2021

Martyn Pearson

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Feb 17, 2021, 1:58:03 PM2/17/21

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Hey Group!

I hope this email finds you well. I’m optimistic that 2021 can return us to some of the normals we’ve enjoyed in previous years, such as trail days and group rides. As the year rolls on, hopefully we’ll see movement in that direction.

Trail Days
I spoke with Beth from the Forest Service yesterday about a trail day coming up on March 13th, and it sounds interesting. They’re hoping to work the CD-North section somewhere near the Monastery. Exact details on this project are unclear at present, but as we get closer to the time I’ll be sending out info. I feel confident that they will organize the day in a way that feels COVID safe. There’s also talk of rerouting the lower Fenceline section out at Fort Bayard. That project is currently in review by the folks responsible for archaeological sites. Hopefully some time in Spring we’ll be able to get a group out there and make that section more rideable. Also, it feels right to mention Boston Hill. Keep an eye out for a couple trail days coming in mid/late March. I’d like to wait until after the 13th, so we can see how the Forest Service run a COVID safe trail day and model ours similarly.

Trail Conditions
As I write this email, town is covered in snow, which turns to mud and makes trail conditions terrible in the short term. It’s our responsibility as trail users to know when to stay off the trails, and that time is now. I’ve fielded several comments from trail users within our group concerning staying off the trails when muddy. Please think twice about going out and riding mountain bikes for the next week or more. Boston Hill might be mostly dry in a couple days, Fort Bayard a couple days after that. Little Walnut might need as much as a week to dry out and the CD South section East of the Doug/Bob will be bad for a while! Please give the trails time to dry out, and if you do go out, be ready to turn back as soon as you encounter mud.

Trail Sign
Over the last couple years we’ve taken annual membership fees for the Cycling Group. One of the projects in the works is the production of a trail sign, asking people to stay off the trails when muddy. The Forest Service are excited about this idea, and acknowledge that nothing like it currently exists. If approved by the Forest Service, the Cycling Group will pay to have signs made for each of the trails heads at Boston Hill, Fort Bayard, Little Walnut, Jack’s Peak and a few extra. As the Forest Service continues to make more trail heads official, we’ll get them up at those sites too.

Annual Membership
The Silver City Cycling Group is a volunteer group that costs nothing to run. An annual membership of $25 per person or $40 for a family goes directly in to a bank account for future projects. Once you pay your membership, your name goes down on a list of people who are covered under the Silver City Cycling Group Volunteer Agreement with the Forest Service. Please bring your membership money by the Gila Hike and Bike.

Tell Your Friends
If you have friends who ride bikes, talk to them about the Cycling Group. If they don’t currently receive the group emails, ask them if they’d like to. If they would, please refer them to either myself or one of my staff here at the Gila Hike and Bike. We’ll get their email address added to the list.

Thanks everyone, stay safe and have fun riding!

Martyn

Terry Gust

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Feb 17, 2021, 5:28:36 PM2/17/21

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Lower Fence Line kicks butt----leave it alone!! Terry and Joyce

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Joyce Jensen

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Feb 17, 2021, 5:32:23 PM2/17/21

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Hi Martin, long time no see. I wanted to mention that I am against making lower fence line “more rideable” as you call it. That is about the only trail in that whole area that has any challenge to it al all. People who want smooth flowing stuff have plenty of other trails that they can ride. I get tired of people always taking all the rocks out of the trails. I have a full suspension bike that likes to hit some rocks now and again. Anyway, on a brighter note thanks for all you do for the riders here in town, keep up the good work! Joyce

Sent from my iPad

> On Feb 17, 2021, at 11:58 AM, Martyn Pearson <martynp...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hey Group!

doglas hulett

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Feb 17, 2021, 5:48:17 PM2/17/21

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I agree with Terry and Joyce. It’s a mildly technical section and won’t erode more than it has since its worst sections are on bed rock. It needs to be reviewed a bit more before changing.

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Victor Oaxaca

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Feb 17, 2021, 5:50:17 PM2/17/21

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Hello Martyn,

Thank you for your informative email and all you do to promote trail activities in our area. Will the current lower fenceline trail continue to be available? You mentioned rerouting. If not, then I agree with Joyce and Terry, the lower fenceline section should be left alone for the reasons they shared. If others want a smoother/easier route, they have the option of taking the grasslands/Saari's watering hole trail to the east.

The Dragonfly trail system provides so many options and I feel the lower fenceline should remain a challenging option to ride.

Thank you for your time,

Victor Oaxaca

Silver Consolidated Schools/DTC

Personal Cell 575-313-4762

voaxaca@silvers chools.org

On Wed, Feb 17, 2021 at 11:58 AM Martyn Pearson <martynp...@gmail.com> wrote:

gary berg

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Feb 17, 2021, 5:56:29 PM2/17/21

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Little Walnut area. I hiked the connector north to the CDT, west to the trailhead, then south to the picnic grounds today. Up to 10" of snow in some areas. Beautiful!

Miriam Hill

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Feb 17, 2021, 6:06:30 PM2/17/21

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Agree about fence line. Also the faster we make the trails, the more often there are surprise incidents between pedestrians, equestrians and cyclists. Let’s concentrate on erosion.

Thank you Martyn!

Miriam

Miriam Hill

Sterling Fine Art

306 N Bullard Street

Silver City, NM. 88061

On Feb 17, 2021, at 3:48 PM, doglas hulett <dog...@gmail.com> wrote:

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Christopher Bare

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Feb 17, 2021, 6:24:48 PM2/17/21

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Just wanted to add that trail crews have recently cleaned up the Dragon trail. This is a very technical, rocky trail. I am not necessarily in favor of making Fence Line any easier but wanted to point out other technical options. If you want challenging riding, there are actually a few options in addition to Fence Line such as the Dragon, the Hidden Trail and a couple of other trails in the Gomez network.

Christopher Bare MS, BSN, Paramedic

Associate Professor

DACC/NMSU

Business and Public Services Division

Emergency Medical Services Department

On Feb 17, 2021, at 16:06, 'Miriam Hill' via SilverCityCycling <silverci...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

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