Trail Maintenance Requirements

Preserving the quality of the hiking experience, while providing a minimal level of soil and vegetation disturbance should be the goals of trail workers. The following priorities should be considered in this order whenever trail maintenance is performed:

• Hiker safety
• Natural resource protection
• Hiker convenience

Basic trail maintenance includes the following:

• Cleaning out leaves and debris in drainage channels, waterbars, dips and ditches
• Keeping the trail clear of uncomplicated blowdowns, brush and annual vegetation
• Evaluating paint blazes
• Blocking in unofficial trails and campsites with brush and piling brush along trails that are too wide
• Making an assessment of the condition of the trail and listing problems that need attention
• Reporting signs that are missing, inaccurate or damaged

Seasonal Maintenance Activities:

1. Spring Walk-Through
   The maintenance tasks for the spring walk-through are cleaning out drainage channels and clearing blowdowns. Spring walk-through is best done at the end of winter before the spring rainy season and before the trail receives much hiker use. This work should be completed before the end of April at the latest. Trail drainage problems are often at their worst during the spring rain season. Resolving these problems immediately or planning follow-up drainage work takes less guesswork in the spring. Assessment of other trail work needs is an important function of the spring walk-through. It is good to have a notebook and pencil or tape recorder along to record problems that need attention. Routine trash pickup is required.
2. Summer Walk-Through
   In addition to completing the tasks identified on the spring walk-through, the summer hiking season is a good time to clear the trail of woody brush and annual vegetation. The trail is most obscured when leaves are fully out as overhead branches sag and leaves hide blazes. Early summer is also the best time to clear the trail through open areas, before plants such as grasses and briars reach peak growth. Routine trash pickup is required.
3. Fall Walk-Through
   One of the best times of the year to clear out drainage structures is after the leaves have dropped from the trees. This puts the trail in a good condition during the winter and is good preparation for heavy spring runoff. The cool weather makes fall an excellent time to rebuild waterbars and other drainage channels. Routine trash pickup is required.

After you have adopted your trail, please submit quarterly the hours worked on your trail by printing the PDF form Maintenance Activity Form.

*The Trail Maintenance Standards were developed by the Carolina Mountain Club. FRIENDS greatly appreciates their sharing them to establish basic guidelines for maintaining a trail.

Safety:
Safety is the most important consideration while working on the trail. There is always the potential for accidents while using trail maintenance tools in the woods. Maintainers need to be constantly aware of these dangers. Trail maintainers have found over the years that the best way to work safely is simple: use common sense. The following is a good common sense checklist:

• Let someone know where you are
• Carry a small first aid kit
• Wear a good pair of work gloves to protect your hands
• Wear long pants, even in summer, when working in brush
• Be certain that all tool heads and handles are tight with no cracks
• Wear sturdy leather boots when digging or using cutting tools
• Carry tools on the trail safely
• Wear blaze orange colors when working during hunting season

*The Trail Safety Standards were developed by the Carolina Mountain Club. FRIENDS greatly appreciates their sharing them to establish basic guidelines for maintaining a trail.