The Gila Chapter Back Country Horsemen of America located in Silver City, NM recently ended this year's trail clearing season by packing into Little Spring in the Gila Wilderness for 3 nights and working on the Little Creek trail and the trail towards McKenna Park. Rain and high water in Little Creek cut the trip short, but the trail mileage completed, brought the total for the season to approximately 80 miles of trails maintained. In 2014, trails were cleared both inside and outside of wilderness including about 32 miles of the Continental Divide Trail. Gerry Engel, Public Service Chairperson, said that "this year's season started in March with Forest Servide provided first aid training, and chainsaw and crosscut saw training to members. By April, we were clearing trails in the Burros. Eleven projects later we had completed the season. It was kind of a strange season with the dry conditions, the fire at Signal Peak and some intense rain in late summer and fall. We ended up kind of starting and stopping and some of the trails we cleared burned over or were closed due to flooding, but over all we had a good year. We put in about 750 accident free volunteer hours and contributed over 160 days of stock use. We rode into many beautiful parts of the Forest, had many wonderful nights out under the stars, ate great food, enjoyed each others company and experienced a wonderful feeling of accomplishment at the end of each day when we rode back into camp on a trail that was in better condition than when we started in the morning."

The Gila Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen is one of 8 Back Country Horsemen chapters in New Mexico. Nationally, Back Country Horsemen of America has chapters in over 25 states. The purpose of the Back Country Horsemen of America is:

1. To perpetuate the common sense use and enjoyment of horses in America's back country and wilderness.
2. To work to ensure that public lands remain open to recreational stock use.
3. To assist the various government and private agencies in their maintenance and management of said resource.
4. To educate, encourage and solicit active participation in the wise use of the back country resource by horsemen and the general public commensurate with our heritage.
5. To foster and encourage the formation of new state Back Country Horsemen's organizations

In assisting with trail maintenance, Back Country Horsemen improve trail recreational opportunities for not only horseman but for hikers, bikers and others that use public land trails. Nationally Back Country Horsemen contribute more than $14 million annually in volunteer time to keep trails open on public lands. Nationally, there is a huge trail maintenance backlog. Locally, as a result of recent fires and floods, trail travel on the Forest is becoming more and more difficult. Many individuals and groups volunteer to help keep trails open. These volunteers are becoming more important as time goes on.

The Gila Chapter of the Back Country Horseman of America meet once a month at 6:00 pm in the lower level of the Gila Regional Medical Center. For information call 757-590-3497.