November 13, 2013 by New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association

Workday – November 16th – CHALLENGE!

What we’ll be doing: We will be working on the Forest Service segment of the Dog Canyon Trail, T-106, above Oliver Lee State Park in the Dog Canyon Area. We will mostly be repairing water damage to the trail. The Forest Service part of the trail starts about 1/4 mile above the park headquarters and extends several miles up hill from there. We would like to work as much of the trail as we can, so the plan is to work until mid-afternoon (we usually shut down around noon) for those that can spare a little extra time. Of course, anyone can quit work and leave anytime they want. Tools will be provided. If you can work an extended time, we suggest you bring a lunch, and as always bring plenty of drinking water, sun protection, work gloves and sturdy boots.

SPECIAL NOTE: This trail has some almost level areas, but includes many steep and rugged segments, and in general is a challenge. BUT, the payoff is the view! This trail is probably the most scenic in the Sacramento Ranger District.

When/Where: Saturday, Saturday, November 16, 2013, at 9 am. Gather in the parking area, Oliver Lee State Park; directions below. Work until mid-afternoon if you can … stop anytime you need to.

DIRECTIONS TO OLIVER LEE STATE PARK: At the intersection of US70 and US54 on the south side of Alamogordo (just west of the overpass), drive south about 8.7 miles on US54 and turn toward the mountains on the road indicated by the sign to the Park. Travel about 4 miles to the Park headquarters. Drop your passengers off in the parking area, but park your car just outside the gate to the parking area. Ignore the self-service fee station.

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

October 31, 2013 by New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association

OCTOBER 2013 WORKDAY SUCCESS

Another successful work day down! We had 14 volunteers show up to the Grand View Trail ready and willing to get some needed maintenance crossed off our list.

Luckily, the good ol’ government shutdown ended just days before the work day so the Forest Service was back open for business and were able to supply tools and their monthly volunteer.

We did a temporary fix on a sinkhole located some 200 feet or so down hill from the wooden culvert we replaced last February. Our fix and fill ensured that the tread is safe, but probing indicates that a good sized cavity may still exist underneath. We’ll probably need to get some motorized digging equipment out there in the future to investigate further.

We corrected a maverick drainage situation that had developed during last summer’s heavy rains at the culvert we replaced last February. The drain now feeds into the culvert as planned.

We filled in about 20 feet of a large ditch that was washing away part of the railroad bed and built a major water bar to protect the bed from future damage. A lot of rocks and dirt had to be moved to get this repair done and required the effort of the entire work crew for a major part of the work time. It was a big accomplishment!

A small water bar was built at the top end of the “cut” located on the upper end of the Grand View Trail. There may be some additional attention required in the future to a few other water damaged locations.

Finally, on our way out, we repaired a rock step near the start (or end depending on which direction you’re heading) of the trail.

Getting ready to head up the trail

There was quite a bit of work to be done and our volunteers did a GREAT job! Thanks to all of them again and we hope to see you next month!

We had a small welcoming committee greet us on the trail

Hauling rocks!

No time to admire the view!

For more great photos of the day, please check out our official Flickr page!

October 15, 2013 by New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association

SEPTEMBER 2013 WORKDAY SUCCESS

We had another good turn out on our monthly volunteer work day! Again, we had 18 volunteers helping make the Bridal Veil Falls trail a nicer place to visit! We met up at the Harris Hollow gate and hiked in using a little shortcut that has been made available to Rails-to-Trails members only on volunteer work days. Heather Burman, the Forest Service representative, met us with all the tools and drove down and parked near the bottom of the access road. Heather took two volunteers and met up with Debi Maucione at the Switchback trail area to clear some fallen trees while the main crew work around the Bridal Veil Falls area.

A bunch of brush was cleared from beneath the falls area and several water bars were placed across the ramp leading up to the shelter area. The steps leading up to the shelter were cleared of mud and debris.

A couple of water bars were built across the trail uphill from the falls and a major water damage repair was done on the bypass immediately up trail from the Pinto site.

Water bar crew!

Surprisingly, most of the trails in the area were in pretty good shape considering the recent excessive amount of rain! Thanks again to all our volunteers and we’ll see you next month!