Trail Skills College Course Curriculum
To help our volunteers succeed in their trail work, PCTA collaborated with many partners to develop a Trail Skills College curriculum.
Tread Maintenance - Hand tools
Skill Definition
Using hand tools, maintain a trail to its designed specifications for tread width, cross/outslope, protrusions, and obstacles using hand tools and minimizes off trail impacts
Entry Level Performance
- Safely use a variety of hand tools to perform effective maintenance on a range of trail types independently
- Identify the location and appropriate strategy to maintain the trail tread to its desired standards and specifications with supervision.
Full Performance Level
- Safely use hand tools to maintain a trail that meets the maintenance specifications and trail sustainability principles independently
- Identify locations and the appropriate strategy to maintain the trail tread to the desired specifications independently.
Expert Level Performance
- Efficiently and effectively use hand tools to maintain a trail, drawing from a variety of techniques to meet maintenance specifications and sustainability principles.
- Implement a comprehensive maintenance plan for a trail and/or trail system
Resources for Tread Maintenance - Hand tools:
Documents and Media
• Video Trainings
• Training Programs
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Documents and Media for Tread Maintenance - Hand tools
North Country Trail Handbook
The North Country National Scenic Trail (NST) extends for thousands of miles across seven states. Its layout, design, construction, and maintenance require the participation of a myriad of individuals and groups.
Hand Tool Field Maintenance
We rely on hand tools to lop branches, dig drain dips, remove slough and berm, construct waterbars and check steps, and much more. As a result, hand tools receive a great deal of wear and tear. Learn about the most common tool problems that are…
Handtools for Trail Work
The use and maintenance of handtools involved in trail work.
Addressing Erosion on the Trail
In the fifth video of this series, we take a look at techniques for addressing erosion issues on trails in arid environments. We'll review techniques such as rolling grade dips (drains), check dams/steps, waterbars and berm removal - discussing the…
The Crosscut Sawyer
The Crosscut Sawyer - USDA Forest Service 2007 - Publication 0723-2D02-MTDC - Missoula Technology Development Center. Crosscut saws are experiencing a revival not only in designated wilderness areas but in other backcountry settings. These…
Trail Skills Training Library
Recorded Trainings for Tread Maintenance - Hand tools
Wilderness Trails: Special Places, Special Considerations.
This webinar will provide some basic information on trails in federally-designated Wilderness, examples of practical experiences, and resources to learn more. Presented by: Pete Irvine, retired, USDA Forest Service Dan Abbe, Wilderness Specialist,…
Further Education
Training Programs for Tread Maintenance - Hand tools
Sustainable Trail Building One Year Certificate Program
In this one-year certificate program, you’ll have boots-on-the-ground at Northwoods Stewardship Center in East Charleston, VT for three individual week-long intensive classes. You will grow your knowledge base and connect with trail building…
Trail Academy
Trail Academy is our free class series that teaches students how to tackle any trail-related challenge. Courses are hosted both in the field and online, and are a great starting point for anyone looking to become a certified Trail Crew Leader or…
Trail Sustainability Institute
The Trail Sustainability Institute (TSI) is NWTA’s internal training classes for everything related to trail building. We want to make sure our trail builders are knowledgeable in not only how to build/maintain fun trails, but ensure those trails…
IMBA Trail Solutions Advanced Trail Building School
Partner with IMBA Trail Solutions and create with confidence. By deploying a complete range of skills–including visioning, detailed design, professional construction, and training for stewardship–our comprehensive approach saves resources.
Trails Certificate
Gain insight into best practices related to the design, construction and maintenance of trails. Learn about and apply techniques that can enhance, rehabilitate and protect trails and greenways. Participants will also learn about trail…
Sustainable Trails Development
The Sustainable Trails curriculum welcomes students from various fields who are interested in trails development, programming and management, as well as design.
Skill Library
Trail Maintenance
Trail Sustainability Principles
Safety/Site Management
Maintenance Specifications
Corridor Clearing/Site Preparation
Corridor Clearing: Pruning/ Side-Cutting/ Brushing
Corridor Clearing: Bucking, Felling/ Hazard Tree Removal; Chainsaw/ Crosscut
Corridor Clearing: Material and Debris Management
Tread Maintenance - Hand tools
Tread Maintenance - Mechanized Equipment
Drainage Features/Water Management
Custom Trainings
There are 62 trainers on TrailSkills
with Tread Maintenance - Hand tools experience
Alexander De Lucia
Bretton Woods, NH
Director of Trails & Recreation Management
Appalachian Mountain Club
Hire Workers
There are 247 workers on TrailSkills
with Tread Maintenance - Hand tools experience
Jonathan Kelly
Oxford, AL
Talladega National Forest Outreach and Stewardship Coordinator
Wild Alabama
Walter Opuszynski
Barre, VT
Forest Recreation Specialist
Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation
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Know of a good resource for this skill? Let us know! From webinars, to workshops, to PDFs, we'd like to add them to our resource library.
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