trail clearing technique and tools

[ArlyA]

It's like a round hedge trimmer, store said they just got them in and had only sold one so far to a guy using them for clearing blackberries and he loved it. We'll see how well it works.

https://www.stihlusa.com/products/multi-task-tools/kombisystem-attachments/rgkm/

They would not work on any of the trails we keep up.

 

[ArlyA]

Here is more recent pics.

 

[ArlyA]

Looks we will be working on a city parks trail located in our town this spring. Stay tuned for details. Any one been out clearing there trails?

 

[kenmbz]

Been too wet here, raining again today. Can see growth, so work awaits.

 

[ArlyA]

A rock seen at an area ski trail. The scratches are from skegs or implement teeth.

 

[ArlyA]

We are heading into the field today to clear dead-falls and make sure water puddles can drain. Looking at another thread here, it because clear that most people do not know how to used a ******* file and sharpen their loppers. If want me to take photos and post instructions, like this post and I'll do that. Sharp, oiled and tight loppers, are your freind.

 

[ArlyA]

Or I can just post this video who does it the same way we were trained. As stated above, we use ******* files to file them, never a electric powered stone or device.

 

[ArlyA]

As seen on Boundary Road trails today. On our way out. Its about a 1.5 mile hike out.

Draining mud puddles. What vegetation I'm I standing among?

And what I'm I doing to this pulled down tree? I cut it many times before its cut off.

And a few minutes later.

All better.

 

[ArlyA]

All the trails I've worked on in the state parks have been bridle trails (horseback riding). That particular trail had run out the ridgetop and then dropped straight down the steep drop at the end. That had turned into an eroded gulley, dangerous at best even on foot.
I went back 500' on the ridge and cut a gradual trail into the side of the ridge with a moderate drop and hopefully dispersed drainage.

Ken, do you have any training for this type of work?

 

[cqaigy2]

I continue to receive good service from all my Echo Tools…

Nothing bad to say except they stopped supporting my 40 year old Handlebar Brush Cutter!

Crap, i started counting years on mine 80s era brush cutter.

 

[ultrarunner]

The plastic tank became brittle and cracked…

A quick trip to selling dealer and no luck… even made request for system inventory and no luck.

It was described as a phase out of non carb approved models over time.

I modified a Tanaka tank and it works well.

My dealer said we can’t condone mods for many reasons including CARB but I said this predates California Air Resource Bureau…

 

[ArlyA]

With summer kicking in here, we are doing less trail work. Nonetheless, this morning I was out there with our civil engineer buddy looking at our parking lot for needed upgrades. We hope to properly grade it for water drainage, add gravel or rocks and create space for snow storage. Snow storage is a BIG deal here.

As seen today.

Over the weekend we cut and moved 4x6's out there to get board walks out of the mud.

 

[two_bit_score]

It's like a round hedge trimmer, store said they just got them in and had only sold one so far to a guy using them for clearing blackberries and he loved it. We'll see how well it works.

https://www.stihlusa.com/products/multi-task-tools/kombisystem-attachments/rgkm/

How much do those go for?

 

[ArlyA]

We started into whacking weeds and shoots down on our trails today. We are running 3 and 4 string heads with .155 string in them. (this is for new people here who will inevitably tell me to use XYZ string in a feeder spool system)

Before. There are maple shoots.

And after.

Ya

Found this across the trail but no pole saw with us today.

Some of us cool off in the creek.

We had so much fun.

 

[Oaktree]

I continue to receive good service from all my Echo Tools…

Nothing bad to say except they stopped supporting my 40 year old Handlebar Brush Cutter!

+1 on Echo tools. I don't have anything that old, but my chainsaw is over 25 and still going strong with many, many cords of wood in it's mirror.
Got a straight shaft trimmer that needs a carb rebuild, got a kit from Amazon just haven't gotten around to doing it yet. That's gotta be 20 years old too.

 

[ArlyA]

Me and the mutts were out on the trails today to refurbish dated map signs. This is what the roofs looked like.

After new roofs were installed and re-staining them. Its 3/8ths abs I used.

 

[ArlyA]

We were out on our trails this morning whacking weeds down, basic summer upkeep. This portion is logging road which we are hoping to get a small tractor and three point mower to do.

Like this. I have a thread about it here.

This is one year of growth of maple shoots. Ya, they grow like weed's here. This isn't the trail per say but a turn-around location for us in the winter.

After hitting with .155 string. It was about 2ft tall.

 

[ArlyA]

More from today. This is yet another patch of Canadian yew. From Wiki.

Taxus canadensis, the Canada yew or Canadian yew, is a conifer native to central and eastern North America, thriving in swampy woods, ravines, riverbanks and on lake shores. Locally called simply "yew", this species is also referred to as American yew or ground-hemlock.
Scientific name: Taxus canadensis

We see trees with "dog legs" grown into them all the time. Someone said that snow loads break trees off but they survive and keep growing.

 

[2manyrocks]

Gas saver.

Weed Cutter 30 In. Handle | Agri Supply 24013

 

[ArlyA]

With nice and cool weather here today, we were on the trails and raised some predestination bridges that were a tad to low. The lowest one sat in the water for a month so we raise them by adding 4x6's under them, then added rocks as dirt damns and fill so as to make a little ramps for them. Cyclist are not common but do use these trails. Many more skiers and hikers do than cyclists used them. Two bridges were done today so the pics might be confusing.