Project status: US FS Approved

Date Planned: April 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025

Location: On trails throughout the Santa Fe National Forest as the need arises.

The following trails fall under this standing project:

• Winsor Trail # 254 from Ski Basin parking lot to Puerto Nambe

• Winsor Trail # 254 from Ski Basin parking lot to its junction with the Juan Trail

• Lower Nambe Trail # 403 (Elevator Shaft)

• Upper Nambe Trail # 101

• Rio Nambe Trail between Winsor Trail # 254 and Borrego Trail # 150

• Borrego Trail # 150 between Rio Nambe Trail # 160 and Aspen Ranch

• Norski Track # 255 main loop and Intestine Loop

• Bear Wallow # 182-Winsor # 254-Borrego Trail # 150 loop

• Tesuque Creek Trail # 152 between its junction with the Winsor Trail and the upper tree line

• Chamisa Trail # 183 to Winsor Trail # 254 and return loop from Saddleback junction to the Hyde Road trail head

• Rio En Medio Trail # 163 between the Winsor Trail # 254 and Aspen Ranch trailhead

• Other trails when requested by the Forest Service

Project summary: This is a standing project and as such is ongoing year-round. Once the snow has cleared from the trails listed above, each is scouted. The purpose of scouting is to document the condition of the trail and the location and size of trees that have fallen over the winter, or since the last sawing operation. The ongoing problem of downed trees blocking or obstructing a trail is not uniform, some trails are more susceptible to trees falling on or across the trail. Several factors are related to the frequency of trees falling including tree maturity, insects, drought, and high winds. In addition, heavy snow may bring down evergreen trees.  High-use trails and trails with a large number of downed trees will be given priority for downed tree removal.  

Maintenance activity: Downed trees are sawed and removed using small and medium size saws, and one or two-person crosscut saws, depending on the tree’s diameter. Generally, motorized saws are not employed, nor are they permitted in designated Wilderness areas. Logs and log debris are either removed from the trail by hand or with the assistance of a cant hook which is used to roll logs off the trail. The minimum number of volunteers required for a sawing operation will vary from a minimum of one to four depending on the size of the tree to sawed and sawing complexity.

Activity level: This may vary from light to strenuous depending on the number and size of trees to be sawed and moved, the distance the logs must be moved, the number and type of tools that must be carried to the work site, distance from the trailhead to the work site, and the gain and loss in elevation between the trailhead and work site. This information will be provided for each specific sawing operation.

Distance: This may vary from a few hundred feet to 3 miles depending on the work site location. This information will be provided for each specific sawing operation.

Elevation: This will vary depending on the work site location. Starting and ending elevations may vary from 8,000 feet to 11,000 feet. Elevation gain and loss combined may reach approximately 2,000 feet. For some projects, there is an elevation going to the work site and then a corresponding loss when returning from the work site, in some cases this may be reversed. For some sawing operations, a car shuttle is used so that the team need only travel in one direction. This information will be provided for each specific sawing operation.