By Mary Alice Murphy

Editor's Note: This author could not stay for the whole meeting because of other commitments.

At the Greenways/CDT Linkage Project meeting, with a full agenda on Wednesday, Nov. 18, held at the Western New Mexico University seminar room, the first part focused on the recent Michelob Ultra/American Hiking Society award of $25,000 to the Silver City and Chama, New Mexico, trail organizations.

Teresa Martinez, Continental Divide Trail Coalition managing director, traveled from the main office in Golden, Colorado, to talk about the award.

"Thank you all so much," Martinez said. "The entire country was working for you and the CDT. Hikers and bikers were fighting for this project.

"What do we do with the money?" Martinez asked. "$12,500 comes to Silver City and $12,500 to Chama. We have several deliverables, one of which is adopter training to meet Forest Service standards. It includes trail construction work, maintenance, and we will start putting up signs in April. We put in a bunch of stuff, and we have until Aug. 31 to get it done. We are receiving the money in December, and we're going to book on-ground crew leaders, the Youth Corps and whoever wants to do the work. We have talked about stuff in Pinos Altos, LS Mesa and small changes to trails in the Burros Mountains. It should be simple to get through the administrative stuff.

"We should have a Vista volunteer by Dec. 15," she continued. "He or she will start February 8 with a week of AmeriCorps training in Denver and then here in late February in time for the Gila Symposium.

"Our celebration and annual CDT Days here will be April 15-17," Martinez said. "Lots of gear companies are confirming they will be here. Companies are really fired up to come. We expect a class of 350 hikers to be here at that time. People can test backpacks and Vasque shoes. We are having intense discussions with companies we will meet with at an expo in Salt Lake City in February.

"Friday night will be the celebration at Little Toad Creek downtown," she said. "Saturday will be the gear expo, and Saturday night will feature the first woman who through-hiked the CDT in 1982. If you have any ideas, let us know."

She continued saying that Friday during the day there might be seminars and tech gear clinics. "We will use the Carter House downstairs to host stuff. Sunday will be trail work, bike ride, hikes."

A participant in the meeting suggested a separate website for the event, rather than just a page on the website.

"Good idea. We are redoing our website and it should go live on Jan. 5," Martinez said.

Shelby Hallmark, Greenways, CDT Linkage Project president, said the Friday night celebration is one of the great events in Silver City.

"We will have book readings and raffle items, as well as door prizes," he said. "Friday events will be held at the university and on Saturday, possibly at Seedboat Gallery."

Chris Schlabach of Gila Hike & Bike said he would talk to some of the shop's vendors to see if they would like to participate.

"That would be great," Martinez said. "It would make it more diverse. The CDT program is part of everything you have to offer here. Last year, Big Ditch Day was that day, so was the Dutch Oven Cookoff in Glenwood, and the Big Ditch Crickets played for a dance that night."

"I think the Forest Service will be in control of projects," Martinez said. "We have deliverables for the grant. You had mentioned a big sign for the Gateway Community. We have lots of opportunities to use the funds. The big thing is the adopter training with classroom and field portions. By January, we should get the word out on the adopters, so new adopters can learn how to do the trails and current adopters can refresh their skills. We will hold the training in March or April."

Bob Schiowitz, representing the Gila National Forest, because no one else was available, said: "It is so important to train. We want it separate from the kickoff."

Martinez said $500 to $1,000 was available for a tool cache for use on trails.

"For the award we would like to build new trails," Martinez said. "I think it is paramount to take the opportunity to construct new trails."

Hallmark said the group has thought about a "big green sign, saying Silver City, CDT Gateway Community. I think it should be on Highway 180 near 32nd Street. Nancy Cliff disagrees. She thinks it should be on Highway 90 near the Visitor Center."

Other ideas included at Gough Park and the intersection of highways 180 and 90.

A woman asked where the trail was, as the sign is on the highway. Martinez said that is part of the challenge. "It is on the highway for part of it."

Schlaback suggested rather than a sign that a mural be put on the side of a big building. That met with words of approval from the meeting participants.

The next topic of conversation was the San Vicente Trailhead. Cliff said the New Mexico Department of Transportation has said it would restore the trailhead after the construction of the New Mexico 90-Hudson Street Bridge replacement is complete.

Denise Smith of the Office of Sustainability said Stream Dynamics has a grant to restore the stream. "I will meet with Trent (Botkin, NMDOT statewide natural resource coordinator) and Stream Dynamics this afternoon. I have to leave early. It will take a lot to make it a functional streambed again."

Other topics of discussion that took place after that included the Bicycle Advocacy Group talking about Little Walnut Road bike access to Gomez Peak; the Silver City Arts and Cultural District giving the status of the Visitor Center parking lot upgrade, a DOT grant for a kiosk and signage; highway cleanup for the group's three adopted miles; a Forest Service update on the CDT missing link, upgrade at Little Walnut trailhead, Pinos Altos trail re-routing; and other business.