Endurance.Net: Trails Matter: December 2020

Thursday, December 31, 2020

Cowboy Campground at Legacy Park, Idaho City – The New Generation

December 30, 2020 by NWHS

Sometimes, even in the midst of a pandemic one gets a call that is life changing. One Tuesday evening in July, Bob and Sabrina Amidon, received a phone call from a friend.

All the caller said, “I know you are avid horse people, did you hear that Cowboy Campground in Idaho City is for sale?” That left a bit of urgency.

Quick research confirmed the news and a plan was put together, with the help of Hopkins Finance, an offer was turned in, all in just 14 hours from receiving the phone call. Crazy times sometimes needs quick actions; with this Cowboy Campground has been saved and will be preserved. It will continue as a Horseman’s first resource for camping in the Boise National Forest within an hour drive of Boise.

The Amidon’s got the assistance of other horse people and raised the needed down payment in record time to make sure the closing could happen. They created Cowboy Campground LLC, got their business licenses and after closing and now owning a campground a huge fund-raiser was implemented and after just three weeks Cowboy Campground at Legacy Park has been created with 14 brand new Horse Campsites which include the sponsors name, new panels, new picnic tables and a lil bit of love...

Saturday, December 26, 2020

Nevada: Carson City trails system continued to grow in 2020

NevadaAppeal.com - Full Article

December 25 2020
By Gregg Berggren

As 2020 nears its conclusion, perhaps we will look back with a renewed appreciation for the stunning natural beauty that surrounds us in Nevada and the Eastern Sierra. Mother Nature has been a familiar presence that has remained with us through these unfamiliar times.

Whether an early morning stroll in the foothills, a lunch-time walk on an urban pathway, a spring-time float trip on the Carson River, or an epic mountain bike ride through the Carson Range and into the Tahoe Basin, the trails just outside our front door have led many of us to places of refuge and solace.

Regionally, our trails, trailheads, parks, open space properties and other public lands have experienced unprecedented numbers of visitors this year. Carson City, in partnership with other public, private, and non-profit organizations, has been diligently working to create new trails and trailheads, and to maintain our favorite familiar ones.

Most exciting this year was the Oct. 30 opening of the Carson River Trail System Phase II. This project, funded by a grant from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act, created three new segments of trail that were designed for sustainability, accessibility, and connectivity.

They were constructed with a compacted decomposed granite surface and built wide enough to accommodate hikers, runners, bicycles, equestrians, and those with mobility issues. They connect to many existing trails, helping to enhance our network of trails in the Carson River/Prison Hill area with links to downtown Carson City...

Monday, December 21, 2020

New Mexico: A bevy of trails for everyone

Taosnews.com - Full Article

Expanding and maintaining single and double tracks takes time, volunteers and commitment

Enchanted Circle Trails Association
Dec 9, 2020 - Updated Dec 15, 2020

An update on trail work underway around Taos County and the Enchanted Circle.

Río Grande Trail - Bridge to Bridge segment

Enchanted Circle Trail Association is designing this new trail through a grant from the Department of Interior. The Río Grande Trail is conceptualized as a long-distance trail along the Río Grande, running from Las Cruces to the Colorado border. This will be designated for non-motorized access, including hikers, runners, equestrians and bikers. The B2B 8+ miles is the last missing segment in our area.

ECTA has completed the initial route finding, although there are several areas that need refinement, as in "we scrambled over those boulders, but there's gotta be an easier way through here." As long as the weather holds, we'll keep mapping.

Next step will be to contract for archeologists and wildlife biologists to scour the route to make sure we're not damaging any cultural resources or infringing on fragile habitat. We hope to turn over a complete package to the BLM by the end of next summer...

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Backcountry Horsemen of Northwest Georgia raising funds to improve Pigeon Mountain campsites

TimesFreePress.com - Full Article

December 11th, 2020 | by Emily Crisman

Outdoors enthusiasts who enjoy using the trails on Pigeon Mountain have a small group of volunteers to thank for spending hundreds of hours maintaining and improving the 70-plus miles of trails.

That group is the Backcountry Horsemen of Northwest Georgia, which for more than a decade has worked once a month to clear the trails at Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area for the many rock climbers, cavers, hikers, hunters and others who use what they call "the jewel of Walker County."

Recently the group set its sights on improving the primitive campsites on the mountain, with plans to add fire rings and picnic tables to the Old Sawmill Campground and at the new horse trailer and RV campground nearby.

They also contacted state and county officials about making improvements to the sole road used to access the wildlife management area, Rocky Lane, which contains old pieces of pavement that make the 7-mile drive to the campsite a very bumpy ride in a horse trailer...