Article and Photos by Shirin McArthur

The Brewery was packed with visitors sampling brews and buying raffle tickets for door prizes. Raul Turrieta, Chair of the Grant County Trails Group, moderated the evening and introduced a number of speakers, including State Senator Howie Morales and Town Councilor Cynthia Ann Bettison.

The crowd included many visitors who are hiking the Continental Divide Trail in the coming months. Pat Dixon of Austin, Texas, is hiking the entire trail in memory of his mother, who passed away from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. He is using the hike as a fundraiser for research on PSP (for more information, see http://patdixon.org/).

Gail Storey of Boulder, Colorado, is in Silver City with her husband, Porter, who is hiking the CDT this year. Gail, who calls herself his trail "angel," is author of "I Promise Not to Suffer: A Fool for Love Hikes the Pacific Crest Trail," which won the National Outdoor Book Award.

In addition to launching a weekend of events, the gathering at Little Toad Creek also witnessed the signing of a Volunteer Service Agreement and trail stewardship project between the CDTC and the Gila National Forest. After the agreement was signed, everyone present raised a glass of Little Toad Creek's Gateway Ale, brewed especially for the occasion.

The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail was established by Congress in 1978. When complete, the CDT will be the most significant trail system in the world. Stretching 3,100 miles along the backbone of America from Canada to Mexico, it accesses some of the most wild and scenic places left in the world while conserving the environment and promoting personal well-being.

Events continue through the weekend, including walks, talks, hikes and demonstrations. For more details, please visit http://www.continentaldividetrail.org/news/cdt-trail-days/.