Larry Laird – Michaux Forest – Appalachian trail
Course Description
Learning the basics of hiking trail maintenance from techniques to tools.
Outdoor recreation is an increasingly popular hobby and growing economy around the world. Each year outdoor parks and forests welcome more visitors than ever before, creating a new awareness of the beauty of our natural world.
All those people equate to more cars on the road and more shoes on the trail. As the practice of outdoor recreation grows, so does the pressure on the systems and infrastructure that supports that recreation. Oftentimes these are supported by local government, but also rely heavily on local communities and volunteer groups to keep them maintained.
No one hiking trail is the same – some climb thousands of feet and stretch for hundreds of miles, while others are simply a straight and flat surface from point A to Point B. No matter the complexity, both require maintenance and upkeep in order to protect the natural environment around them and provide a quality recreation experience.
This course will introduce you the the elementary concepts of how to properly assess a hiking trail, and provide basics for maintenance for that trail using hand tools. This provides an excellent opportunity to help expand your knowledge of trail use and bring new skills to volunteer groups in need.
Learning Outcomes
- The ability to access a hiking trail’s maintenance needs
- The understanding of how water interacts with trail surfaces
- The ability to recognize and use basic trail maintenance hand tools
- The understanding of trail maintenance and tool safety best practices
- The understanding of basic trail user psychology
Target Audience
- Trail Users/Volunteers
- Volunteer Groups
- Friend Groups
- Trail Builders (All Levels)
Course Enrollment
Free/Open
Estimated Course Duration
4 Hours