Hello SNSC members, skiers , FOSM members and others,
After what has been over three years in the making, the Sandia Nordic Ski Trails are officially designated as Forest Service Seasonal Trails and we can now officially begin trail work! The Sandia Nordic Ski trail project is a part of the bigger Sandia Trail Improvement Project (STIP) which includes hiking, biking and multi-use trails in the Sandias and Placitas. The Forest Service held public meetings over the past years to obtain public input into STIP as many of you know and the process also included biologic, ecologic and archaeological studies as required under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA).
Those of you who are Members of the Friends of the Sandia Mountain (FOSM) who have participated in trail work in conjunction with the Forest Service, will be familiar with the process and Sandia Nordic will closely emulate trail work processes as done by FOSM. For those of you who are not members of FOSM http://friendsofthesandias.org/ , I encourage you to join this great volunteer organization that is largely responsible for the many great hiking, biking and multi-use trails and facilities in the Sandias and Manzanita areas.
The first step in the process will be cutting and clearing new trail corridor which has been designated with the guidance of Forest Service Trails and Wilderness Manager Kerry Wood. Our first trail work day will be Saturday May 29, meeting at the South 10K parking lot at 0830 and working until approximately 1200. We will be following the PPE guidelines set by the Forest Service which require everyone to wear hardhats, glasses or other protective eyewear, long-sleeved shirts (for cutting and clearing work), long pants, closed toe shoes or boots (not running shoes) and work gloves. Our club has purchased some hardhats which we will give away to club members who come out to work. As these first outings will be involved in clearing brush, stumps and small trees within the designated corridor, if you have your own hand saw, pruners, long handle ax or pick please bring those. FOSM and the Forest Service have graciously offered their tools for use and I will pick up some from them as well. The Forest Service current COVID guidelines require masking if within close proximity, but on the trail with distancing, masks are not required. Bring water, snacks and sunscreen as well.
Please RSVP to me at jhuser54@comcast.net or text 505-228-9150 so I can make sure we have enough hardhats and tools. Also if you need to leave before 1200 that’s certainly ok just let me know so we can account for everyone. Our goal is to have at least 3 trail work days/month until the snow falls with Steve Roholt and myself leading the work groups.
Thanks and see you Saturday.
Jeff Huser
505-228-9150