Willie Bittner started working on trails 25 years ago with the Wisconsin DNR and over the years he has worked from coast to coast building trails and teaching the different methods and styles to volunteer groups, conservation corps and state and federal agencies. Willie started Great Lakes Trailbuilders, LLC in 2008 to bring a low impact and environmentally friendly approach to trailbuilding and design to the Midwest.
These days Great Lakes Trailbuilders has worked both nationally and internationally, working with all types of user groups. As owner and lead designer, Willie is dedicated to sharing his experiences, engaging users and developing leading edge trails. His projects have taken him from designing new National Parks trails in Patagonia to co-founding WisCorps, Inc. a Wisconsin based Conservation Corps to leading trainings on everything from sustainable trail construction to trail psychology and backcountry rigging.
Skill Snapshot
Trail Construction
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Entry |
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Full |
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Expert |
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Trail Maintenance
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Entry |
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Full |
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Expert |
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Project Preparation
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Entry |
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Full |
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Expert |
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Project Planning & Design
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Entry |
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Full |
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Expert |
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Project & Crew Management
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Entry |
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Full |
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Expert |
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Program Admin & Leadership
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Entry |
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Full |
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Expert |
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Industry Roles and Availability
Contractor
Trainer
Higher Education
Documents and Certifications
This user has not uploaded any documents.
Skill Profile
Construction Specifications: Expert
Corridor Clearing: Expert
Hand-Built Trail Construction: Expert
Mechanized Trail Construction: Expert
Trail Finishwork: Expert
Water Management/Drainage Features: Expert
Water Crossing Structures: Expert
Retaining Walls: Expert
Tread Hardening: Expert
Trailside Structures / Dispersed Recreation: Expert
Decommissioning Trails: Expert
Maintenance Specifications: Expert
Inventory & Assessment: Expert
Corridor Clearing: Power tools: Expert
Corridor clearing: Hand Tools: Expert
Tread Maintenance - Hand tools: Expert
Tread Maintenance - Mechanized Equipment: Expert
Drainage Features/Water Management: Expert
Land Use Plan Alignment: Expert
Define Purpose and Need of Project: Expert
Corridor Planning: Expert
Stakeholder Engagement: Full Performance
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Principles: Full Performance
Project Cost Estimation: Expert
Implementation Plan: Expert
Trail Specifications: Expert
Design: Expert
Trail Plans: Expert
Interpretation: Full Performance
Permitting: Full Performance
Universal Design/ADA Accessibility: Expert
Crew Recruitment: Expert
Crew Management: Expert
Jobsite Safety: Expert
Jobsite Risk Management: Expert
Performance Management: Expert
Field-based Resource Protection: Expert
Program Budgeting: Expert
Communications: Expert
Contract Administration: Full Performance
Education and Public Outreach: Expert
Funding/Grants: Full Performance
Inspections/Monitoring: Expert
Partnership and Collaboration: Expert
Policy/Directives/Law: Full Performance
Visitor Use Management and Monitoring: Full Performance
Agreement Development: Expert
BLM Inventory, Assessment, Monitoring: Entry Level
Bridge Inspection: Entry Level
Sawyer Certification: Full Performance
IAM (Inventory, Assessment, and Monitoring): Entry Level
National Scenic Trail Designation and Planning: Entry Level
National Historic Trail Designation and Planning: Entry Level
National Recreation Trail Designation and Planning: Entry Level
Rail Trail Designation and Planning: Entry Level
Testimonials
This user does not have any testimonials yet.
Upcoming Trainings
No upcoming trainings
Trainings I Provide
I offer trainings for the following skills:
- Construction Specifications
- Corridor Clearing
- Hand-Built Trail Construction
- Mechanized Trail Construction
- Trail Finishwork
- Water Management/Drainage Features
- Water Crossing Structures
- Retaining Walls
- Tread Hardening
- Trailside Structures / Dispersed Recreation
- Decommissioning Trails
- Maintenance Specifications
- Inventory & Assessment
- Corridor Clearing: Power tools
- Corridor clearing: Hand Tools
- Tread Maintenance - Hand tools
- Tread Maintenance - Mechanized Equipment
- Drainage Features/Water Management
- Land Use Plan Alignment
- Define Purpose and Need of Project
- Corridor Planning
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Project Cost Estimation
- Implementation Plan
- Trail Specifications
- Design
- Trail Plans
- Universal Design/ADA Accessibility
- Crew Recruitment
- Crew Management
- Jobsite Safety
- Jobsite Risk Management
- Performance Management
- Field-based Resource Protection
Please contact me for more details on the trainings I offer.
Past Trainings
Great Lakes Trailbuilders, LLC
August 20 - 25, 2023
Ely, Minnesota
Join Great Lakes Trailbuilders in building a native stone staircase at the Steger Center just outside of Ely, MN. This partnership will allow participants to learn and enhance technical trail skills with professional trailbuilder Willie Bittner, while immersed in the beautiful and educational environment the Steger Center provides. Over the week participants will learn stone shaping, moving and setting as well as backcountry rigging techniques on a current project at the Center. The training will be held onsite with meals and tent accommodations included.