 New Mexico Cross Country Ski Club |
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Photo by Carl Smith
This Tree Exploded when it was Hit Photo by Carl Smith
Removing Tree Across Elk Ridge Trail Trail MaintenanceSam Beard is the Trails Chairman Volunteer Trail Maintenance ProgramThe Ski Club participates in the Adopt-A-Trail Programs (AAT) on the Sandia and Jemez Ranger Districts. A few times each year, generally in the summer and fall, the Club Trails Chair announces work outings via the Club e-mail group. Members and guests hike trails, remove fallen trees, prune branches, cut brush, and replace blue plastic diamonds that have fallen from the trees. The volunteers use personal tools and Club tools such as pole saws, bow saws, and long handle loppers. Several Club members are U.S. Forest Service certified chain saw and crosscut saw operators. In the Sandia Mountains, Club volunteers work with the Friends of the Sandia Mountains to maintain the ski trails that are also used for hiking and mountain biking during the summer. Some of these trails are Switchback, Rocky Point, Gravel Pit, Survey, and Challenge. On the Jemez Ranger District, Club volunteers maintain Corral Canyon, Calzada, Peralta-Paliza, Ladera, and Elk Ridge Trails. On the Valles Caldera National Preserve, the Club has worked on trails in the Coyote Call Area and on South Mountain. Trail maintenance outings are very rewarding in that the volunteers make the trails safer and more enjoyable for Club members and the public. It is also an opportunity to meet other Club members, become familiar with the routes before ski season, and enjoy our New Mexico mountains during the warmer months. If you are interested in helping with trail maintenance, contact Trails Chair Sam Beard at 505-828-0673 or samgbeard@msn.com. Report Trees Down on TrailsWhen you find trees down on ski trails or hiking trails, please report them to Sam Beard, Ski Club Trails Chair. Please include the following in your report: mountain range (Sandia or Jemez Mountains), trail name, approximate location along trail, and tree diameter. It is also helpful to know if the down tree is completing blocking the trail and if there is a path around the tree. Sam maintains a table with information about trees across trails so that either individual volunteers or volunteer crews can remove the down trees. Thank-You. Photo by Carl Smith
Lunch at Griegos Junction
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