American Hiking Society

Volunteer Vacation

with the

A pictorial on how a trail is created

The first job in creating a trail is planning the route, which is done prior to our arrival. Brightly colored flags are attached to trees to mark the approximate trail corridor, and then flags attached to wire stakes are used to specifically mark the uphill side of the trail tread. A few workers are sent ahead to "swamp out" the corridor. As you see above, dead tree trunks, limbs, bushes, boulders, and even trees can be located in the corridor and must be removed. In fact, the corridor above is not even discernible except for occasional orange flags such as is seen in the foreground. Here I am cutting a six inch diameter dead tree which has its tree top caught in the tops of two adjacent trees. Moments after the photo was taken, I was on the ground, sideswiped by the tree trunk as it swung loose from the other trees, and thirty minutes later I had driven myself to the local emergency room for 14 stitches above and alongside my eye.

 

 

 

 

In the same vicinity as the first photo, the cleared corridor has been swamped out and the trail's path is now obvious, allowing new trail tread to be cut. Duanne ( on the board of directors of the PMTC) can be seen swamping out the next section. Working on an incline up to 45 degrees requires careful foot placement and weight distribution while clearing and cutting trail.

 

 

 

Next, Chuck H. and Donna use fire rakes to remove leaves, expose the soil, and begin to further define the trail tread preparatory to cutting new tread. Fallen tree trunks are often left to discourage the illegal use of the trail by ATVs.

 

 

 

 

Next is trail tread construction. Using the Pulaski tool to cut new tread is a strenuous chore, especially on a steep side hill which requires a deep cut on the uphill side, sometimes a foot or more in depth. Of course, the deeper you have to dig, the more rocks and roots you encounter, all of which then have to be removed. Here you see Jack, Dave, Amy, Chuck H., and in the far background, Noah.

 

 

 

After tread is cut, the trail is still not finished! Jim demonstrates how a final raking is required to smooth and level the tread. Then all the removed soil and vegetation must be taken far off the trail on the downhill side so hikers don't mistakenly walk on the loose material and fall off the side. This also allows water to run off the trail and serves to "dress up" the trail. Diane then uses loppers to cut all exposed roots in the tread to prevent flora from again taking over the trail.

 

 

 

The crew (from front, left to right)

Noah, Diane, Jack, Duanne (on the PMTC board of directors), Dave, Chuck M., Shad (the president of PMTC), Jim, Amy, Ryan, Chuck H., and Donna.