Trail construction and maintenance notebook

150 Pages·1996·15.3 MB·English

by  Hesselbarth, Woody

Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

aTE304
.H47
1996
Construction
*
and
2300-Recreation
October 1996 Maintenance
9623-2833-MTDC
/ ? ? * ' . ** * ~
Notebook
For further technical information, contact
Brian Vachowski at the address above.
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
DG: B.Vachowski:R01A
E-mail: /s=b.vachowski/[email protected]
. . .
Acknowledgments
Introduction _ _ 1
Metrication _ 2
The Job oftheTrail Crew _ 3
Setting Priorities _ 4
Trail Planning and Design _ 5
.
_
Trajl Specifications 7
Ligtitonthe Land _____ _ 8
Ti^l-layout .10
Natural Forces at Work 14
Dirt, Water, and Gravity -14
____
CritterEffects .16
Trail Corridor 17
Clearing and Brushing -18
.
RemovingTrees 21
Trail Foundation .24
TheTrailbed _24
Constructing SidehillTrails _25
Backslope _29
Fillslope _29
BorrowPits _30
Tread .31
TreadSurface >31
Tread Creep _31
_____.
Sloughand Berm _34
TreadMaintenance _36
Removing Roots and Stumps_ _37
Rock Removal _37
Hesseibarth
CreekRangerDistrict
NationalForest
Region
;i, ProjectLeader
ent Program
Notebook
il
1996
ForestService,UnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture,has
m cdoenvterlaocptoerds,thainsdinitfsocromoatpieornatfionrgtFheedegruaildaanncdeStoaftietsageemnpclioeyse,easn,ditiss
o notresponsiblefortheinterpretationoruseofUiisinformationby
anyone except its own employees. The use oftrade, firm, or
D corporationnames inthis publicationis fortheinformationand
convenienceofthereader,anddoesnotconstituteanendorsement
bytheDepartmentofanyproductorservicetotheexclusionofothers
thatmaybesuitable.TheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture
(USDA)prohibitsdiscriminationinitsprogramsonthebasisofrace,
color,nationalorigin,sex,religion,age,disability,politicalbeliefs,
andmaritalorfamilialstatus. (Notallprohibitedbasesapplytoall
^ tCTD£c0d — otpafrpcoego,rmaemtmucsn..)i)csahPtoeiurolsdnonocsfopnwtriatohcgtrdiatshmaebiinUlifStoiDremsAawtOihfoofnir(cbeerqaouifilrlCee,oamllamtruegrneniapctriianvtte,imoauendasinoas-t
[phone].Tofileacomplaint,writetheSecretaryofAgricul-
ture,U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,Washington,D.C.20250,or
call(202)720-7327(voice)or(202)720-1127(TDD).USDAisan
equalemploymentopportunityemployer.
—
Contents continued
Surface Water Control 40
Grade Dips 40
Waterbars 43
Maintainingthe 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
ShallowStream Fords 78
Bridges _____ 80
Special Structures 84
ClimbingTurns 87
Switchbacks 88
_________
CribWalls and Other RetainingStructures 91
Steps 96
MaintainingSpecial Structures 100
Signing 102
Installing Signs 103
Installing ReassuranceMarkers 105
Sign andMarkerMaintenance .109
_________
Naturalizing Abandoned Trails 111
Check Dams 113
Revegetation 115
8
IV
—
Contents continued
Tools 116
ToolsforMeasuring 117
ToolsforSawing 11
ToolsforChopping 120
ToolsforGrubbing 121
ToolsforDigging andTamping ______________124
_________________
Toolsfor Brushing 124
ToolsforFounding and Hammering 125
Toolsfor Lifting and Hauling 126
ToolsforPeeling and Shaping 130
ToolsforSharpening 131
Appendix 134
SelectedTrail Construction &Maintenance References 134
*>•
he 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 ofwhich
are referenced.
In addition, we appreciate the assistance of the
followingpeoplewhotookthetimetoreviewthedraft
manuscript, provided substantial content, prepared
illustrations, or helped with layout or editing.
Lois Bachensky RockyMountainRegion
WendellBeardsley NorthernRegion
BobBeckley MissoulaTechnology&DevelopmentCenter
Pete Bolander PacificNorthwestRegion
DollyB. Chapman TahoeNationalForest
DavidClark Wallowa-WhitmanNationalForest
DonClymer AlleghenyNationalForest
Tom Crimmins PacificSouthwestRegion
LarryEvans StanislausNationalForest
GaryHoshide MissoulaTechnology&DevelopmentCenter
Sung Kokko MissoulaTechnology&DevelopmentCenter
Bert Lindler MissoulaTechnology&DevelopmentCenter
SaraLustgraaf MissoulaTechnology&DevelopmentCenter
MelindaMcWilliams NationalForestsofNorthCarolina
DavidMichael CoconinoNationalForest
DavidNeeley IntermountainRegion
RolandoOrtegon EasternRegion
DougPewitt TahoeNationalForest
LarryPhillips SouthernRegion
GaryReynolds Manti-LaSalNationalForest
DixonSherman ChugachNationalForest
MaryAliceStoner NezPerceNationalForest
GregWatkins PacificSouthwestRegion
CharlesYriarte PacificNorthwestRegion
V
m
Why
write anothertrail construction and
m
maintenance guide? Good question. Several
W
good trail books and many local manuals
f already exist. These are beingusedtotraintrail
crewsthroughoutthe country. Only a handful are
published orwidely available, however. Lots of
great information is being circulated on photo-
copied copies ofphotocopies.
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 orientitjustto activities done in the field. We do not intendto
duplicate information already inthe Forest Service handbooksor
manuals fortasks better completed in the office, although we’ve
triedto make sure this notebook is consistentwith currentpolicies
and direction. We worked to keep it small and readable so it
would end up intrail crew packs instead ofpropping uptable legs.
Rememberthatthis notebook coversjust the basics. At some
point, you’ll want to read the more detailed ForestService Trails
Handbook(FSH 2309.18), Specificationsfor theConstructionand
MaintenanceofTrails (EM-7720-103 and 104), StandardsforForest
ServiceSignsandPosters (EM-7100-15), ForestServiceHealthand
SafetyCode(FSH 6709.11), and selected references from the
bibliography. Other sources coverwintertrails, paved or
surfaced trails, and other specialized trails.
We have also found there are many regional differences in tech-
niques, tools, and terminology throughoutthe country. It is
impossible to describe them all, andwe hope you aren’toffended
ifyourfavorite has been left outor called a funny name.
*