• The Arizona Trail: Closing the Gap
• Coconino Trail Riders Trail Days

ATA–CLOSING THE GAP - FINISHING THE ARIZONA TRAIL

In the mid 1980’s Dale Shewalter had a vision of a path across Arizona that would showcase the state’s beautifully diverse mountains, forests, desert, historic sites and communities. On July 1, 1988 the first 7 miles of the trail were dedicated in the Kaibab National Forest near Jacob’s Lake. Today, just twenty years later, the 807 mile Arizona Trail is 94% complete and steadily approaching completion.  Now the momentum and excitement are growing to finish the Arizona Trail.  The San Francisco Peaks segment is the longest “missing link”; and ATA is planning to add about 16 miles of trail for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians in the Flagstaff area this summer.  The Arizona Trail Association has organized a series of events to “Close the Gap.”

The Flagstaff area trail stewards for the Arizona Trail have joined forces to lead four trail building events on the fourth weekends of June, July, August and September.  Every volunteer will be important in this cooperative effort of the Coconino Forest Service, the Arizona Trail Association, Flagstaff Biking Organization, Northern Arizona Trail Runners, Flagstaff Hiking Club, and many other state-wide volunteers.  Join the fun and make your reservation now.

• June 28-29: Andrea and David Michaels, Gay and Gary Hohner sghohner@cox.net or 480 595-9303
• July 26 & 27 - Flagstaff Biking Org and Northern AZ Trail Runners: Contact Anthony for more information-trails@flagstaffbiking.org or call 928-779-5969
• Aug 23 & 24 -Doug Thomas, Carol Zazubek, Chambo & Beverly Chambers: For more information please contact Chambo at pazdog@mac.com or 575-405-0053 OR Carol at czazu@aol.com. This event is full as of 8/18/08. Try for next month of next year.. there is still much to be done!
• September 27 -Paul Conn, Dorothy Boulton and the Flagstaff Hiking Club: For more information contact Paul or Dorothy at connboulton@earthlink.net or call 928.527.3187

For more information on their events calendar, go here: Arizona Trail Association.

SECRET TRAIL REALIGNMENT WITH THE COCONINO TRAIL RIDERS

The Coconino Trail Riders (CTR) is a motorcycle club with a passion for singletrack trail riding.  They began in the 1970’s as various iterations of loosely knit group(s) of riding buddies, but due to a constantly changing scene of forest use and users, they decided to re-invent CTR into a group of responsible trail and forest users.

Early in 2003 they began the process of forming a Not for Profit, 501 (c)(3) corporation and have achieved that status.

They are dedicated to the creation and preservation of motorized/multi-use singletrack trails and trail systems which are sustainable and harmonious with ecological, cultural and social concerns.

This year, as in past years, they will be having several Trail Days where they will be constucting and maintaining singletrack trails with the US Forest Service, primarily in the Fort Valley area.

Specifically, their primary focus will be to complete the re-route of “Secret Trail” to mitigate the disturbance of a known Spotted Owl nesting area, this being a goal of both the US Forest Service and the US Fish & Wildlife (USFWS).

CTR invites all who share their love of the Coconino National Forest and the Secret Trail system to join them for their Trail Days listed below.

May 10, 2008 - Secret Trail re-route.

June 7, 2008- National Trail Day @ Old Munds Highway

June 14, 2008 - Secret Trail re-route / Fort Valley Trail System.

July 19, 2008 - Secret Trail re-route  / Fort Valley Trail System.

August 16, 2008 -  Secret Trail re-route  / Fort Valley Trail System.

September 6, 2008 - Secret Trail re-route  / Fort Valley Trail System.

October 4, 2008 - Secret Trail re-route  / Fort Valley Trail System.

You can visit their website www.coconinotrailriders.org for details and staging locations or contact Keith Greenwalt at  928/853-7093 or  kkgreenwalt@msn.com.