Category: Trail Projects

Fifteen volunteers from NMVFO, with two BLM staff, devoted a weekend improving the Datil Well Campground. On Friday several of us gathered at Eagle Guest Ranch for dinner to start the adventure.

On Saturday we divided into three teams. One built a trail to an ADA compliant site within the main campground, wide with a crusher-fine top that will later be topped with a different material. A second group installed 7 you-are-here trail map signs at intersections and closed unwanted user trails. A third group demolished old structures at viewpoints, to be replaced later with a more maintainable design.

Continue reading “Datil Well 2022”

For an upcoming NMVFO weekend camping project at Datil Well Campground, Nick and I joined BLM staff Mike and Denny to discuss upcoming work. Datil Well has been recently improved with an ADA accessible camp site, and several sites have concrete telescope platforms for star-gazing. We will build a short wide trail from the ADA site to the HQ.

We also scouted the existing trail loops, and discussed signage options. We will put in temporary signs at several intersections, and demolish some structures at viewpoints, which will be replaced later with more maintainable shelters.

With a heavier rain year, the existing trails still look rather good, though we did not go down the lower newer loop.

The current plan is to install maps mounted on metal pedestals at trail intersections, but as a temporary measure we may install carsonite posts.

Catlin and I joined Jennifer from USFS at the Borrego Trailhead just past Hyde State Park outside of Santa Fe, to scout the loop of Borrego, Winsor, and Bear Wallow Trails for a one-day NMVFO project in a couple of weeks. The trailhead was very active and full of cars, typical for this area close to the city, all the way up to the ski area, as many people and their dogs enjoy getting out on trails.

Borrego Trail becomes narrow in places, and needs re-benching. This is fairly subtle treadwork, so it should be an interesting and challenging project day.

Catlin and I continued around the 2-mile loop. Bear Wallow needs some lopping. This short section of Winsor is heavily used by mountain bikes, taking the Blue Bus to the ski area and plunging miles downhill to catch the bus again and repeat the trip. My co-leader and I stopped at the intersection of Winsor and Bear Wallow, near a bridge, to have lunch.

All signs at intersections looked good. These trails are already adopted by the Termites, Fat Tire Society, and OTAG Over The Arroyo Gang, so they are in rather good shape, and heavily used by the hiking public.