View Full Version : Forum for Trail Maintenance
insideragp
09-18-2006, 08:28
My wife and I have been car to car hiking the train in PA/NJ so far and have about 200 miles behind us. (Rocks bad!) I would like to get involved in trail maintenance and was wondering if something could be set up on Whiteblaze to highlight upcoming maintenance days. Possibly a forum or an email blast to anyone interested in trail maintenace in a given state.
Not only would it be good to give back, but what I learn while doing real maintenance may improve the way I hike (less impact to the trail) or might allow me to do a quick fix while hiking if I see something wrong.
Just a thought.
The easiest way to get involved with trail maintenance is to hook up with a local trail maintaining club. Some post their schedules on their website. Others require a phone call to find out what the plans are.
In Pennsylvania there are several clubs that maintain sections of the AT.
SGT Rock
09-18-2006, 09:28
Insideragp,
It is such a good idea that Mowgli came up with it over a year ago and we put one in. You may have missed it, so here is the link:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=402
Programbo
09-21-2006, 20:30
I do some freelance Trail cleaning...At least once a month I`ll park at the parking area near I-70 and Rt40 in Maryland and make the loop up to Pine Knob shelter from the southern blue blaze trail and then out the northern blue blaze trail and up to the rocks and back down and pick up all the trash I see..It isn`t much but I feel good helping out....Thats the section that 90% of the weekend day hikers and families travel anyway so it seems to get the most litter
snowman2005
09-23-2006, 14:22
In Pennsylvania there are several clubs that maintain sections of the AT.
Haahaahaa..haa... I love the hiker humour on here! :D
mweinstone
09-29-2006, 21:25
if your knocking the bmecc.dont. i take my blue mountain egale climbing club seriously. im not a member. i think the hardest part of trail work is,not bringing enough lunch and working too far from the water cooler.im a bow saw. i cut the medium stuff. im also a digging iron. or bar if you preferr. that tool allways goes to the strongest. ya just dont hand that baby out to a kid. in my spare time i went to collage for wheelbarelling loads of stone around looptop trails in gettysburg.and i can double as a fair post hole digger tool operater. just dont ask me to repaint blazes. im against them.
StarLyte
09-29-2006, 22:26
My wife and I have been car to car hiking the train in PA/NJ so far and have about 200 miles behind us. (Rocks bad!) I would like to get involved in trail maintenance and was wondering if something could be set up on Whiteblaze to highlight upcoming maintenance days. Possibly a forum or an email blast to anyone interested in trail maintenace in a given state.
Not only would it be good to give back, but what I learn while doing real maintenance may improve the way I hike (less impact to the trail) or might allow me to do a quick fix while hiking if I see something wrong.
Just a thought.
Motivated. Caring. Unselfish.
You are and will be inspiring to others.
Need more of you in the world.
Thank you.
mweinstone
09-30-2006, 20:33
pickin up trash is the best way to fix a trail.
saimyoji
09-30-2006, 22:10
My wife and I have been car to car hiking the train in PA/NJ so far and have about 200 miles behind us. (Rocks bad!) I would like to get involved in trail maintenance and was wondering if something could be set up on Whiteblaze to highlight upcoming maintenance days. Possibly a forum or an email blast to anyone interested in trail maintenace in a given state.
Not only would it be good to give back, but what I learn while doing real maintenance may improve the way I hike (less impact to the trail) or might allow me to do a quick fix while hiking if I see something wrong.
Just a thought.
Hammer, chisel and large diamond file are all we use here in PA. :D
Another thing to consider is volunteering for five day trail crew. It can be hard work but it is rewarding. You will really get to know the ins and outs of trail maintenance and meet interesting people. The ATC organize and run crews from May through October. See the ATC's website for details.
trailangelmary
10-07-2006, 05:29
Not sure if this is the right forum to post this but here it is:
10/13 - Hike "New" Appalachian Trail at Bear Mountain Next Date:October 13, 2006Time:9:00am - 12:00amWhere:Bear Mountain State ParkAddress:Route 9WBear Mountain, NYPhone:201) 512-9348, ext. 26Details:The NY-NJ Trail Conference invites the public to a guided hike and fieldwork sampler on Friday, October 13, on Bear Mountain starting at 9 am. The event will include an orientation to the Appalachian Trail reconstruction project at Bear Mountain that began this past spring, a short but strenuous bushwhack hike up the mountain along the proposed new route for the trail, and perhaps an opportunity to participate in the work (your choice).
The first section of this famous Georgia-to-Maine footpath was constructed on Bear Mountain and opened in 1923. Over the years this, and other connecting trails at Bear Mountain, have become severely eroded owing to intense use.
The NY-NJ Trail Conference is leading the five-year effort to restore and rehabilitate the Appalachian Trail and other trails on the mountain, with the majority of the work being done by volunteers. The plan for the Bear Mountain Trails Project includes a novice-friendly AT from the Bear Mountain Inn to the summit, an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant handicapped-accessible segment at the summit, and a relocation of the AT off of Perkins Drive on the south side of the mountain. The project will also include trail signage and interpretive exhibits. There are ongoing opportunities for new volunteers to get involved.
Project Director Eddie Walsh will lead the October 13 event. Pre-registration is required.