Table Of Content

Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. i Reserve aTE304 . H47 1997 Construction Forest Service Technology S Development Program 2300-Recreation October 1996 Maintenance Revised April 1997 9623-2833-MTDC Notebook Additional single copies of this document may be ordered from: (JSDA-FS, Missoula Technology & Development Center Building 1, Fort Missoula Missoula, MT 59804-7294 Phone: (406) 329-3900 Fax: (406) 329-3719 For further technical information, contact Brian Vachowski at the address above. Phone: (406) 329-3935 Fax: (406) 329-3719 DG: B.Vachowski:R01A E-mail: /s=b.vachowski/ou 1 =r01 [email protected] •S. Department of Ag National Agricultural I OCT 0 9 2015 Received Acquisitions and Metadata Woody Hesselbarth Moose Creek Ranger District Nez Perce National Forest Northern Region Brian Vachowski, Project Leader USDA Forest Service Technology & Development Program Missoula, Montana 4E42A25-Trail Notebook October 1996 (Revised April 1997) The Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture, has developed this information for the guidance of its employees, its contractors, and its cooperating Federal and State agencies, and is not responsible for the interpretation or use of this information by anyone except its own employees. The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this publication is for the information and convenience of the reader, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication of program information (braille, large print, audio- tape, etc.) should contact the USDA Office of Communications at (202) 720-2791. To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agricul ture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer. V 1 2 3 4 5 7 Light on the Land ___ 8 Trail Layout ___ 10 Natural Forces at Work_14 Dirt, Water, and Gravity __ 14 Critter Effects _____ 16 Trail Corridor_17 Clearing and Brushing __18 Removing Trees_21 Trail Foundation _ 24 The Trailbed_24 Constructing Sidehill Trails___ 25 Backslope_29 Fillslope_29 Borrow Pits ______ 30 Tread_31 Tread Surface _31 Tread Creep_31 Slough and Berm _ 34 Tread Maintenance_36 Removing Roots and Stumps_37 Rock Removal_37 7 Contents—continued Surface Water Control _40 Grade Dips_ 40 Waterbars _ 43 Maintaining the Drain_49 Ponding__ 52 Trails in Wet Areas _ 53 Improving Drainage _ 55 Geosynthetics _60 Turnpikes _66 Causeways____ 70 Puncheon _71 Subsurface Puncheon _ 75 Crossing Streams and Rivers_ 77 Shallow Stream Fords_78 Bridges _ 80 Special Structures_84 Climbing Turns _ 87 Switchbacks_ 88 Crib Walls and Other Retaining Structures_ 91 Steps _ 96 Maintaining Special Structures _ 100 Signing_ 102 Installing Signs_103 Installing Reassurance Markers___105 Sign and Marker Maintenance_109 Naturalizing Abandoned Trails_ 111 Check Dams_ 113 Revegetation _115 111 IV Contents—continued Tools_ 116 Tools for Measuring _117 Tools for Sawing _118 Tools for Chopping_120 Tools for Grubbing _121 Tools for Digging and Tamping_124 Tools for Brushing_124 Tools for Pounding and Hammering_125 Tools for Lifting and Hauling _126 Tools for Peeling and Shaping_130 Tools for Sharpening _131 Appendix _ 134 Selected Trail Construction & Maintenance References _134 The authors are grateful to the trails experts who provided ideas and material for this note¬ book. These include many who contributed content, as well as those who previously published trail books or reports, many of which are referenced. In addition, we appreciate the assistance of the following people who took the time to review the draft manuscript, provided substantial content, prepared illustrations, or helped with layout or editing. Lois Bachensky.Rocky Mountain Region Wendell Beardsley.Northern Region Bob Beckley. Missoula Technology & Development Center Pete Bolander.Pacific Northwest Region Dolly B. Chapman.Tahoe National Forest David Clark .Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Don Clymer. Allegheny National Forest Tom Crimmins. Pacific Southwest Region Larry Evans.Stanislaus National Forest Gary Hoshide. Missoula Technology & Development Center Sung Kokko. Missoula Technology & Development Center Bert Lindler. Missoula Technology & Development Center Sara Lustgraaf. Missoula Technology & Development Center Melinda McWilliams.National Forests of North Carolina David Michael.Coconino National Forest David Neeley. Intermountain Region Rolando Ortegon.Eastern Region Doug Pewitt.Tahoe National Forest Larry Phillips . Southern Region Gary Reynolds. Manti-La Sal National Forest Dixon Sherman.Chugach National Forest Mary Alice Stoner.Nez Perce National Forest Greg Watkins. Pacific Southwest Region Charles Yriarte .Pacific Northwest Region V 1 f hy write another trail construction and maintenance guide? Good question. Several good trail books and many local manuals already exist. These are being used to train trail crews throughout the country. Only a handful are published or widely available, however. Lots of great information is being circulated on photo¬ copied copies of photocopies. The Missoula Technology and Development Center was asked to pull together basic trail construction and mainte¬ nance information, present it in an easy-to-understand fashion and orient it just to activities done in the field. We do not intend to duplicate information already in the Forest Service handbooks or manuals for tasks better completed in the office, although we’ve tried to make sure this notebook is consistent with current policies and direction. We worked to keep it small and readable so it would end up in trail crew packs instead of propping up table legs. Since this notebook covers just the basics, you’ll want to read the more detailed Forest Service Trails Handbook (FSH 2309.18), Speci¬ fications for Construction and Maintenance of Trails (EM-7720-103), Standard Drawings for Construction and Maintenance of Trails (EM- 7720-104), Standards for Forest Service Signs and Posters (EM- 7100-15), Forest Service Health and Safety Code (FSH 6709.11), Transportation Structures Handbook (FSH 7709.56b), and selected references from the bibliography. Other sources cover winter trails, paved or surfaced trails, and other specialized trails. We have also found there are many regional differences in tech¬ niques, tools, and terminology throughout the country. It is impossible to describe them all, and we hope you aren’t offended if your favorite has been left out or called a funny name.