Trail Maintainence Clubs

“I heard wolfsister say she works on trail maintainence with her club. Curious to know how many other states have trail maintainence clubs? Post here if you know of one in your state!
Thanks”

“I've never heard of any that Trail Maintaince is all they do. I would think ALL trail clubs do it some times.”

“Every hiking club I ever heard of does maintenance. I have done maintenance with two separate clubs. One of the local clubs is building new trail with the USFS. I was going to help them this weekend, but made other plans.”

“You don't have to be in a "club" to go out and clean up trails. Nobody's going to complain if you go out and pick up trash or move blowdown.”

“i picked up trash before and shure ill do it in the future as long as these idiots keep hiking!”

“In PA the KTA (Keystone Trails Association) has 10-12 weekend trips to do trail maintenance all over the state, plus 3 or 4 week-long outings. In addition, many individuals belonging to local trail clubs adopt sections of trail that they maintain. We do both. Here in the Washington DC area, PATC (Potomac Appalachian Trail Club) does group maintaining trips and also has individual trail sections that are up for adoption.

Going out and clearing branches is great -- I am always amazed at how lazy most hikers are, that they would rather walk around a downed branch than reach over and move it out of the way. But there is more to maintaining than most people understand. It is a lot of fun, but also a lot of hard work, especially if you are cuttign side hill, building steps or doing cribbing. For those of us with bad backs, we get to clip and blaze and assist those with the chainsaws. The people are the best.”

“In Tennessee >>> Blue Ridge MT Sports, Tennessee Trails Association, Smoky Mt Hiking Club, Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club -- they ALL do trail maintenance days..”

“New Mexico Mountain Club does much work on the Continental Divide Trail, and has at least one trail that they have adopted.”

“The Buckeye Trail Assoc. is primarily a maintenance club and they are responsible for the Buckeye Trail. Since this trail is a complete loop of all of Ohio, 1200 miles, the work is never even close to being finished. Some of the tasks are: relocating a trail,installing switchbacks, water bars, retaining walls or plowing through a field of green briers to make a trail where no trail has ever been before. This is major hard work but you know the trails just don't get there by themselves. This would be a good time to mention a good book most maintainers consider an excelent manual-Lightly on The Land by Rober C. Birkby, ISBN # 0-89886-491-7 The price is 19.95. This is the Student Conservation Assoc trail building and maintenance manual.”

“The one in My state is real good!

The Hoosier Hikers Council.

8)”

“backpackers need to do more to help the trails on which they hike- we're the ones using them, we should be the ones taking care of them. Most trail clubs do some maintenance, also contact your local state park or forest, they're always looking for help. Here in PA, the KTA does a lot of maintenance, alpine club of williamsport focuses on the loyalsock trail, AYH focuses on the baker trail, etc. many people think trail maintenance is more fun then backpacking. even when you're backpacking you can do a little, like move a rock, branch, or clear the trail of debris, using a walking stick makes this a lot easier.

ginny- will you be out for the link trail crew? should be fun, especially that blueberry pancake breakfast. see, you all are missing out.”

“i took my chainsaw certification class, SO WATCH OUT!!”

“Yes, we'll be there - can't miss Rich's blueberry pancakes. Will there be a fight to use the Chainsaws among all the newly certified? I took the class once, but had no experience before I did, so only got apprentice status. Two years later, I had yet to pick up a saw again, so I didn't go back to be recertified. I do wield a mean paint brush though.”