Trail News / Mammoth Lakes Trail System Winter 2016/2017

Mammoth Lakes Trail System Winter 2016/2017

The winter of 2016/2017 is shaping up to be an historic one, and the Mammoth Lakes Trail System team has been hard at work bringing several new programs on line for all winter recreation enthusiasts along with some old favorites that have just been waiting for a big winter like this one.

From the old chestnuts department, we are very excited to be grooming the Winter Trails at Shady Rest. There are 3 miles of groomed trails that begin at the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center. The main access to the trail network is just across from the Welcome Center entrance where trail users will notice a sign and a map for orientation. The trails are groomed 5 days a week and are open for Nordic skiing/skating, walking, and snow shoeing. The rolling terrain is perfect for most ability levels and is easily accessible right next to Town. This facility is maintained by the Mammoth Lakes Trail System through a Challenge Cost Share Agreement between the Town of Mammoth Lakes and Inyo National Forest and is being funded by Measure R’s annual allocation to the Mammoth Lakes Trail System.

If you have been accessing the Sherwin Range just to the south of Mammoth Lakes, you may have noticed three large signs at the Sherwins Trailhead (Borrow Pit/Propane Tanks), the Mill City Trailhead, and at the junction of the public access corridor and the Sherwins boot pack in the Lakes Basin. All three signs provide winter recreation enthusiasts with general topographic, backcountry etiquette and emergency information. The signs also have avalanche beacon checkers provided by the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center (ESAC) so that backcountry travelers can test their equipment before venturing out. Measure U is also playing a supporting role with the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center (ESAC) this season by providing up to date avalanche advisories in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. The reports have been integrated into the Mammoth Lakes Trail System web site at mammothtrails.org, providing users with a seamless browsing experience easily accessible on your smart phone.

One of our favorite new winter projects is the pilot project for the Mammoth Lakes Trail System Poo Fairy Program. It sounds funny at first, but we hope it brings some much-needed attention to the on-going challenges with dog waste at trailheads and on the trails. To start with, we are deploying two Poo Fairy stations at strategic locations at the Sherwins Trailhead (Borrow Pit/Propane Tanks) and at the Mill City Trailhead winter access. The facilities will provide bags for dog waste and a waste receptacle. You will also notice a nice sign with a fun message, and if the program succeeds, you can expect to see more of the Mammoth Lakes Trail System Poo Fairy. We love our canine companions and we know you do also. We need your help to be able to keep our beautiful landscape and trail facilities clean.