Written by Sage Bradford, Wild Stew Field Crew Member.
This week, our crew is back in Gila National Forest. This marked our 3rd hitch of the spring doing emergency response work to the Trout Fire, a wildfire that broke out in June of 2025 due to lightning and which burned 47,294 acres just north of Silver City, New Mexico. While our previous Trout Fire hitches prioritized restoring the popular Continental Divide Trail post-fire, this week we worked on the connecting access trail to the CDT, Allie Canyon Trail #100.
Allie Canyon is a lovely 9 mile trail descending 2,000 feet from the Continental Divide Trail down to NM Highway 35. The crew spent 8 days working hard to improve the trail. One of the main work priorities was low-stumping previously felled standing dead trees. By the end of the week, the crew had low-stumped 786 trees. This made the trail safer and more aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, 29 trees were cleared off the trail. Moreover, 177 suspended logs along the trail corridor were bucked and lowered to help provide access to stumps or improve erosion control on burned slopes.
The crew also built 84 cairns to help the trail be more easily navigable. Cairns proved especially helpful at the numerous water crossings. Additionally, the crew built/maintained 50 drains and 1 check step to assist water in getting off the tread and slowing erosion. By the end of the week, the crew had traveled 3.2 miles down the trail doing spot treading and cairn building. We pushed even farther, a total of 3.85 miles, doing low stumping and logouts.
On Friday, the crew celebrated a traditional Bean Friday, feasting on a group dinner of crunch wraps (ingredients supplied courtesy of Jonathan). The weather was pleasant for the entirety of hitch. Spring is in full bloom in the Gila. Between swings of the pick, filling the chainsaw with more gas, and sips of water, I marveled at all the natural wonders the Gila had to offer. I was surprised and excited to see a small bit of water flowing in Allie Canyon. Each night, I witnessed a gorgeous sunset over the distant mountains. My favorite flora and fauna sightings from the week include Fendler’s Globemallow, Pinyon Evening Primrose, Putnam’s Cicadas, and Mountain Bee Assassins.
As always, it’s a delight to work in such a beautiful “office” and do such rewarding work.
