Open Space Working Group members Celeste Raffin (left), Jerry Cowan (right), and Kevin Holsapple present prize package items to Trail Etiquette Quiz Contest winner Ashley Horner.
OSTWG News:
The Los Alamos Open Space & Trails Working Group is excited to announce the winner of their “Test Your Trail Smarts: Multi-Use Trail Etiquette Quiz”! The quiz, which closed on June 30, 2025, was designed to raise awareness and promote safer and more harmonious shared trail experiences on the beautiful Pajarito Plateau.
An impressive 32 out of 66 entries achieved a perfect score on the quiz, demonstrating a strong understanding of trail etiquette within our community. A random drawing was held among all respondents who achieved the top score to determine the recipient of the prize.
The Los Alamos Open Space & Trails Working Group is pleased to congratulate Ashley Horner as the lucky winner of the “Test Your Trail Smarts” prize package!
The prize package, generously donated by local businesses and organizations, includes two 12-movie and popcorn punch passes from SALA, good for the next year; an author-signed copy of “Beer Hiking Southern Rockies” and a a Beer Hiker’s Kit from Highline Associates, LLC; a $50 and gift card from LA Bootery (good for trail boots, sandals, socks, gelato, and other great stuff); and a lightweight trail first aid kit and a $25 Metzgers Gift Card (good for hike/bike gear and any of their other stuff) from Places & Spaces Los Alamos.
“We’re incredibly encouraged by the high level of participation and the numerous perfect scores,” says Craig Martin, Working Group Leader. “It shows that our community is dedicated to fostering a greater understanding of trail etiquette among all users, ensuring everyone can enjoy our trails safely and respectfully”.
The quiz covered essential topics, including right-of-way rules (e.g., wheels yield to heels, downhill yields to uphill, and all yield to horses), passing protocols, pet etiquette (with a focus on the importance of picking up pet waste), and Leave No Trace principles. These are all crucial for mitigating common issues, such as varying speeds, silent approaches, and differing expectations about right-of-way, which can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts on multi-use trails.
The Los Alamos Open Space & Trails Working Group extends a huge thank you to the community businesses and nonprofit organizations that generously donated to the prize package. Their support helps us promote responsible outdoor recreation and preserve the natural beauty of our community’s open spaces and trails.
About the Los Alamos Open Space and Trails Working Group:
The Open Space and Trails Working Group (OSTWG) is a working group of the Los Alamos County Parks & Recreation Board. The OSTWG is dedicated to advising the Board and the community on policy and issues relating to open spaces and trails under the stewardship of Los Alamos County. They promote responsible outdoor recreation and preserving the natural beauty and health of the community’s open spaces and trails.