, resistance is futile. this is july. this is wild. marking an unlikely celebration of america's independence on ice. >> happy 4th of july! >> reporter: maggie vespa, nbc news, mammoth mountain, california. ...