From Friday Afternoon/Evening until Noon on Sunday
At Apache Creek Campground in the Gila National Forest
Our base of operations for our Musk Thistle Removal Project Along the Tularosa River (August 2-4) will be the Apache Creek Campground, a breezy and shaded front-country campground in the remote northern part of the Gila National Forest, about 2 hours from Silver City and 3 hours from Albuquerque along paved roads. Apache Creek has vault toilets, tables, grills, and tent space, but no water, so be sure to bring plenty for the weekend. New Mexico Wild will also provide a free camp dinner on Saturday night!
Volunteers on this project will work with New Mexico Wild Gila Grassroots Organizer, Luke Koenig, as well as Gila National Forest Staff. The project will require a short drive from the campground and less than a quarter-mile hike to the project site, so is a great fit for all ability levels.
When: Friday, August 2 to Sunday, August 4 – meet us at Apache Creek Campground on Friday afternoon/evening and we’ll wrap up work by noon on Sunday to allow ample travel time home.
Where: Apache Creek Campground (work will occur approx. 5 minutes away at the confluence of Apache Creek and the Tularosa River)
Camping: Apache Creek Campground
- Remote, fee-free, and quiet
- Towering Ponderosa pines provide shade, and the lush Tularosa River flows through the campground
- Amenities include vault toilets, grills, picnic tables, and tent spaces
Work will include:
- Cutting musk thistle flower heads and placing them in trash bags
- Cutting flower stalks at ground level and leaving them in place
- Digging out basal rosettes (leaves at ground level that will develop a flower stalk in their second year). It’s very damp in this area so the digging is easy.
- No herbicides
Volunteers are asked to bring:
- Camping gear (tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, cooking utensils, etc.)
- Drinking water
- Rain gear and shoes that can get wet
- Long sleeves, pants, and sturdy footwear to work in
- Sun protection – clothing, hat, and/or sunscreen for working in the sun
- If you have them, you may bring thick work gloves, pruning shears, loppers, and shovels
- All meals other than dinner on Saturday, which New Mexico Wild will provide
- A positive attitude! No previous experience is needed; all training will be provided on-site
If you have questions about this project, please do not hesitate to reach out to Luke Koenig at luke@nmwild.org.
