TRAIL MAINTENANCE INFORMATION
So you'd like to adopt a trail segment but you've never done any trail work before? Or maybe it's been a while since you last picked up a trail tool? You've come to the right place! On this page we'll lay out some of the most common trail maintenance tools and methods that we use with Mancos Trails Group.
In addition to the information on this page, MTG has some training manuals and quick-reference cards available to lend out, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please let us know if you'd like to borrow a manual for a few weeks, or even for the season. Finally, volunteer MTG crew leaders will be available to do short training sessions on an occasional basis. Please contact us if you think you'd like some in-person training and we'll see if we can arrange it.
You can check out all of the trail maintenance videos at Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado's page, or take an online trail maintenance course or just continue reading below. And as always, if you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].
In addition to the information on this page, MTG has some training manuals and quick-reference cards available to lend out, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please let us know if you'd like to borrow a manual for a few weeks, or even for the season. Finally, volunteer MTG crew leaders will be available to do short training sessions on an occasional basis. Please contact us if you think you'd like some in-person training and we'll see if we can arrange it.
You can check out all of the trail maintenance videos at Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado's page, or take an online trail maintenance course or just continue reading below. And as always, if you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].
tools
Trail adopters will be using the following tools. A limited number are available to borrow from MTG on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Lopper
You'll probably use the loppers most of all. A lot of the work we do to maintain trail involves clearing brush. You probably already know how hard it is to keep oak from growing wherever it wants to - and often it seems like that place is exactly where we don't want it, like in (or close to) the trail. To prune back oak, it's important to cut as close to the ground as possible. The cut needs to be parallel with ground, not at an angle. Angle cuts leave a sharp end or "pungi" that can puncture a shoe, hoof or tire and ruin a trail user's day. |
Folding Hand Saw
The folding hand saw is used for clearing small diameter downed trees or larger branches that are too big for the lopper. But don't worry, if you find a tree or branch that you don't feel comfortable removing, make a note of where it is (photos and/or a GPS point are helpful here) and let us know. The Forest Service trail crew will come in with chainsaws to remove the big ones. |
Tool Safety
It's important that you are aware of your tool at all times and of your proximity to the people around you. Exercise caution while using tools. Carry the tool in one hand, parallel to the direction you're walking. Please don't carry tools over your shoulder, that will single you out unsafe rookie :-) And make sure you carry tools with the sharpest and most dangerous edge toward the ground. Be aware of the 6 foot danger zone around yourself and anyone else carrying a tool. When you're carrying tools, keeping your 6-foot social distance is a good idea for reasons beyond viruses! When you lay your tools on the ground, be sure put the dangerous end uphill. And place all your tools in the same location, preferably on the uphill side of the trail. Overhead swings with a tool are unnecessary and unsafe. It's safer and more efficient to take small swings, keeping the tool below the height of your shoulders.
trail maintenance methods
There are two main things you'll keep your eye out for as you first walk your trail segment: Areas where there is a lot of overgrowth, either on or adjacent to the trail, and areas where water is damaging the trail. In fact, regrowth and water are two of the biggest factors that make our trails less usable.
Brushing the trail means clearing out enough of the brush and branches that all trail users have enough space to comfortably navigate the trail. Consider all users and their sight-lines when you evaluate what needs to be removed. Horseback riders require higher and wider clearances than do hikers. Similarly, mountain bikers need greater sight-lines since they are often moving more quickly.
Water can really damage a trail, and quickly! The general thing to keep in mind is that ideally, water runs across the trail, not down the trail. To keep the water flowing off of the trail, a trail should have a slight angle to it, and shouldn't have a berm, or raised edge, which traps the water. In some places, water diversions have been constructed, and you'll want to keep your eye out for diversions that need a little love. Often, they get so filled in with sediment that you can hardly tell there was ever a diversion!
Brushing the trail means clearing out enough of the brush and branches that all trail users have enough space to comfortably navigate the trail. Consider all users and their sight-lines when you evaluate what needs to be removed. Horseback riders require higher and wider clearances than do hikers. Similarly, mountain bikers need greater sight-lines since they are often moving more quickly.
Water can really damage a trail, and quickly! The general thing to keep in mind is that ideally, water runs across the trail, not down the trail. To keep the water flowing off of the trail, a trail should have a slight angle to it, and shouldn't have a berm, or raised edge, which traps the water. In some places, water diversions have been constructed, and you'll want to keep your eye out for diversions that need a little love. Often, they get so filled in with sediment that you can hardly tell there was ever a diversion!
Much of the work you'll be doing will be brushing out the trail corridor. If the branch or tree is too big for the loppers, you'll want to use your hand saw. (Note that the Forest Service will come in with chainsaws to remove any really big trees!) Use the 3-Cut Method to remove branches with the hand saw.
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