It’s been more than 30 years since originally envisaged, but Mammoth Mountain in California has finally begun work on a new Village Ski Back Trail which is expected to open in 2011. It will give skiers and snowboarders a new option to get from the slopes of Mammoth Mountain to The Village at Mammoth.

Originally proposed in the late 1970s, design of the trail began in 1994 and has been updated many times to meet the changing priorities of the Town of Mammoth Lakes, the U.S. Forest Service and Mammoth Mountain as the ski area has expanded and developed new areas over the years.

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 ends 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 is around 7,800feet (2.5km) long. It can handle 900–1,200 skiers and snowboarders per hour.

Construction of the trail is planned to take place over a three year period. Initial tree felling and minor grading work has already taken place. During the coming 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 this summer 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.

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