SMGA Adopt-A-Trail was started about 5 years ago when we realized that it was a challenge for us to maintain all the miles of trails that we’ve built. Trained SMGA volunteers picked trails to hike on during their free time to do general maintenance and report larger problems to SMGA and City Trail crews. If you are interested, start by volunteering with the Trail Crew, and we can train you for the job. 

How did you first find out about SMGA?
A friend of mine who shared my love of hiking, kayaking, biking—basically anything outdoors—told me about SMGA. At the time, I was looking for volunteer opportunities and had started helping at the Hays County Food Bank. She was already involved with several nature organizations and said, “You really ought to check out SMGA.”

The first time I showed up, I was hooked. I think we were working at River Recharge. There were probably twenty people there. Somebody asked if I was a Master Naturalist. Nope. But I’m a quick read, I like being outdoors, and I can hoe.

The work was hard, and I was probably doing most of it wrong that first day, but everyone was welcoming and willing to teach. What started as trail work turned into friendships. We spend a couple of hours working, then head over to Wake the Dead for coffee. That’s part of the tradition. Through SMGA, I’ve met people I never would have crossed paths with otherwise, and many have become friends.

Why was it important to you to adopt a trail?
There were really two reasons.

First, I thought it was a smart way to help care for a growing trail system. As we build more trails, somebody needs to keep an eye on them and catch problems before they become bigger problems.

Second, I wanted to know the trails better. Some of the longtime SMGA folks know every bend, creek crossing, and hill. I figured the best way to learn the trails was to get out on them.

My first adopted trail was Beatrice in Purgatory, and she’ll always be my favorite. If you’re familiar with Dante’s Inferno, Beatrice is his great muse, representing love, faith, and salvation. I loved the name, but I also loved the trail itself. You have to work a little to get there. Once you get into the woods, it follows a creek bed beneath hanging moss and feels almost ancient and magical. It’s one of my favorite places in all of Purgatory.

A couple of years later I switched to a group of trails in lower Purgatory because I wanted to learn other parts of the system. But Beatrice will always be my first trail love.

How much time / mileage do you spend on each outing and how often do you go out to your trails?
I usually spend about two hours on an outing and try to get out about once a quarter, plus after major storms. People sometimes think you’re just taking a walk, but there is usually work to do. You’re removing rocks from the trail, trimming branches, checking for erosion, clearing small issues, and logging bigger maintenance needs. A lot of times I’ll combine my Adopt-A-Trail work with a regular Thursday Trail Crew Day. If we’re already working in Purgatory, I’ll go walk my trails and take care of maintenance while the larger crew is working on another project. Honestly, I love it. Trail building is fun, but I especially enjoy walking the trails, scouting conditions, and taking care of them.

Tools you carry and tasks?
My standard kit is pretty simple: loppers, a folding hand saw, and a little paint. Most of the work involves decobbling—removing rocks that can become toe-stubbers for hikers or hazards for bikers—plus trimming branches and checking trail conditions. I also carry paint because if you cut an oak, you want to paint the cut to help prevent oak wilt.

Favorite or surprising sighting out there?
My favorite sighting is actually a place.  It’s Beatrice. The section that winds through the woods along the creek feels old, peaceful, and almost magical. The hanging moss, the creek bed, and the quiet make it one of my favorite places in the entire trail system.

Hot weather or cold?
Both. The trails are always changing and don’t stop needing attention because the weather changes. I generally check mine once a quarter and after major storms.

One of the nice things about the Adopt-A-Trail program is that it isn’t just one person working alone. We’re a network. If someone can’t get out after a storm, others often help inspect trails and report conditions. We look out for the trails—and for each other.

What do you wish trail users knew?
First, I’m glad you’re here. The people who build and maintain these trails genuinely love them. We love being outdoors, we love the work, and we love the friendships that come from doing it together. If you enjoy the trails, consider donating your time or donating financially to help support them.

And I do have one practical request: pretty please, stay off the trails when they’re wet. Every trail starts eroding the day it’s built, and a lot of our maintenance work is focused on managing water and repairing erosion. Waiting until the trails dry out helps preserve them for everyone.

These are two of Vee’s favorite haikus, which she wrote on the trail with co-member Melani Howard.

Armored Crossing

Giving of themselves
Gathering remnants of time
Connecting ages

The Price of Passage

Silky pure and light
Waiting for your arrival
Face full of dead bugs

— Compiled by Trail Crew member Monique Tschurr