Category: Trail Projects

Valle de Oro February 2022

NMVFO started its 40th season with a trail project at Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, just south of Albuquerque. About 20 volunteers and agency staff gathered at the new partially-opened visitor center for a talk about the refuge and a briefing on what is planned for the day.

We divided into teams and worked on raking tread and clearing brush along the North Loop Trail, an old roadbed dating from when the refuge land was a dairy.

After several video conferences planning the season, it is a relief for trail volunteers to meet in-person and work together in the real world.

Segment 86 November 2021

Cairn and two doggies joined me to work for one day on CDT Segment 86. I am supposed to visit my adopted trail section at least twice a year, so this completes my mission for 2021.

On this visit I mainly worked on tread on the north end, scraping grass and rabbitbush out of the path with a McLeod. Slow going, but necessary.

Before:

And after:

We treated ourselves to pie at the Pie-O-Neer in Pie Town both before and after our work– decadent, but supports the local economy. Pecan and blackberry before, fresh blueberry afterwards.

San Lorenzo Canyon 2021

Eighteen NMVFO volunteers car-camped at the cottonwood grove November 5-7, near the end of the drive into San Lorenzo Canyon, just south of the Sevilleta Wildlife Refuge. We partnered with BLM to construct new trail and upgrade user trail on the south rim of the canyon to make a 2.5 mile loop with the main drainage.

BLM had already constructed a kiosk to mark the beginning of the trail, and we installed 8 metal trail markers to help show the route and overlooks. The view from the rim looking down on the canyon shows off the geology of this area.

We enjoyed camping together with good weather and superb location for this late-season trail construction project.

Thanks crew boss Nick, team leaders Jenny, Mike M, and Rob S, cooks Marie and Hillary, with Charlie, Ed, Pam & Rob, Danielle & Kai & Paige, Russ, Carlos, Catlin, and Christy for a memorable outing.

This trail is near the San Lorenzo high water alternate route for the Grand Enchantment Trail, and perhaps someday may become part of that trail.

This project site was only 10.1 miles from my house! That is a new distance record, but may be broken by another new trail BLM is planning for next year…