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Trail Workshop Field Training (ABQ Open Space)
March 17, 2018 @ 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Contact Leader(s): Chris Fritzsche, 505-504-3768, fritzsche.christopher@gmail.com; Larry Benson, L.Benson@nmvfo.org with any questions.
RESULTS: 30 volunteers and 7 City of Albuquerque Open Space employees gathered at the Menaul Blvd. Trailhead. (Twenty-two of the volunteers had attended a preliminary workshop on basic trail construction and maintenance at REI on the evening of March 15, conducted by Lawrence Benson and Chris Fritzsche.) The group routed 850 feet of trail between the Menaul and Embudo trailheads. This involved making a new trail lower down the slope from a long-established but deteriorating user-made trail above Trails 365 and 401. Except for a short section leading up to the old “White Wash” Trail, the old trail was closed by scarifying with perpendicular furrows and transplanting numerous Prickly Pear and Cholla cacti.
In partnership with REI and the Albuquerque Open Space Division, the New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors is conducting its annual 2-part Trail Construction and Maintenance Workshop on Thursday, March 15 and Saturday, March 17. The first session will be held in the Albuquerque REI store and the second part will consist of field training in the City of Albuquerque’s Sandia Foothills Open Space. Experienced trail workers are invited to come to Saturday’s outdoor project on March 17 and help mentor those who attended the classroom session.
Although this is the follow-up to an introductory class in trail work (held at the Albuquerque REI Store on the evening of March 15), others who would like to learn about trail work may also attend this project. Experienced NMVFO trail workers and Albuquerque Open Space employees will oversee new volunteers in re-routing part of a trail in the Foothills Open Space. Participants should wear sturdy boots (no soft shoes!), work gloves, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and other apparel appropriate for the predicted weather. Also bring a day pack with snacks, water, and personal items. We’ll meet at 8:00 am at the Embudo Park trailhead at the eastern end of Menaul Blvd. Starbucks coffee, juice, fruit, and snacks will be available to those who arrive early enough. Depending on attendance, we’ll probably finish work no later than mid-afternoon, but volunteers are welcome to leave early if needed. To sign up for this project, contact Larry Benson at LawRBenson@aol.com.