RESULTS: Four NMVFO volunteers, together with two staff members from the Continental Divide Trail Coalition and a CDTC volunteer built approximately 2500 ft of new trail through steep rocky terrain along the CDT. The new work reroutes the CDT away from a road-walk in the Black Range ranger district of the Gila National Forest not far from the town of Chloride, NM. Previously a youth crew and another CDTC volunteer group had begun work on the 1.5 mile reroute. Our crew finished the reroute on Oct 17th, then spent the next day doing finish-up maintenance work, adding final touches to approximately 1.25 miles of the new trail before heading home.
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From our partners at CDTC:
“Project Description: The Continental Divide Trail Coalition is partnering with New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors and the Black Range Ranger District (Forest Service) to complete a 1.5 mile reroute of the CDT in the Black Range of the Gila National Forest, west of Chloride, NM. A Youth Conservation Corps has already put time and energy into this reroute – but there is still progress to be made! The Forest Service has made this construction project a priority and would like to see it completed this fall. CDTC and NMVFO are proud to assist in the completion of this reroute and successfully remove it from a dirt Forest Service road. Enjoy the solitude and remoteness of the Black Range while swinging tools and creating a brand new portion of a National Scenic Trail.
Plan: Volunteers will arrive between 4pm and 6pm on October 15th at the Monument Cabin to pitch camp and get situated. CDTC staff will be there to direct volunteers where to camp. Volunteers will hit the trail on October 16th working north from the Caledonia trailhead on the CDT with the goal of completing the roughly 1.5 mile reroute and adding finishing touches as needed. Work will be wrapped up by 1:30PM on October 19th to ensure volunteers have ample time to pack up camp and drive safely home.
Meeting Time and Place: Thursday October 15th between 4pm and 6pm at Monument Cabin. Click here for Google Maps directions.
Directions to Meeting Place: From I-25 take Exit 83 and head west towards Winston and Chloride via NM-52/County Rd CO06. Once in Chloride head west out of town on Wall St, which turns into County Rd CO53 for 12 miles until the cabin is on your left. Please note that the cabin is not marked but CDTC staff will be present to guide volunteers. CDTC highly recommends entering directions to the cabin into your phone via Google maps before departing. Google maps will work without cell phone service via your phone’s GPS.
COVID-19: Please take the time to review CDTC COVID-19 Guidelines & Procedures on the CDTC website, or access it here.
Day-of Project Contact: CDTC Field Instructor Isaac Miller, 406-224-3998, imiller@continentaldividetrail.org, or CDTC Field Instructor Beckett Wagner, 330-840-0369, bwagner@continentaldividetrail.org.
Vehicle Requirements: 4WD High Clearance.
Daily Hiking Distance: 2-3 miles a day.
Work Difficulty: Strenuous – Moderately high elevation with strenuous tasks such as digging new trail, removing rocks/boulders and brushing.
What’s Provided: Tools, project materials, personal protective equipment, work site supervision, and qualified First Aid personnel. Volunteers are responsible for providing their own food and water for the duration of the project.
Food and Water: Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, volunteers will not be able to share food or water with others outside their household. Volunteers are responsible for all their meals and must come prepared with breakfast, lunch, dinner, water, and snacks for the entire duration of the project. CDTC staff will have extra water for volunteers at the campsite.
Amenities: None. This is a primitive campsite with no bathrooms or running water, but CDTC staff will dig a latrine for volunteers to use.”
Difficulty: 3 Pulaskis
Group Size: 7 Volunteers, 3 Leaders
For more information: If this is your first NMVFO project, you can find more information about difficulty ratings and what to expect at https://nmvfo.org/volunteer/volunteer-faq, or email the project leader.
