Walter Futrell saw a problem that needed fixing.

On a hike during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, the outdoorsman noticed Norski Trail, just below the Santa Fe ski basin, was in need of some serious tender, loving care. The trail was filled with dozens of dead trees.

With no one else to clear them, Futrell got to work.

As he did, inquiring minds hiking the trail started to ask him what he was doing. He described his mission: To make Northern New Mexico trails as accessible to as many hikers as possible, and many of them joined the cause. Soon, he’d assembled a group of people dedicating hundreds of hours per year to maintaining trails — all for free.

“I get the rewards of seeing the trails being improved, especially when you realize how deteriorated some of them have gott

See Full Page