May 22, 2013 by New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association

May 2013 Workday Success!

We had yet another volunteer workday success. The work was pretty light, the day was gorgeous and the hike was great so those of you that didn’t show up, you really missed out!

We had 11 folks total show up and divide into two separate groups. One group hiked all the way down Trail 5001, from the Historic Train Depot in Cloudcroft, past The Overlook and down to the Mexican Canyon Trestle. From there, they worked their way back up trimming overhanging branches and clearing out some of the larger rocks on the trail. They also took this opportunity to block off a few of the hiker-made “shortcuts” through the forest. If you like to hike, please keep in mind that it’s best for the forest and safest for you to STAY ON THE TRAIL no matter how tempting it may be to cut some corners.

Our 2nd group worked Trail 5001 from the Depot area to Devil’s Elbow, clearing brush and remove more pesky rocks. That crew also swept the stairs at the S-Trestle and the steps that go from the Devil’s Elbow up to the Depot.

We started at about 9am and finished up at noon. We had a few finish up a bit earlier so they missed out on picture time!

As always, we appreciate all the help we got from the Holloman AFB folks! Thanks and see you next month!

Some of our May 18th 2013 volunteers!

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

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

April 25, 2013 by New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association

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

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!