The Trail Trotters Day program, launched by the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) with assistance from the National Forest Foundation, engaged over 964 individual volunteers across the country who logged in more than 4,600 man-hours. The programs mission was to promote equestrian involvement in the restoration, repair, and establishment of trails and trailheads. While projects on National Forest Service land were highly encouraged, any type of trail project was welcome.

The intent of Trail Trotters Day was to combine visible stewardship with the fun of working together to accomplish needed work on national forest and other land. On this day, horseback riders were unified in an effort to build and/or strengthen relationships between local equestrian communities, the forest service, and other land

managers for the long-term stewardship of trails, trailheads, and campgrounds.

In all, 59 trail projects in 30 states across the nation were completed with 15 applying for the Trail Trotters Day National Stewardship Award, 2006. Entries were judged on their community involvement and sustainability. The judges included Melanie Heacock, Director, ELCR; Dennis Foster, Executive Director, Masters of Foxhounds Association; and Julie Bruser, Executive Director, Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation.

The National Stewardship Award, 2006 went to the Charlie Russell Back Country Horsemen of Montana for their work on June 3, 2006 to repair and restore Trail #454, which was deeply rutted up to 18.  They won due to the diversity and difficulty of getting the trail back in safe condition so it can be enjoyed. They used pack horses to carry material to the difficult places on the trail. Twenty-eight crew members coordinated loading, moving, and unloading five tons of clay and gravel  a total of fifty loads. They started working at 9 a.m. and finished the repairs at 6 p.m. for a total of 252 man-hours. There were six riders handling two pack animals as well as other trail crews along the way and at the main work site to coordinate passing along narrow stretches of trail and unloading the fill. Water diversion bars and a bridge were also installed along the route; all were built/installed per Forest Service specifications.

The Larimer County Horsemens

Association was recognized as the Region 2 winner. Eleven volunteers worked for a total of 55 man-hours to repair the Lion Gulch Trail in Colorado. The work consisted of removing debris from the trail tread, repairing water bars and check dams, and removing brush from the sides of the trail and low hanging limbs from overhead. The Lion Gulch Trail is a Forest Service trail that leads from US 36 to Homestead Meadows. Homestead Meadows is Forest Service land that contains historical homesteads, some settled as early as the mid 1800s.

The Elko Chapter of Back Country Horsemen was recognized as the Region 4 winner. Twenty-three volunteers from the Elko Chapter of Back Country Horsemen, the U.S. Forest Service personnel, and others donned cross cut saws and loppers to trim brush and branches, restoring the gorgeous mountain trail that follows Soldier Creek as it winds its way from the Soldier Basin through the Ruby Mountains near Elko, Nevada. The Soldier Creek project was planned after previewing the damage from the years extremely wet spring season. The project included elimination of rocks that had created hazardous footing and removal of downed trees, as well as trimming back overgrowth of the trail corridor to accommodate both hikers and horseback riders. All volunteers cleared away any trash they found along the way, leaving the trail in ship-shape condition. The volunteers worked a total of 132 man-hours for this project.

The Norco Horsemens Association was recognized as the Region 5 winner. Twenty-six volunteers from the Norco Horsemens Association, Norco City Public Works Department personnel, and others worked a total of 168 man-hours. They built 250 feet of horse trail fence, removed over grown weeds, and filled ruts to improve the trail treadway. A freeway goes right through the city of Norco and this is the only trail that crosses under the freeway to connect the two halves of the city. This project greatly expanded horseback riding opportunities for that area.

Oregon Equestrian Trails was recognized as the Region 6 winner. Twenty-five dedicated volunteers worked on the Santiam Horse Camp project. They provided the finishing touches on 12 miles of trail by trimming and clearing the trail and built a short section of new trail that will to be used in future development. They also brushed a mile of new trail on foot. They logged a total of 115 man-hours of work.

The Blue Ridge Trail Riders were recognized as the Region 8 winner. Ten volunteers performed maintenance and clean-up on trials in the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area installing signs, removing trees, and blazing twenty miles of North White Oak Trail. This project was part of a park-wide project involving about 150 people for all disciplines, each marking trails for their own user-group. They logged a total of 80 man-hours of work.

The Chippewa Valley Trailriders were recognized as the Region 9 winner. The 16 volunteers split into four groups and worked a total of 105.5 man-hours. Some of the work they performed was to re-route portions of the trail to higher ground and link it to the camping/parking area. They constructed a bridge and moved it into place, placed you are here maps along the trail, and hauled wood chips into wet areas of trail and cleared several brushy sections.

Based not only on the successful completion of trail projects but also on the high level of interest and participation in Trail Trotters Day 2006, it is anticipated that this will be a continuing program for local horseback trail riders. For additional information regarding ELCR or its Trail Trotters Day program contact the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource at: P.O. Box 423, 126B N. Main St., Elizabeth, IL 61028-0423; phone (815) 858-3501; e-mail: info@elcr.org.