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future generations on the Divide, cannot be overstated. During this time of unprecedented climate change, this National Monument protects the Tenmile Range, which is home to fragile ecosystems that act as the primary habitat and critical migration corridor for many of Colorado’s iconic wildlife. Nearby mountain communities like Leadville, Vail and Frisco depend on this area as a popular hunting and fishing destination, not only for their own wellbeing, but for the visitors and other outdoor enthusiasts that want to experience the remoteness of the Tenmile Range. A survey of CDT Gateway Community Business owners last year showed that 90% of respondents believed protections of land and water are essential to their wellbeing, business and way of life. In a time when open lands and waters are more popular than ever, this National Monument is a direct investment in the communities of the Divide that depend on a healthy environment not only for the water they drink and the air they breathe, but for their businesses to thrive, bringing visitors from around the world to experience Colorado’s natural wonders.

One of the most valuable treasures on the continent, the 18-inch tread of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is the common thread, weaving together a chain of fragile and biodiverse landscapes, unique and colorful communities, and dynamic cultures and ways of life, over the entirety of its 3,100 miles.

This most recent addition, now interwoven into the CDT Experience, the Camp Hale—Continental Divide National Monument is a jewel of conservation, offering a glimpse at the past, present and future of the CDT and illustrating the potential of a connected Divide landscape for the prosperity of future generations. Together, our hope is that the CDT can continue to act as that common thread, tying together every story, every step and every space of the landscape to inspire action that is urgently needed so that all people–of all backgrounds, ages, experiences and interests–can not only enjoy, but thrive along the Divide.

By Dan Carter | CDTC Trail Lands Program Manager

With this new National Monument, we hope that the future management of the landscape will represent the people who have the most to gain from its protection.

CDT Completion Act

In September 2022 the Continental Divide Trail Completion Act was introduced to the U.S. Senate by Senator Heinrich (D-New Mexico) and Senator Daines (R-Montana). This bipartisan piece of legislation will help support the agencies, partners and local communities involved to coordinate the stewardship of lands where gaps still exist along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT), prioritizing completion by the Trail’s 50th anniversary in 2028. While similar to the H.R. 5118 introduced by Congressman Neguse last year, there are some updates to the language in the version recently introduced to the Senate. Currently 95% complete, the remaining 160 of the 3,1000 miles of trail represent gap sections where those seeking a continuous footpath from Mexico to Canada are diverted onto busy roadways and highways. These gap sections not only make for a less enjoyable, less natural experience, but make for a less safe experience as well, for trail travelers and motorists alike. Over the past decade, land managers, volunteers, community organizations and groups like CDTC have worked diligently to bring completion of the trail from 35% incomplete in 2009, to just 5% incomplete in 2022. With public lands more popular than ever before, now is the time to continue to push for completion!

The legislation directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to create a Trail Completion Team, tasked with completing the CDT through collabroation with CDTC, Indigenous communities and Native Nations, recreationists, CDT Gateway Communities, private landowners, and others. The CDT Completion Act explicitly states that eminent domain will not be used, in keeping with the values of the cooperative stewardship model that allows the National Trail System to thrive. Funding for completion of the CDT is made possible by the full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) thanks to the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020. As CDTC continues to work toward completion of the CDT, we hope all in our trail community will continue to come to the Divide as a place to unite in our shared work!

A HIKER WALKS ALONG A DUSTY STRETCH OF ROAD NEAR PIE TOWN, NM, WHERE A 40-MILE TRAIL GAP PERSISTS. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN CARTER.

Recent Accomplishments and Updates

NEW MEXICO TRAIL CONDITION ASSESSMENTS

This summer CDTC hired a Field Technician to complete trail condition assessments on USFS lands in New Mexico. This first year served as a pilot program to see what this position and process could look like. These assessments are critical for updating the agency’s maintenance database. The field technician used a platform called eTRACS, which was developed by the forest service. Using eTRACS in the field has also been very helpful for refining and debugging the app and process. The assessments will update USFS records on trail maintenance needs. The updated records will then feed into deferred maintenance proposals funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). On top of the deferred maintenance, the assessments will also highlight needs for improving trailheads, signage, impacts to the trail and an accurate center line. With such a successful trial this year in New Mexico, we plan to bring the field technician position back in 2023 to continue surveys in other CDT states.

COMPLETION continued on page 16

PHOTO COURTESY OF ZACK BUMGARNER

ADDRESSING MAJOR GAPS

Trail completion in the major gap areas continued to make progress in 2022. As we draw near the end of the year, the Optimal Location Reviews (OLR) for Cuba, NM, and Muddy Pass, CO, are nearing completion. The OLRs will clearly outline the gap issues, alternatives and path forward to completion. The Trail and Lands Conservation Program Manager spent a lot of time in the field scouting routes and tracking down landowners and partners.

In most of the gap areas, private land is the biggest barrier to trail completion. With partners and CDTC’s new Colorado Fellow, we continue to strengthen our relationship with landowners, community members and partners to address tough issues like recreational impacts to sensitive wildlife. In the Muddy Pass region, the Colorado Fellow is working with the Colorado Department of Transporation (CDOT) and USFS to improve safety and awareness of the CDT access points at road crossings. We hope to expand the signage effort throughout Colorado to bring more awareness to where to access the CDT and to notify drivers of crossings.

The OLR in Cuba, New Mexico, is nearing completion. In November, BLM and CDTC began to flag a portion of the re-route, with construction slated for 2023. This section will complete about five miles of the proposed re-route. On the other end of the re-route, the former Nacimiento Mine Site continues to be remediated and transformed into a gateway for the CDT. The USFS and Conservation Corps installed a new kiosk at the site, and the USFS expects to finish the parking area and remove remediation equipment next year. This site protects access to the CDT for recreationists and holds a lot of opportunities for engagement with visitors and the local CDT Gateway Community of Cuba.

Those that have hiked the CDT in New Mexico will also likely remember the long, dusty road north of Pie Town, NM. This is the longest remaining gap of the entire trail. This year CDTC, the Cibola National Forest and members of the Acoma Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) began scouting a re-route through public lands. The partnership with the THPO is a new approach to consultation with indigenous communities that CDTC and the USFS Resource Assistant, Amanda Grace Santos, are developing for future projects. The time spent in the field sharing knowledge about trail planning, construction, and relationships to the land formed strong partnerships and blazed a new way for future collaborations.

Towards ongoing efforts in 2022, we also installed gates throughout New Mexico. These included critical locations such as at the El Malpais Information Center and four locations in the Bootheel where users previously had to crawl through barbed wire fences. The Bootheel gates were made possible through a partnership with the BLM Las Cruces District, Conservation Corps New Mexico and a local rancher, Isaac Kerr, who lives next to the CDT and welded the gates. CCNM installed the gates over the course of 1.5 weeks. CDTC plans to continue this partnership and install more gates next year. Collaboration between these partners and the CDTC New Mexico Regional Representative and Trail and Lands program were key to making this project a success. CDTC and the Gila National Forest also purchased 11 rollover gates to be installed on the CDT around Silver City. The rollovers and gates in the Bootheel directly address issues raised by grazing permittees and were planned in collaboration with members of the ranching community.

Finally, we continued to work with the BLM and New Mexico State Lands Office on a 74-parcel easement acquisition for the CDT across state lands. The BLM completed the Environmental Assessment for the CDT Right-of-Way (ROW), and with the ROW in place, CDT users will no longer have to purchase the New Mexico state recreation pass once the acquisition is completed. Also, improvements such as gates and signs can now be made on these sections of the Trail. With support from the Conservation Alliance, the CDTC has helped see this huge accomplishment through to completion, which is anticipated to be finalized shortly.

The partnership with the Acoma Tribal Historic Preservation Office is a new approach to consultation with indigenous communities that CDTC and USFS...are developing for future projects. The time spent in the field sharing knowledge about trail planning, construction, and relationships to the land formed strong partnerships and blazed a new way for future collaborations.