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Category: Local News Releases Local News Releases
Published: 20 May 2019 20 May 2019

Mimbres, NM, May 20, 2019 —Volunteers are a valuable asset in the management of recreation on the Gila National Forest. Organized volunteer groups contribute hundreds of hours to activities like trail maintenance, campground rehabilitation, weed removal and more. Individual volunteers also make significant contributions by serving as volunteer hosts or by maintaining campgrounds and picnic grounds.

Recently, Heart of the Gila, Back Country Horsemen (Gila Chapter), New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors and the Continental Divide Coalition completed 7 miles of trail maintenance on the Middle Fork Trail in the Gila Wilderness Area.  In total, the volunteers contributed 926 hours to maintain the trail. 

Volunteers cut and removed fallen trees, improved tread, and laid rocks along the path to delineate it.  Because of the prohibition on motorized equipment and chain saw use in wilderness areas, volunteers used traditional tools such as crosscut saws, Pulaskis, lopping and pruning shears and axes.

Wilderness District Ranger Rachelle Huddleston-Lorton said “the value of volunteers cannot be over-stated; the work they do, in partnership with the agency, is critical to keeping trails accessible, campgrounds open, and more.  I am grateful for all of our volunteers and the service they provide for visitors and locals alike”.