Horsethief Trail Backpack (SFNF)

RESULTS: Seven volunteers spent four days based at Horse Thief Meadow in the Pecos Wilderness clearing blowdowns and leaners from about 1.6 miles of the Skyline Trail. The Pecos Chapter of the Back County Horseman Association supported the volunteers by packing in tools and equipment and cooking delicious meals for us at a field kitchen they set up at the camp site.

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Description: Spend 3 nights camping in remote Horse Thief Meadow, which we will use as our basecamp for strenuous and fun days doing trail improvements and clearing blowdowns north and south along the Skyline Trail #251 and Horsethief Trail #253. Starting from the Panchuela campground, we will backpack in 5.6 miles on the Cave Creek and Skyline trails to the meadow on Thursday and set up camp. We’ll decide on a work agenda for each day depending on the group’s interests, then hike back out Sunday morning. The Back Country Horsemen Association will support us by packing tools and camp equipment from Panchuela to the meadow and back.

BCHA will also cook morning and evening meals for the group at the campsite. Participants must provide their own lunch out on the trail during the day.

Location: We will park at the USFS Panchuela Campground, driving the narrow road up from Cowles.

Difficulty:

Group Size: Up to 15

Closing date for signups is June 22, 2024

Reminder: Pets are not allowed on NMVFO projects.

Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project. On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Stewart Lake Backpack (Santa Fe NF)

RESULTS: Six volunteers spent four days based out of Stewart Lake camp in the Pecos Wilderness clearing blowdowns from the upper Winsor and Skyline trails between Stewart Lake and the saddle above Puerto Nambe. We also added some variety to the cross cut bucking (and cooled down) by getting our feet wet with a few stream crossing and drainage improvements. All enjoyed good fellowship around camp, which was enlivened by many chattering boys from the annual St Mark’s School wilderness immersion program who shared the campsite. Most of us old guys agreed that the highlight of the trip was a lunch-time nap on the shore of beautiful Spirit Lake!

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Description: Join us on a four-day backpack to a base camp near Stewart Lake, a highlight of the Pecos Wilderness at 10,000 feet elevation along SkylineTrail #251. Starting from Cowles, we will hike in 7.5 miles along Winsor Ridge Trail #271, to clear downed trees and lop corridor, and improve tread in the area as necessary. The Back Country Horsemen will support us by transporting tools and cooking equipment to base camp.

Location: We will park at Winsor Ridge Trailhead near Cowles, Google Map link.

Please sign up below by Tuesday, August 8. One person per signup.

Difficulty:

Group Size: Up to 15

For more information: If this is your first NMVFO project, you can find more information about difficulty ratings and what to expect at Volunteer FAQ, or email the project leader.

Skyline Trail Backpack (Santa Fe NF)

RESULTS: On July 15th eleven NMVFO volunteers and a US Forest Service intern backpacked up the Winsor Ridge Trail to a campsite at Stewart Lake in the Pecos Wilderness. In three days, the volunteers cleared 151 trees on 3.5 miles of the Skyline Trail from Stewart Lake towards Horsethief Meadow despite getting rained out on two afternoons by thunderstorms. The Backcountry Horsemen of America supported the project by packing in NMVFO’s tools and equipment.

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Description: Join NMVFO on a four-day backpacking project to clear downed trees and improve drainage and tread along the popular Skyline Trail. NMVFO will be setting up a base camp at the Intersection of Trails #251 and #271 near Stewart Lake. The Backcountry Horsemen of America will be supporting the project by transporting our tools and equipment to the base camp. The base camp will be about 5.8 miles from the Winsor Ridge trailhead (#271) located near Cowles, NM. While the project starts on Thursday, July 15th, you are welcome to join us on Friday or Saturday and spend as much time working with us as you can. NMVFO will supply the tools, water purification equipment, a portable toilet, and a campstove to heat water for rehydrating meals and for hot drinks. Volunteers will need to bring their own food but will be reimbursed at $15/day.

NMVFO will be practicing the then current Covid-19 protocols on this project. Specific details will be provided prior to the start of the project.

Reminder- Pets are not allowed on NMVFO projects.

Please sign up at NMVFO.org by July 10th, 2020.

Meeting Location: Parking area next to Pecos River at 35.81224, -105.65910

Difficulty: 3 Pulaskis

Group Size: 15

For more information: If this is your first NMVFO project, you can find more information about difficulty ratings and what to expect at our Volunteer FAQ’s, or email the project leader.

Please read our volunteer guidelines before signing up for this project.

This project is full but you can still sign up to be put on the waitlist.

Skyline Trail Backpack (Santa Fe NF)

RESULTS: Thirteen hardy folks, including a ten-year-old boy and his father, volunteered for a four-day backpacking project into the Pecos Wilderness in the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) The group cleared 67 downed trees (deadfalls) using crosscut saws and removed brush using loppers and pruning saws along 2.5 miles of the Skyline Trail from Puerto Nambe to Penitente Peak. They set up a base camp in the meadow at Puerto Nambe surrounded by spruce-fir forest. The Pecos Chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen of America supported the group by transporting tools and equipment to and from the base camp. In accordance with SFNF COVID-19 protocols, the group was split into four-person work crews. Each crew was led by a USFS-certified sawyer. The crews worked so hard that the trail was cleared by the end of the second day. Most of the group spent the third day climbing Santa Fe Baldy and visiting Lake Katherine.

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Description: Join us on a four-day backpacking project to clear downed trees and improve drainage and
tread along the popular Skyline Trail. We will be setting up a base camp in the beautiful meadows at
Puerto Nambe surrounded by spruce-fir forest. The Backcountry Horsemen of America will be
supporting us by transporting our tools and cooking equipment to the base camp. The base camp will be
about 4.2 miles from the Winsor trailhead at the Santa Fe Ski Basin. While the project starts on
Thursday, June 25th, you are welcome to join us on Friday or Saturday and spend as much time working
with us as you can. Reminder: Pets are not allowed on NMVFO projects.

We will be practicing social distancing on this project. Specific details will be provided prior to the start
of the project.

Meet at: Winsor Trailhead at the Santa Fe Ski Basin Lower Parking lot, GPS Trailhead Coordinates N35°
47.698’ W105° 48.262’

Please sign up below. Closing date for sign-ups is Saturday June 20th, 2020.

Difficulty: 3 Pulaskis

Group Size: Up to 15

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(s).

This project is made possible by a grant from the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance.

Skyline Backpack (Santa Fe NF)

**This project will only run if the Santa Fe National Forest reopens by June 20th (Stage III fire restrictions)** Join us as we repair a very scenic trail high up in the Pecos Wilderness! We will make our basecamp at the meadows of Puerto Nambe and work to repair the Skyline Trail as it climbs from the meadows to a saddle on the side of Santa Fe Baldy. This project will receive horse-packing support from the Back Country Horsemen of America (BCHA), who will pack in all of our food and cooking equipment the 4 miles from trailhead to basecamp. Speaking of cooking, all meals will be provided by an award-winning trail chef who really knows how to cook up a tasty meal in the backcountry! Water will be available in the area around basecamp. The trail work will be tread repair and some trail re-routing. All tools will be provided.

We will be camping in a wooded area at 11,000’ elevation. Volunteers will need to provide their own backpack, tent and sleeping bag suitable for high-altitude camping. Also bring a plate, bowl, cup and utensils. Plan to bring good work gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants and sturdy boots. Rain gear, hat and sunscreen will also be needed. Bring a small daypack and water bottles, plus any trail snacks desired. Contact project leader Mark Kimmel if you have any questions.