Rocky Mountain Back Country Horsemen Tackle Trail Work with Silky Saws

In 2021, Rocky Mountain Back Country Horsemen (RMBCH) celebrated its 30th year as a volunteer organization, and brought back a three-day volunteerapalooza, Brighten the Sangres. The large-scale work project takes place in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, home to extreme and challenging Colorado trail riding. Due to deadfall from storms, wind, and wildfires, the Sangre trails need hundreds of hours annually to keep them clear and safe for riding and hiking.

On the first day of the gathering, RMBCH’s work crew–nine equines and riders–cleared the Lakes of the Clouds trail of many downed trees, including a massive one a mile or so in. Using their new Silky Katanaboy, they got the job done fast.

On day two, six riders removed "pick-up sticks" on the first mile of North Brush. Hell Ridge was mostly cleared of scrub oak, but one segment of the trail had impassable erosion, so riders turned back.

A crew of four volunteers on horses planned to scout Macey Lake trail on the last day of Brighten the Sangres. They encountered nearly 60 downed trees in the first mile and a half! Silky’s Katanaboy came to the rescue yet again.

The RMBCH work project weekend was a major success with over 130 hours of volunteer work logged. With so much snow in the Sangres this spring, 2022 promises to present plenty more opportunities for trail work in the Sangres. This year BMBCH will add entertainment and education to the event. And don’t forget to bring your Silky!

For more information on colorado, trails, and being a part of a larger trail community visit their website here... Rocky Mountain Back Country Horsemen