Silver City, NM; October 20, 2011--For many, the word vacation brings to mind visions of sandy beaches, a bustling European city, or a snow covered ski resort. However, for a group of volunteers from the Continental Divide Trail Association (CDTA), a good vacation involves using wildland firefighting tools such as the McCleod, pulaski, and pickaxe.

For one of this year's projects, the group gathered on a section of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) in the Burro Mountains on the Gila National Forest. Under the supervision of Lynette Brown, a Forestry Technician on the Silver City Ranger District, the team trimmed bushes, removed rocks and tree stumps, and constructed one mile of new trail.

"This is my first year helping out; we got involved in volunteering to assist with trail work," said Carol Martin, Trail Volunteer.

As Brown explained, trail work is very technical. The trail crew takes into consideration the natural contour of the land, the trail width, slope, water runoff, and plant growth. What this translates into is a lot of manual labor. "This work is challenging but very rewarding," added Martin.

Despite the hard work, enthusiasm for the trail was contagious and seemed to be the fuel that kept everyone motivated. Several of the trail volunteers talked about working on multiple projects each year, often working for weeks on end. The CDTA dedication to trail construction is evident.

Situated along the backbone of the west, the trail stretches from Mexico to Canada and passes through some of the most remote, rugged, and scenic country in the United States. Officially designated by Congress in 1978, the 3,100 mile trail serves as a recreation destination for thousands of visitors each year.

The CDTA was formed in 1995 to assist federal land management agencies in the completion, management, and protection of the CDNST. Comprised of members from across the nation, the group coordinates projects, lasting from one day to three weeks, where members get together and work on the trail.