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Hand Tools for Trail Work (2005) [pdf]

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Re: Hand Tools for Trail Work (2005) [pdf]

#21

Post by bmj »

floren wrote: post #20
vkou wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem with machinery and trail maintenance is that machinery is heavy, and unless it can wheel itself to your worksite under its own power, it's unlikely going to save you any labor.

It's also straight-up illegal to operate any sort of vehicle in US wilderness areas (horses are OK). I think they also ban gas motors and maybe even things like electric chainsaws.

From what I've read, there are some areas where the Forest Service/Park Service are allowed to use power tools for maintenance activities. This seems like the exception rather than rule, however.

I have a friend who does trail maintenance in the Dolly Sodds and surrounding areas, and he has gotten quite adept at using a crosscut saw with his partner. I've seen it in action, and the efficiency of that tool, in the hands of skilled users, is quite impressive.

Re: Hand Tools for Trail Work (2005) [pdf]

#22

Post by Pfhreak »

RandallBrown wrote: post #8
Pfhreak wrote: post #3

I've used my tech salary to buy some formerly clear-cut acreage near National Forests with a plan to rehabilitate and protect the forest there. One of the first things I want to do is set up some trails for hiking to the ridge and creek on the property. Thanks for sharing this, super interesting to read!

I recommend volunteering with a local trail organization. You'll likely find some interesting old timers who can teach you a ton about building trails.

My father in law has a few decades doing trail building, and we're already trading notes. :D

Re: Hand Tools for Trail Work (2005) [pdf]

#24

Post by lacker »

Around here (Northern California) it seems like most of the trail maintenance is done with chainsaws. At least that's the sort of trail maintenance I can most easily recall, people cutting away fallen trees that are obstructing a trail. It might be that everyday maintenance is done with other tools and it's just the bigger jobs that I end up noticing.

Re: Hand Tools for Trail Work (2005) [pdf]

#25

Post by maxerickson »

floren wrote: post #20
vkou wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem with machinery and trail maintenance is that machinery is heavy, and unless it can wheel itself to your worksite under its own power, it's unlikely going to save you any labor.

It's also straight-up illegal to operate any sort of vehicle in US wilderness areas (horses are OK). I think they also ban gas motors and maybe even things like electric chainsaws.

Most US public lands are not (in the legal sense) wilderness areas.

Re: Hand Tools for Trail Work (2005) [pdf]

#26

Post by floren »

maxerickson wrote: post #25
floren wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's also straight-up illegal to operate any sort of vehicle in US wilderness areas (horses are OK). I think they also ban gas motors and maybe even things like electric chainsaws.

Most US public lands are not (in the legal sense) wilderness areas.

True, but there are plenty of wilderness areas, and the Forest Service needs effective tools for maintaining them. This means crosscut saws and pack mules, sometimes.

Re: Hand Tools for Trail Work (2005) [pdf]

#27

Post by maxerickson »

floren wrote: post #26
maxerickson wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most US public lands are not (in the legal sense) wilderness areas.

True, but there are plenty of wilderness areas, and the Forest Service needs effective tools for maintaining them. This means crosscut saws and pack mules, sometimes.

USFS manages National Forests that aren't wilderness areas. They do timber sales and such where the logging will be done with machinery and trucked out.

National Park Service manages lands that are legally classified as wilderness areas.

Re: Hand Tools for Trail Work (2005) [pdf]

#28

Post by thrower123 »

thehappypm wrote: post #17
throwawaysea wrote: post #13

Wow this is a really comprehensive resource, thanks for sharing. Are there small-scale machinery that can make trail work less labor-intensive? I am particularly thinking about how difficult it is to do thinks like manage invasive species. Even just an acre of land could be unmanageable for one person working with hand tools alongside their other life priorities.

The PDF mentions chainsaws, and concludes that they are less effective than manual saws. It does seem like you want your tools to be as light as possible so that getting to the work site doesn't become a behemoth task!

If you've ever hiked up and down mountains doing trail fixing work, carrying 10-15 pounds of saw, plus tools and files and a couple gallons of fuel and a jug of bar and chain oil, gets really old really fast. And if you've got a chainsaw, you really ought to be wearing kevlar chaps and boots, and a helmet with hearing and eye protection, and now you're lugging an entire pack-frame of stuff.

Not really worth it unless you're doing some real felling.

Re: Hand Tools for Trail Work (2005) [pdf]

#29

Post by emi420 »

gdubs wrote: post #16

I shared this in another thread yesterday, but appropriate here — this is my favorite all-around tool: https://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/products.ph... It’s a trail tool, but serves many purposes — from grubbing out weeds, to contouring paths, to leveraging boulders. I love it. I also have a Japanese saw referred to as a human powered chainsaw (I think it’s called “The Silky Big Boy”) and it’s a close…

What about the sharpening of that tool? seems to be inverse than on a Pulaski, it works good anyway?

Re: Hand Tools for Trail Work (2005) [pdf]

#30

Post by kokanator »

thrower123 wrote: post #28
thehappypm wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The PDF mentions chainsaws, and concludes that they are less effective than manual saws. It does seem like you want your tools to be as light as possible so that getting to the work site doesn't become a behemoth task!

If you've ever hiked up and down mountains doing trail fixing work, carrying 10-15 pounds of saw, plus tools and files and a couple gallons of fuel and a jug of bar and chain oil, gets really old really fast. And if you've got a chainsaw, you really ought to be wearing kevlar chaps and boots, and a helmet with hearing and eye protection, and now you're lugging an entire pack-frame of stuff. Not really worth it unless…

I can attest to this. The pants themselves will wear you out let alone the extra gear. Hand tools when sharpened and operated correctly can be extremely efficient.

Crosscut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgAnAn_nd68

General: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8_AafEAOdk

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