After 13 years on the Salida Mountain Trails (SMT) board of directors, Mike Smith stepped down from the board this fall, leaving behind a tangible legacy in Salida’s incredible trail network.
Smith helped create the formal structure for SMT in 2012 by applying for 501(c)(3) non-profit status and organizing a board. (SMT was founded in 2004 and received nonprofit status in 2012.) He wrote the grant for Salida’s first professionally built trails (Beasway and Rumba), and the trail projects multiplied from that point on. From 2018 to 2025, Smith served as the president of SMT’s board, steering the organization through a period of impressive growth and evolution.
Under Smith’s leadership, SMT built 30+ miles of new trail, including the Sol Trains, Solstice, Pot-o-Gold, Chicken Dinner, Hooligan, Spartan East and West, and several others; grew from an all-volunteer organization to one with 3 full-time staff; and developed a solid foundation to support SMT for years to come.
“Working with SMT over the years with all the great folks involved has been incredibly rewarding for me. Together, we’ve built a great trail system we can be very proud of, one that will hopefully keep growing and serving our awesome community in the future,” Smith said. “I’ve been so lucky to meet and work with so many good people: board members, business owners, local government folks, and so many passionate trail users. We now have a great staff and board moving forward and I know they can continue to take the organization to the next level. I am so happy for that!”
On Tuesday, December 2, Smith’s friends and past and present SMT board and staff held a celebratory send off to thank Smith for his many years of dedication.
Smith is succeeded as board president by Hill Abell. a passionate advocate for trails and trail users for over 30 years. Abell owned and operated a family of bike shops in Austin, Texas, for 37 years before the mountain life and Salida’s abundant trail system compelled him and Laura, his wife, to make the move. Abell served 19 years on the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) board, was a member of the Texas Trails Advisory Committee for Texas Parks and Wildlife, and supported trail development and open space preservation as a member of the Austin Parks and Recreation Board.
“Salida Mountain Trails has a rich heritage of people with a passion for trails who have envisioned, built and maintained the extensive trail network in Salida for the benefit of everyone in the community, and I’m excited for the opportunity to support the work of people like Mike Smith and all those who have made SMT the highly effective organization it is today,” Abell said. “SMT’s future is bright with opportunity, and the organization has solid leadership and a clear vision to continue building the world class trail system that will benefit Salidans and our visitors for generations to come.”
