March 2023 – Sagebrush Trails

Allie/Bear Loop Backpack 2023

Nine volunteers from the Gila Chapter of NM Backcountry Horsemen (BCH-Gila) and NMVFO teamed up for a 4-day backpacking trail project along Bear Canyon Trail in the Gila National Forest. We met at the trailhead on Fiero Road (past the village of Fiero and an old iron mine, north of the Chino copper mine) where horsepeople loaded gear for us.

Nights and mornings were cold, but BCH-Gila brought along a “hot tent”, heated by a packable titanium woodstove.

Descansos Trail 2 2023

Eleven or so volunteers from Socorro Trails returned to Descansos Trail west of Socorro, starting on the north end to do some rock-work.

We divided into two teams, working on rocky areas for a good mountain bike experience. The area had so many rocks that there was little soil available for making a tread, so we either had to haul dirt a great distance in a wheelbarrow, or scavenge small quantities of sand wherever we could.

Descansos Trail 2023

Fifty (!) volunteers showed up for a one-day project to start work on a new trail just west of Socorro between Grammont Peak Trail and The Shrine on Gun Range Road, named Descansos Trail. The project was organized by Rob of Socorro Trails, with participation from a Tech bike club, a rock climbing group, a middle-school cross-country team, and BLM staff.

We divided into about 4 trail crews, and leap-frogged as we scratched out trail in rocky soil, with Sofias breakfast burritos appearing for brunch.

Nick’s crew did some impressive rock work in a particularly difficult section.