Mammoth Mountain Announces New "Village Ski Back Trail"

Mammoth Mountain Announces New “Village Ski Back Trail”

Mammoth Mountain, CA – Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is proud to announce the construction of a Village Ski Back Trail giving skiers and snowboarders a new option to get from the slopes of Mammoth Mountain to The Village at Mammoth. Expected to open by Christmas 2009 (weather permitting), the new trails will reduce down-slope congestion on the Village Gondola.

Originally proposed in the late 1970s, design of the trail began in 1994 and has been updated multiple times to meet the changing priorities of the Town of Mammoth Lakes, the U.S. Forest Service and Mammoth Mountain. The final alignment and construction utilize slope retention techniques to minimize disturbance of the natural terrain and prioritize Mammoth’s commitment to environmental stewardship. The final trail design also reduces visual impact to the residents in the adjacent neighborhoods.

The Village Ski Back Trail will be accessible near the bottom of Roller Coaster Express and the top of Chair 7 and will end at the corner of Forest Trail and Minaret Road next to The Village at Mammoth. Following the natural slope and grade of the terrain and running approximately 7,800 linear feet, the trail will have an average width of 22 feet and will be able to handle 900-1,200 skiers and snowboarders per hour.

Construction of the trail is planned to take place over a three year period. Tree felling took place August 4-6, 2009. Minor grading work and tree removal will take place after September 7, 2009 to minimize impact to guests and local users of nearby biking trails. During the summer of 2010, a pedestrian bridge is planned for installation spanning the street Forest Trail to provide easy access to The Village at Mammoth. Trail construction for the summer of 2010 will also include additional grading and installation of retaining walls. To complete the project, snowmaking equipment installation is planned for the summer of 2011.

Mammoth Mountain, in partnership with the USFS, will monitor all noise activity and follow best management practices during construction. Trail use will meet or exceed all Town of Mammoth Lakes noise and air-quality standards.

For more information or a copy of the Environmental Assessment, please contact Rebecca Paranick-Poiset at rparanickpoiset@mammoth-mtn.com or Jonathan Cook-Fisher at jcfisher@fs.fed.us.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is the leading four-season mountain resort in California. With 1.5 million annual skier visits, Mammoth Mountain is currently the third most frequented ski resort in the United States. The company owns and operates a variety of resort businesses including recreation, hospitality, real estate development, food and beverage and retail. Specific businesses owned and operated by Mammoth Mountain include Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, June Mountain, Tamarack Lodge and Resort, Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures, Mammoth Mountain Bike Park and the Mammoth Mountain Inn. Mammoth Mountain also operates Juniper Springs Resort, the Village Lodge and Sierra Star Golf Course in Mammoth Lakes, California. For more information on Mammoth Mountain, visit MammothMountain.com or call 800.MAMMOTH.