Greetings,

Last Saturday, 13 volunteers from Sandia Nordic Ski Club and Friends of the Sandia Mountains (FOSM) finished  the Klaus trail  which is located below  the Service Rd. and extends from Ellis Trailhead to the Sandia downhill ski area.   James Carpenter, Sim Cook, Shana Dellios, Jon Dellios, Scott Dietrich, Annie Driskell, David Dunlap, Paul Gourley, Pat Madden, Mike Madden, Barry Roberts, Ed Trzcienski and myself completed  the south section of Klaus recently leveled out with a mini-excavator by Bruce Hansche, Scott Dietrich and myself.  Reseeding of this section will be done later this fall to  return this ski only trail to a natural state during the during the off season. Work is also  near completion on sections of the Sandia Nordic trail above the  upper 10k meadow.  These improvements have the  goal of creating a safer, more enjoyable Nordic ski experience for skiers of all abilities.  Klaus trail will also allow us to continue to groom the ski trails in late season after the Service Rd. is plowed.

Thanks to all who participated and for those who couldn’t make it, we should have another Saturday outing in September. Remaining pre-season projects also  include putting up snow fencing in several areas and  trail signs so stay tuned. Big thanks to FOSM for their help and  tools  and also  to Forest Service staff Kerry Woods, Russel Berman, Joseph Jaffa-Martinez and Jeff Cervantes whose expertise and assistance helped make this project possible.

L to R: James Carpenter*, Barry Roberts, Annie Driskell*, Mike Madden and Buddy  (seated), David Dunlap, Pat Madden, Ed Trzcienski*,

Sim Cook, Jeff Huser.  Not pictured Shana and Jon Dellios. Photo by Scott Dietrich.   * New work crew members

Sim, James, Ed and Jeff getting down to b’dness.

David, Shana, John with Tala posting guard

Annie  tending to  the back slope.