Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) work on the Bayo Canyon access trail. Courtesy/LAC

YCC hike out to a work site. Courtesy/LAC

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Overgrown vegetation and erosion have made their mark on Los Alamos County-owned trails. In response, the County, its contractors and volunteers are pitching in to spruce up and improve the local trails.

County Open Space Specialist Eric Peterson said a culprit to the trails’ unkemptness is the heavy monsoons experienced last year.

“There’s been a lot of overgrowth from all the moisture, so crews are cutting back vegetation on the trials to improve the experience,” he said.

Plus, the rainfall has caused heavy erosion, which damages the paths, Peterson said.

“We want the water to get off the trail as fast as possible … a lot these trails are historic trails and (they) are on a lot of rock and the rock has eroded and the water flows down on the trail. We can improve the trails by shedding the water off in some areas.”

To address these issues, Peterson said the County is hosting monthly volunteer projects in which the public can help do trail work.

The most recent one was on June 3, which was coincidentally National Trail Day. Volunteers gathered to work on the Woodland Trail to improve it for multi-users. Peterson said the next volunteer opportunity will be July 15. For more information, visit Volunteer Los Alamos.

“It’s a great way to see what type of opportunities are going on and when and where these volunteer opportunities will be,” he said.

The public has shown great support toward these opportunities, Peterson said.

“There’s a big desire from the public for volunteer opportunities … we have had a great turnout so far,” he said. “It’s been great to see new and old faces and be able to give back to the community and give back to the trails.”

The County has gotten assistance from partners, too.

Peterson said the County received a grant from the State of New Mexico Economic Development Department, allowing it to hire Jagged Axe to improve the upper half of Bayo Canyon access trail to make it more equestrian friendly.

CM Arbor is another contractor that is addressing trail maintenance in the County.

Another big player is the Los Alamos Family YMCA’s Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), Peterson said.

Its 15-person crew has focused, so far, on the mesa tops including Deertrap and Kwage Mesas. The YCC also is working on a big project on the access trails from the North Mesa Stables to Bayo Canyon. This will help improve the trail for all users.

YMCA Sports Program Co-Director Lahni Zollinger, who also oversees the YCC, detailed the work the young people are doing.

This includes erosion control such as building rock walls, elevating a trail out of a heavy watershed area or laying down logs to support the trail, widening trails, rerouting paths, building new fences, cutting vegetation and making new trails.

Peterson said the YCC’s efforts are appreciated.

“First thing is, I think it is important to get the youth out to appreciate our trials and open space in the County. It is a big help … to get the seasonal help. I personally look forward to YCC and the monthly trail projects. We will continue to do this each year … and make it an annual event.”

It is also beneficial to young people, Zollinger said.

“When youth are directly involved in projects that betters their community, it helps them to take more pride in their community,” she said. “The YCC program also provides these kids with the opportunity to socialize and bond with peers from many different cultural backgrounds, broadening their perspectives. They also learn leadership skills and the concept of hard work.”

The YCC is also known for being a job training program, Zollinger said.

For instance, the crew recently visited the TA-49 facilities and met the helicopter crew and Rich Nieto about their current jobs and how YCC can segue into a future career.

Nieto mentioned that he started out doing YCC, Zollinger said. The crew were shown the helicopter and learned ways to enter that career field.

Zollinger added the YCC focuses on one of the community’s most-prized possessions: its trails.

“It’s important because our great community has a strong culture of health and love for the outdoors,” she said. “We are not a large community with a lot of activities to offer our citizens but one thing we do offer is an expansive trail system that allows people the opportunity to get outdoors to do hiking and enjoy the beautiful northern New Mexico landscapes.”

The County maintains 65 miles of trails, Peterson said. However, if the unofficial trails and trails managed by different agencies are added in then there is more than 155 miles of trails in Los Alamos County.

What sets Los Alamos County’s trail system apart from others is “The number of trails we have throughout the County,” he said. “We do have a great network of trails throughout Los Alamos County for such as small county …”

Plus, the trails take its users to remote areas, stunning views and a great amount of wildlife, Peterson added.

For more information on volunteering or the work being done, Peterson can be emailed at eric.peterson@lacnm.us

Work completed on the Bayo Canyon access trail. Courtesy/LAC