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Forest Service celebrates National Trails Day

Sean Murphy/Kaibab National Forest
<b>Participants in the Kaibab National Forest’s second annual National Trails Day event help improve the popular Bill Williams Mountain Trail.</b>

Sean Murphy/Kaibab National Forest <b>Participants in the Kaibab National Forest’s second annual National Trails Day event help improve the popular Bill Williams Mountain Trail.</b>

The second annual National Trails Day event on the Kaibab National Forest proved to be a success, with about 16 volunteers participating to improve one of the forest's most popular trails.

Volunteers installed drainages, cleared vegetation and improved the hiking surface of the Bill Williams Mountain Trail on the forest's Williams Ranger District June 7. The 4-mile-long trail was originally built as a toll road in 1902. Builder Esau Lamb charged hikers and horseback riders a fee to ride to the top.

"The 2008 National Trails Day event was really something the whole community can be proud of," said Sean Murphy, a recreation specialist for the Kaibab National Forest and the National Trails Day event coordinator. "The volunteers accomplished quality work that will help maintain the trail and protect the watershed."

Volunteers were treated to a barbecue lunch cooked and served by members of the American Legion and Williams Clean and Beautiful. Afterward, Kaibab National Forest archaeologist Erin Woodard presented a lecture on the origin of the trail and demonstrated the use of an atlatl, which is an ancient hunting tool. The Williams-Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce helped publicize the event by posting banners around town.


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