The History of Gallup Trails 2010

By Peter Tempest

“Gallup Trails 2010 is a local trails advocacy organization serving McKinley County, NM. Gallup Trails 2010 has a successful track record in completing trail construction and improvement projects, partnering with state and federal land managers, and engaging the broader community in trails dialogue.”  - Attilla Bality, NPS-RTCA

In the late 1990s Gallup had unlimited potential for trails and a small but enthusiastic group of locals who were climbing, running and biking.  The mountain bike was out of its infancy.  The Stumpjumper had rear suspension, but it was not very good.  Most people were riding road bikes or rigid mountain bikes.

The Specialized M2 frame came out in 1991 and the FSR came out in 1993.

Throughout the 90s, local people were going into the Zuni Mountains and out on the mesas surrounding Gallup to explore for hiking and biking trails and climbing areas. There was a grassroots series of races promoting the trails and the area.  Randy Sloman was fixing and selling bikes at the Scoreboard, owned by Rudy Radosevich, located on Aztec in the old JC Penney building, currently Sammy C’s. He also organized the Fajita Fest in McGaffey after cutting some of the first downed aspens out of the way on the original Quaking Aspen trail.  In the mid nineties Randy Sloman and Bill Siebersma had a series of meetings with Mt. Taylor Ranger District personnel to explore and propose a mountain bike trail system in the McGaffey area.  While the project was not funded it did serve to open communication between bikers and the USDA Forest Service.  Bob Rosebrough put on the Superman Triathlon, a combination of climbing, running and mountain bike riding.  Peter Tempest put on the first Pyramid Rock trail run in association with the long established Balloon Rally at Red Rock State Park.

In 1999 the Gallup Guide written by Peter Tempest and Bob Rosebrough was published and the area had at least recognizable mountain bike, running, climbing and cross-country skiing routes that were being used on a regular basis, most of which were legal.

The Specialized S-Works FSR XC came out in 1999.

In 2000 Adventure Gallup was formed by the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments executive and NM State Representative Patricia “Patty” Lundstrom.  For the first time enthusiasts of the outdoors came together in an organized way to promote and obtain funding for adventure sports.  In 2001, a delegation from Gallup went to the New Mexico state legislature and received $80,000 for the Mentmore climbing area.  This allowed the city to buy private land from the Lopez family for a public climbing area.  In 2002 VISTA volunteers working with the city of Gallup worked on multiple local trail ideas.  Some of them, like Evan Williams, stayed and continue to work on trails to this day.  Another former VISTA volunteer, Lindsay Mapes, has been instrumental in organizing mountain bike races in and around Gallup.   Some ideas like the Peace Trail, a walking trail along 2nd Street, are yet to be realized.

In 2002 Attila Bality of the Rivers and Trails Program from the National Park Service consulted with Gallup on a multiuse trail plan.  Attila had been initially contacted by Peter Tempest and Bob Rosebrough back in 2001 on the visit to Santa Fe, commencing the first national interest in Gallup and trails.  In July of 2002 Gamerco Associates, which had agreed to use of an extensive network of social trails on the north side of Gallup, withdrew permission for use of the trails.  They did, however, after a public hearing, offer the use of their Mentmore land for a trail system.  This was done because this land did not have any trails at the time and the owner of the grazing leases was perceived to be friendly.  Patty Lundstrom was instrumental in gaining Gamerco Associates’ commitment to a legal easement for the new trail system.  McKinley County Attorney Doug Decker also played a key role in negotiating the trail easement for what is now known as the High Desert Trail (“HDT”) System.  The development of the HDT was a true group effort.  Stan Smith came up with the stacked loop concept and flagged the loops; Jack Hawley helped develop the loops; Peter Tempest added some technical challenges; Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) crews directed by Karl Lohmann and Strider Brown cleared brush and did rock work; Bob Rosebrough, who was then the mayor, commissioned wildlife silhouettes, parking lots and trailhead kiosks; and Gallup Trails 2010 finished it off by putting in mini cattle guards, trail markers and trail map signs.  At the time, Bill Siebersma said that after putting in the finishing touches on the trail system it was like “framing a picture.”

The Specialized Enduro Pro with 5.2 inches of rear travel came out in 2002.

In 2002 Gallup Trails 2010 was formed as an offshoot of the Land Use Committee of Adventure Gallup.  The president was Peter Tempest, the vice-president was Karl Lohmann and the secretary was Stan Smith. The name, Gallup Trails 2010, was modeled after the successful trails group in Durango, Trails 2000.  In November of 2002 with assistance from Ed Zink, the founder of the Iron Horse Classic, we visited Trails 2000 in Durango.

GT2010 had a 5-Step Program.

1. Research Ownership Ownership turns out to be a key factor in access to land for recreational purposes and has proven to be an interesting puzzle at times. The Gallup area with a mixture of tribal land and allotment, BLM, National Forest, state, county and private land is a complex jurisdictional paradigm.

2. Permission Obtaining permission to make trails and then use them was agreed on as a top priority, although in reality this was, as in all parts of the country, put further down the list at times.

3. Trails With all our enthusiasm it turned out making and riding the trails was the easy part.

4. Publicize We chose to promote trails through direct media, but we found out the best way to let the public know about, and sometime help ride in, the trails was to have events such as endurance races and group rides on the newest trails.

5. Use The trails need to be used.  The more a well-designed trail is used the better it gets. Sometimes the trail has subtle changes.  Sometimes the trails are improved with signs.  Without use the trails, even in our fragile high desert environment are engulfed by nature and can be lost.

From March of 2003 until April of 2007, Bob Rosebrough served as Mayor of Gallup.  More was done for trails in Gallup than ever before.

In April of 2003 the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) came to town for the first time.  We learned about reverse grade dips and bench cuts and switchbacks (Duck Duck Goose).  For the first time we met people that were enthusiastic about trails and knew how to build them.

In 2004 the High Desert Trail System (HDT) was a reality.  It was named for Charles High, the general manager of Gamerco Associates, who allowed the use of the land and also for the obvious high desert terrain where the trail system is located.  In 2005, we had the first Dawn ’til Dusk race as envisioned and planned by Bob Rosebrough.  This did great things for the trail and was a much greater success as an event then we had expected.  The first Squash Blossom Screamer was held later in the year.   The events have grown and are locally and regionally recognized as high quality events on a world-class trail.

Specialized released the first S-Works Carbon frame in 2006.

Trail development continued to progress with the efforts of Bill Siebersma and Arnold Wilson through the Cibola office of the National Forest Service in the Zuni Mountains.  In the summer of 2006 the first 26 miles of Zuni Mountain trails were designated as authorized mountain bike trails.  In 2007 the Zuni Mountain Trail Partnership was formed as a result of an agreement between the US Forest Service, Gallup Trails 2010, Connections, YCC and Adventure Gallup & Beyond. In 2008 the first Zuni 100 was held in conjunction with the GT2010 annual party.

Trails in the McGaffey area, such as Lost Lake Rim, Quaking Aspen and the Berma trails, are now official trails with a formal parking area.  This summer the first 24-hour race was held in the forest, 24 Hours in the Enchanted Forest.  This event was again wildly successful for the trails, promotion of the area and just for having a good time in the forest.

Youth Conservation Corps has over the years had a more active role in trail building under the guidance of Karl Lohmann and Strider Brown.  The first major project in association with GT2010 was the High Desert Trail system and the Pyramid Rock trail.  They have done extensive work in the forest over the last few years.  Kevin Buggie has been organizing trail workdays for the past few seasons to bring together the efforts of YCC and local trail builders.

For more information, visit us at www.galluptrails2010.com.