Story by Tom Sandford
Attendees examine posters with information about the Continental Divide Trail at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Photo by Tom Sandford)
A crowd of 51 people attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 14 at the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Trail’s designation by Congress and to celebrate the coming placement of the trail’s southern terminus monument.
The monument will be placed on the trail’s southernmost point at the United States-Mexico border and will give hikers an official place to start their journey, said Bob Woods, New Mexico regional representative of the Continental Divide Trail Alliance.
“(The monument) marks the southernmost part (of the trail) and has been years and years in the making,” Woods said.
Many hikers choose to begin their journey along the trail at its southernmost point, which is where the monument, a three-ton piece of granite, will be placed sometime around April or May of next year, Woods said.
Bob Woods, New Mexico regional representative of the Continental Divide Trail Alliance, cuts the ribbon at the Continental Divide Ceremony on Nov. 14. (Photo by Tom Sandford)
However, the monument was not displayed at the event as originally planned due to its excessive weight and concerns about safe transport, he explained.
The trail itself spans for 3,100 miles across America from Mexico to Canada and offers a challenging experience that tests hikers’ self-reliance, navigation skills and other such proficiencies, which helps set it apart from other trails, Woods said, adding that the stone slab mimics the design of another monument along the trail in Glacier National Park near Canada.
Just reaching the southernmost trailhead requires a four-wheel drive vehicle and a two-hour drive through treacherous road conditions, according to the press release.
“It’s very barren and desolate,” Woods said. “You get an overwhelming feeling of being alone.”
Steve Dudley, the executive director for the Alliance, traveled from his home in Big Horn, Wyo., to speak at the event.
“The trail unites different landscapes, but also unites different cultures,” Dudley said.
People hike the trail for many different reasons. Albuquerque residents Larry Flynn and Viola Mahan attended the ceremony and said they frequently hiked the trail near Albuquerque.
“I adopted part of the trail near the chain of craters area,” Flinn said. “I go out and cut back bushes, put up signs and cut back trees.”
Mahan said she has hiked more than 60 miles of trails with Flinn and volunteered her time to three Alliance projects recently.
“I love it, love the camping and love helping out,” Mahan said. “I just (enjoy) being outdoors and enjoying Mother Nature.”
Philanthropy can also be found along the trail.
At 72 years old, Mat Matson plans on hiking the full trail and has already treaded across New Mexico and most of
Bob Woods, New Mexico regional representative of the Continental Divide Trail Alliance, speaks to a crowd of 51 at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Photo by Tom Sandford)
Colorado and Wyoming.
“My close friends said I couldn’t do it, but I have one year left to complete it,” Matson said.
He said he plans on hiking across Idaho and Montana next year to create awareness in order to get others to adopt portions of the trail. He also plans on raising money to create an endowment for young trail volunteers.
“‘The trail unites us’ is our tagline,” Madson said. “And the whole reason of the trail is to bring people together.”
People can learn more information about the Alliance at its website.
