trail clearing technique and tools

[ning]

If it's still private property (and not owned by a non-profit or similar organization) that makes grants more difficult. Even if the landowner says "I let the public on" grantors know that that permission can be with drawn at any moment. An agreement with some recreation group can bump your project up in the rankings. - even more so if the group applies with you.

There's literally a perpetual public easement.
The landowner has no ability to withdraw it.

This is similar to conservation easements; it's on the title in perpetuity.

 

[ArlyA]

If it's still private property (and not owned by a non-profit or similar organization) that makes grants more difficult. Even if the landowner says "I let the public on" grantors know that that permission can be with drawn at any moment. An agreement with some recreation group can bump your project up in the rankings. - even more so if the group applies with you.

We (my spouse) has written many grants for trail systems before. Mostly for machines, events and infrastructure. She wrote a bunch to put a bridge in and that was kinda funny because no one asked "who's property is it on?" since it was on privet property, without any usage agreement. It subsequently washed out!

 

[John_Mc]

We (my spouse) has written many grants for trail systems before. Mostly for machines, events and infrastructure. She wrote a bunch to put a bridge in and that was kinda funny because no one asked "who's property is it on?" since it was on privet property, without any usage agreement.

Good luck with it then. I've been on the requesting and as well as on the granting end on several occasions. Just sharing what has affected decision-making when we were awarding grants. It's seldom just a simple yes or no. We ranked the applications, and then started awarding funds until we hit the limit for that round. Anything that helps move an application up in the rankings increase the likelihood of getting funded.

 

[airbiscuit]

Different areas may have different possibilities for donated labor. Around here, I think I could get a few local contractors/excavation companies to donate some machine time - push out some stumps, level an area, do primary grade for entrance road and ditch. Once you get a start, the other comes easier.
That may not be possible for you, but I would try.

 

[2manyrocks]

Whoever holds the grant money has criteria of their own that has to met in their minds before they are going to award funds. The criteria is usually first to filter out the ones who are just trying to take their money for themselves (schemers) or that aren't going to use the money wisely if they get it (dreamers). The grant people want to see that their funds will be put to good use as intended.

Another criteria is the that the money goes to further some cause that they want to assist.

Community participation levels matter. An organization that does a lot for a lot of children in the community, for example, would tend to get funding to help keep user fees affordable or provide free services for low income families. An organization that benefits only a relatively few people wouldn't tend to get as much funding.

The grant people I'm familiar with seem to want to see an organization established and successfully operating, but a grant gives that organization the extra boost to help more people in the community.

 

[ArlyA]

Here is a logging road we might clear this summer to groom for skiing. Does it look dry now?

 

[John_Mc]

Here is a logging road we might clear this summer to groom for skiing. Does it look dry now? View attachment 792254

Looks like much of my property.

I'm not sur ewha smertime conditions are like in that area, but the road appears to be running in the bottom of a slight trough. Maybe it's just how the snow is piled. If it is in a depression that can make for ongoing maintenance problems. Will you have to improve drainage in that area?

 

[ArlyA]

Looks like much of my property.

I'm not sur ewha smertime conditions are like in that area, but the road appears to be running in the bottom of a slight trough. Maybe it's just how the snow is piled. If it is in a depression that can make for ongoing maintenance problems. Will you have to improve drainage in that area?

This is a gravel or rock covered road a logging company built. Nonetheless, our goal is winter use and we've had the warmest and least snowy winter in history here, so I'd guess there is not normally open water. Here is more pics of the same road. Its lots more brushy than my photos show!

 

[two_bit_score]

Good luck on finding some funding to help you keep doing what you are doing for the public good.

 

[ArlyA]

Good luck on finding some funding to help you keep doing what you are doing for the public good.

Thanks. We will reapply over the summer and change it up a tad. People who keep reapplying usually end up with something. I'd add a more complete history below.

We cleared the single-track located here (we can't groom it) about 5 years ago since we liked using them and it was an overgrown mess. That took about 300 hours. (we did have help, maybe 50 hours worth) Being out there so much that summer, we found its summer use was rather low. Maybe one or 2 people per day but folks don't like hiking in the knee tall grass and fern and stick strewn trails. After the word got out they had been cleared and free mutt friendly, our user volume might have doubled or tripled. A few years after that, the largest cross country area in our area clamped down on summer AND winter dog rules, we then gather up enough equipment to run a "winter groomed trail use test" and we financed it 100%. That winter was a resounding success with mostly dog owners which I'd guess was 60% of the total.