Author: New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association

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Workday – May 18th!

What we’ll be doing: Begin Spring clean-up/routine maintenance of the Trestle Recreation Area trails. This will include brush trimming and tread work for the trails in the area around the Depot. Be sure and bring drinking water, sun protection, work gloves and sturdy boots.

When/Where: Saturday, May 18th 2013. Meet at 9am at the Depot/Flower Garden area of the Trestle Recreation Area. Work until noon.

Directions to Trestle Recreation Area: The recreation area is just west of Cloudcroft off of Highway 82. The access road is immediately across from the Sacramento Mountains Medical Center.

If you need any additional information, please call 575-434-1949 (ask for Grady) or e-mail nmrailtrails@gmail.com

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APRIL 2013 WORKDAY SUCCESS

We had a great time on Saturday working the Road Canyon Trail (T-234). As previously planned, we all met up at the Tunnel Stop in High Rolls to carpool another 18 or so miles to the trail head. We had 17 folks show up and the Tunnel Stop was incredibly gracious to let us leave a handful of vehicles parked in their lot for half the day!

April 2013 NMRTA workday safety briefing

Receiving our safety briefing and plan of attack

April 2013 NMRTA workday

Heading out!

Once we got up West Side Road to the trail (one of our NMRTA veterans, by the way, pointed out that the West Side Road was in the best condition he’d ever seen!), we had our safety briefing and split into a few groups. One small group had a 1/2 mile hike carrying a big sign post to install a trail junction sign, another group policed the trail for eye-poking and clothes-grabbing branches and trimmed those up and the final group simply hiked the trail, widened and cleaned it up where needed and removed some pesky stumps from the middle of the trail.

The weather was great and as always, we appreciate all the help we got from the Holloman AFB folks! Another workday success!

April 2013 NMRTA Road Canyon Trail Sign

Another successful trail junction sign installation

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APRIL 2013 WORKDAY SCHEDULED

With wonderful warm days upon us, what better way to celebrate than to join us as we makes repairs to another trail.  This one is at an unusual location.  Note the time change and the vehicle requirements.

WHAT: NMRTA Workday

We will be grooming the section of the Road Canyon Trail (T-234), from the West Side Road going uphill toward the Sunspot facility. Be sure to bring drinking water, sun protection, work gloves and sturdy boots.  All tools will be provided.  There’s work for all skill levels.

WHEN: Saturday, April 20, 2013. Meet at 8 a.m.; work until noon.

SPECIAL INFORMATION:

The work site is located some 18 miles or so driving south along the West Side Road from High Rolls (hence the early start time).  The road is recommended only for trucks and similar rough road vehicles…not for the average city car.  Therefore, we will be carpooling from the Tunnel Stop in High Rolls.  Meet at 8 a.m. at the Tunnel Stop; park on either side, but not in front.  We will have several pickups and other vehicles to take volunteers to and from the work site.  If you have a pickup or similar vehicle and wouldn’t mind carpooling people, we would appreciate that.  Our convoy to the work site will be led by the Forest Service.

This is an unusual chance to take an escorted tour through a part of the Sacramento Mountains that most people don’t get to see.  If you can’t make the 8 a.m. meeting time, and have suitable transportation, join us when you can.

DIRECTIONS TO THE TUNNEL STOP:

The Tunnel Stop is located on Hwy 82 a short distance uphill from the High Rolls Store; park on either side, but not in front…they have some nice stuff in the Stop, by the way.