August 21, 2014 by New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association

Shortcut to the Trestle Weekend Schedule!!!

A few folks have asked me, “Why aren’t the shortcut to the trestle dates and hours posted on the NMRTA website?” Well, the short answer is that I wasn’t thinking, t forgot and should have done this a long time ago.

SO, here are the remaining Shortcut to the Mexican Canyon Trestle weekends! The hours the gate will be open are 9am till sometime after 4pm (generally dusk on Saturdays and around 4pm on Sundays).

August 23-24

Sep 6-7

Sep 13-14

And that’s it! We’ll be closing the cabin and shortcut down for the winter. We certainly expect it to be open again next summer and every summer thereafter! Please stop by, say hi, enjoy the view, and cut about 15 minutes off the hike to the Mexican Canyon Trestle (and it’s a much EASIER hike with the shortcut as well!)

August 13, 2014 by New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association

Workday – August 16th!

What we’ll be doing: Continue brush trimming, tread work, and similar trail maintenance on the Switchback Trail, mostly on the western end going upgrade from the shelter. We may end up splitting a group out to go down the trail into the canyon below the Harkey Pedestrian Bridge to clear some piles of brush and branches left behind after some previous trail maintenance work. This area is high altitude, so it shouldn’t be too hot. 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/Where: Saturday, August 16th, 2014. Meet at 9 am; work until noon. Meet at Bailey Canyon Rd (just 2 miles west of Cloudcroft, off Hwy 82) . We plan to work until about noon (we will vacate early in the event of a thunderstorm).

We won’t be doing “heavy stuff,” so just about everybody can help. The trail in general is in good shape because it sees a lot of hikers, but in many places, the weeds have narrowed the path to about 1 1/2 feet; supposed to be 3 to 4 feet wide, and some bushes/tree branches are crowding the walking area. We plan on having a couple of gas driven weed eaters available to make clearing of the low weeds easier.

Thanks!

If you need any additional information, please call 575-520-9724 or e-mail nmrailtrails@gmail.com

May 22, 2014 by New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association

National Trails Day – New Trail segment ribbon cutting!

Inaugural Opening…Shortcut to the Mexican Canyon Trestle.

On Saturday, June 7, National Trails Day, our New Mexico Rails to Trails Association will host the inaugural opening and ribbon cutting of a section of the original rail road bed previously unavailable to the public. This pristine 800 foot stretch of rail-trail is located just up-trail from the Mexican Canyon Trestle, and contains is own trestle and a beautiful, quaint cabin. Gates will open at 9 am, with a short ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 am, and close at 4 pm. Displays and refreshments will be available. This shortcut will only be open to the public on select days during the summer/fall season.

Access to the new section is about 1/2 miles down-trail from the Trestle Recreation area using Forest Service Trails 5001B/5001. The Rec Area is immediately west of Cloudcroft. Signs will be posted. An alternate access is also available via Little Mexican Canyon Road located at the Highway 82 entrance to the Rec Area. This access is also walk in only-no vehicles allowed, and the road is very steep (even steeper on the way back!). And there is no public parking in the immediate area.

Dr. Bonnie Brooks, who has a tremendous affection for the area, recently granted property to the New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association as part of a life estate deed. The new shortcut is on this generously donated land. Dr. Brooks will be at the ribbon-cutting. NMRTA is preparing the area for visitors to enjoy on June 7th, and is particularly working hard to complete construction of “Bonnie’s Bridge”, a small bypass footbridge that will allow visitors to view the features of the railroad trestle that is no longer safe for public use.