Trail work 2005

10-8-05:  Kenton Shaw reports about forty downed trees across our trails.  Volunteers meet at 9:00 AM at Skyway to remove trees

10-15-05:  Volunteers meet at County Line at 9:00 AM to remove fallen trees.  More trees fell during the week when a stong storm knocked down several more trees.

Kenton and some of the crew on 10-15-05

10-22-05: Still two trees down on the SE side of Sunset and one small tree on Arroyo. As other trails are clear.  Kenton will be doing trail work 10-22/10-23 and will be looking for a few volunteers.

10-27-05:  Fred Wild reports: We have been working on ward. Since 10/2, we have logged 36.5 hrs. (74 man hours). Most of this was done by Fred & Ruth, Bob Rememede, Jan & Morrie Rupp, Joyce Tanahara, Betsy Marston & J. Knutson. We have cut & cleared better than 111 down trees, cut some brush and still have trails to do. A new log bridge may have to be put in below the Ward Campground.

 

Trail work 2004

10-22-04: 6"- 22" of snow on the ground. Excellent skiing on skier packed trails. Extra blue wax in the morning then became a little slick in the afternoon.  Some downed trees removed from Loop 2 by volunteers, Jerry and Marci. Kenton

10-12-04: Volunteer fall trail work started today and will continue tomorrow (Sunday). Meet at the Skyway parking lot at 9:00 am.  Conditions today were clear blue skies, frost early in the morning, 3"-4" of snow in the shade and still some yellow leaves to look at on the way up. Hope you can make it.  Trail work will continue next weekend too. I'll let you know when and where.  Kenton

10-10-04:  Trail work scheduled for this Sunday 10-10-04 to remove fallen trees from the trails.  Kenton Shaw is the coordinator.  Meet at 9:00AM at Skyway.

10-9-04: Trail work scheduled for this Saturday 10-9-04 to remove fallen trees from the trails.  Kenton Shaw is the coordinator.  Meet at 9:30AM at Skyway.

Trail work 2003

11-08-03: 11-8-03  Trail work at Skyway and County Line was pretty much completed today.  Six GMNC volunteers had a great time today,  doing trail work mixed in with some skiing.  We finally rolled that one big rock off of the trail on Loop 3.  It was about 3' in diameter and required two long pry bars, a pick and shovel, chain and winch, several logs and all of the volunteers to roll the rock about 4' off the trail.  We also cut and removed two downed trees from Loop 3 that had fallen since our original trail crews went through.   Additionally more " You Are Here" signs were put up today by the GMNC.  Kenton

11-1-03: Trail work today took place at Skyway. The weather was windy with occasional snow flurries. Like skiing on a windy day, we headed for the trails in the trees. Sunset and Winslow trails are now ready for snow. We cut, limbed and cleared 9 blown down trees and shaved off about 20 stumps. I will be going up tomorrow, Sunday 11-2, if you want to join me. Still plenty of work left before grooming begins, including one big rock that I need help with. Please call me at 242-4062. Kenton

10-30-03: Well as you might guess, trail work for Skyway and County Line is still not quite done. We still have some downed trees on Sunset and Lions to remove, several rocks at County Line to roll off the trails, a few diamonds to put up on Loop 3 and a little bit of widening on Lions Loop. Plus, since Duane hurt his foot, we might have to put up " You Are Here " signs at both areas.

We have had 18 days of trail work so far on both Saturday and Sunday of every weekend since August 31st (18 days so far) with 12 different volunteers and the last 10 trail work days or the last 5 weekends, only three people showed up besides Joyce and I.

This weekend might be the last chance to move those rocks before colder weather sets in and I could really use some help.  Kenton

10-24-03: Just a reminder, that trail work for Skyway and County Line will continue this Saturday Oct 25th and Sunday Oct. 26th.  Meet at the Skyway parking lot at 9:00 am.  No tools necessary, just gloves and lunch.  Kenton

10-15-03: Trail work at Skyway and County Line will continue for the next two weekends, then hopefully we will be done. Meet at the Skyway parking lot at 9:00 am. The better the ground work, the better the skiing. Kenton Shaw

10-11-03: Trail work Sunday (10-12) will be on the Dog Loop at County Line. Meet at the County Line Parking lot at 9:00 am. Kenton

10-10-03:  Trail work will continue again this Saturday and Sunday (10-11 and 10-12). Plan to meet at the County Line parking lot at 9:00 am. We will most likely be working on widening the Dog Loop and Dog Trail for snowcat grooming on Saturday and putting up some diamonds and blue posts. As far as Sunday, I'll try to keep you posted as to where we will be working. If we get enough energetic bodies I would sure like to move a few large rocks on some of the trails at County Line.  Kenton

10-1-03: On going trail work at County Line and Skyway will continue this Saturday (10-4) and Sunday (10-5). Plan to meet at the County Line parking lot at 9:00 AM. For more information call me at 242-4062 or e-mail at [email protected]. And for continued updates check the GMNC web site at http://gmnc.doesit.info and/or subscribe to the GMNC mail list. Kenton

9-21-03: Seven trail volunteers worked hard today and accomplished quite a bit. Loop 3 is starting to shape up and should be much more enjoyable and exciting to ski this year.  Trail work will continue next weekend ( 9-27 & 9-28 ), on Loop 3 at the north end and near the overlook. Plan to meet at the Skyway parking lot at 9:00 am. I'll be out of town for the week so please call Friday evening (242-4062) or e-mail [email protected] if you are coming.  Kenton

9-20-03: Sunday trail work will be on the west side of Loop 3 at County Line. Call for details. 242-4062.

9-14-03:  Worked on Loop 3 today (9-14-03). Still haven't made it to the overlook on the widening of Loop 3. Need help! There is still a lot to do to finish by the end of October. Besides the widening, clearing and removal of blown down trees. We need to have people marking the trails that have been widened with blue posts and diamonds, limbing trees, cutting willows and moving rocks. Call me Friday evening (9-19) for what, when and where we will be doing trail work this next weekend of 9-20 and 9-21.  

And thank you to all of the volunteers so far.  Kenton 242-4062

9-13-03: Oh what a great day. The leaves are starting to turn, the air is crisp and there is still 2-3" of snow in the shade from Tuesdays storm. The five person trail crew volunteers worked on widening Loop 3 today, slowly making our way to the overlook. The plan for tomorrow( Sunday) is still the same, meet at the County Line Trailhead at 9:00 and work on the Southeast side of Loop 3.  Kenton

9-09-03: TRAIL WORK WILL RESUME AGAIN THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY (13TH & 14TH) AT 9:00 AT COUNTY LINE. WE WILL BE WORKING ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF LOOP 3 GOING TOWARDS THE OVERLOOK. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL ME. KENTON

9-06-03:    THE FIRST DAY OF TRAIL WORK WAS GREAT.  I WIDENED THE SE SIDE OF LOOP1 AND MOST OF LOOP2.   THERE IS STILL A LOT OF CLEAN UP, LIMB TRIMMING AND NEW DIAMONDS TO PUT UP.  I WILL BE GOING UP TOMMORROW (Sunday)AND WILL BE WORKING THE SAME AREA (SE SIDE OF LOOP 1,2 AND 3 TOWARDS THE OVERLOOK).  COME ON UP IF YOU CAN.  Kenton

9-04-03: For those interested in volunteering some time to help out the Grand Mesa Nordic Council, trail work will begin this Saturday Sept.6th at 9:00am.   We will meet at the County Line parking lot and will be working on widening the southeast sides of loop 1,2 and 3 towards the overlook.  Feel free to come and leave at anytime.  You don't need anything except gloves and lunch.  But if you have chainsaws, pole saws or limb clippers bring them. 
    If you can't make it this Saturday we will be working the next four Saturdays thru Sept. and maybe some Sundays. For more information contact Kenton Shaw at 242-4062 or [email protected].

8-17-03: Hope your all having a great summer.  With the recent cooler weather and fall approaching I start thinking of snow and gliding along the trails on the Mesa.  And to make the skiing more enjoyable there is always a lot of trail work to be done.     Once again the US Forest Service has reported that there is only a slim chance that they will have any crews available for trail work this year, so its up to us.   With only a few blown down trees this year, we can do some trails improvements and upgrades.  This is the preliminary plan that I have come up with for Skyway and County Line:     Widen all of Loop 3 to 16' for our standard recreational skate and classic 14' wide trail.     Two small reroutes on Loop 3 near the overlook to eliminate one sharp corner and the other to bypass a steep narrow severely side sloping hill.     Widen the overlook loop at County Line.
     Widen Dog Trail and Dog Loop to 22' for 20' wide Snowcat grooming.     Reroute a portion of Dog Loop to eliminate a sharp right hand corner at the bottom of a steep hill
     Continue our widening of Kannah Crossing for shorter snowcat grooming time.     And finally general maintenance;  limbing trees, putting up blue diamonds, painting or replacing old blue posts, cutting willows and moving rocks.    

There are very few mosquitoes right and to avoid trudging through foot deep October snow like last year I hope to start trail work sooner this year, say Sept. 6th?  Please contact me or Fred and Ruth Wild  if you have any input and I will keep you updated as to when and where trail work will be taking place this fall.   

          Kenton

Trail work 2002

Pictures from October 5, 2002.

Trail work began Saturday, September 21 and continued into October.   Over 70 fallen trees were removed from the trails before the bulk of the work was finished.  There are still some small jobs left.   If you would like to work on these jobs you should call Kenton Shaw at 242-4062 to get the details.

Ward Creek Bridge Construction

During the week of September 7th, GMNC workers worked on replacing the old bridge with a new one at the Ward Creek Reservoir  trailhead.   The cost of the bridge was financed through a grant proposal made by GMNC Board member, Bob Remmerde.  This bridge will not only be safer than the old one but will make grooming easier.

               

                

           

 

Trail work 2001

One of the trailwork projects is to reroute the trail to Will's Hill for better access and grooming.

Access to Will's Hill will be at the top of the hill just south of the four way intersection.

Here are few pictures of the work being done on Sept 6, 2001.   Volunteers welcome.  Call Kenton.

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Grant Application is Successful:

Our grant application to the State Trails Program for the Ward Creek Crossing has been approved. Funds will be available after the beginning of July.  Kudos to Bob Remm for his work in getting us this grant.  More work ahead as the grant funds begin to flow.

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        Here are some pictures of last year's cleanup