Tread assessment is tied to water assessment, but the tread needs to be assessed also. Look for berms that will channel water down trail, rather than sheeting off downslope. Sheeting refers to water exiting over a larger area, as opposed to a concentrated exit, such as channel, or drain. Water that exits via sheeting is much less likely to cause erosion. Observe if there are areas where backslope sloughage is mounting along the inside edge, forcing hikers away from the center of the trail to the outside edge, leading to erosion. Note any uphill side root growth pushing hikers out to the edge, also note any collapsing banks. Keep an eye out for social trails, and shortcuts, and note their location using your mapping tools. Photos can be helpful in many of these instances.
