We will resume our monthly trail work days as soon as conditions and weather permit.

You can also check the SMT website http://salidamountaintrails.org/ for updates.

Saturday, November 12, 9:00am: SMT Trail Work Day.

Some rerouting and possible kiosk relocation need to be performed at the North Backbone Trailhead area on County Road 175. This is a winter weather-permitting work day; if the temperature is too low or there is snow on the ground, the work will be rescheduled. To get to the meeting place go up Ute Trail, CR 175, until the pavement ends and then go 0.3 miles further. Pull off on the right and park in the area where the kiosk currently resides. We will be rerouting the current trail to a new end point further up the road to the north. We will also move the kiosk to the new trailhead if it hasn’t already been moved. Come prepared to stay warm, and also bring your water, work gloves, and sturdy boots. Tools will be provided. At 1:00pm, after the trail work, SMT will host a volunteer lunch behind the Salida Cafe.

We will be meeting Forest Service personnel at the Shirley Site, a parking area on the dirt road that goes to O’Haver Lake. Drive south on Hwy 285 out of Poncha Springs, going up Poncha Pass, and take the right turn to O’Haver Lake. The Shirley Site is approximately 1.5 miles down the road, on the left where you would turn right to go to the lake. We can park in the Shirley Site lot, and Forest Service personnel will ferry us up to the work site on Silver Creek. Since more travel than usual is involved, the volunteer lunch after work will be moved back to 2:00pm behind the Salida Cafe and Roastery.

As usual, come prepared with water, gloves, long pants and sturdy boots. You might want to bring a snack if you get hungry before 2. Tools will be provided.

On April 16 & 17 I am teaming up with Absolute Bikes to present an all women’s mountain biking clinic. On Friday night we will host a free ride for participants of the clinic and Eric and Shawn will present a discussion on bike fit. On Saturday and Sunday we will break into groups according to ability and learn and a lot of skills, and then head out on Salida’s great new trails The Little Rainbow and Arkansas Hills (S Mountain.) It is going to be a lot of fun and your confidence will grow with your new skills. Contact Holly at hollyannala@yahoo.com for questions or call Absolute Bikes and ask for Shawn to sign up, 719-539-9295. Be sure and let him know your ability level as well.

Saturday, February 12, 2011, 9:00am: ShinDig to Open Little Rainbow.

Weather permitting, SMT is scheduling the February Volunteer ShinDig to coincide with the Grand Opening of the Little Rainbow Trail and to do some re-routing of the trail as it reaches the CR110 parking lot. Meet at the CR110 trailhead parking lot, which is 2.2 miles south on CR110 from Hwy 50. Turn left at the 2.2 mile point and go up a short incline to the parking lot. We will work on the trail until 12 noon, at which time the trail opening ceremony will take place. After the ceremony, lunch will be provided to the volunteers behind or inside the Salida Cafe and Roastery. As usual, come prepared with water, gloves, long pants and sturdy boots. Be sure to dress warmly for the low February morning temperatures. Tools will be provided

Last Sunday, 13 people showed up & worked really hard to finish the west portion of the trail, for Cty Rd 110 to 108.  All that remains are a few limbs to be pruned and time for Mother Nature to do her part.  We were also able to begin finish work east of 108, which has now been completed approximately 1 kilometer, thanks to Arrowhead Trails.  Arrowhead will continue finish work this week. Their Sweco has completed cutting the trail in and the mini excavator is not far behind.