Post by: MLHSN on June 25, 2013, 12:26:39 PM
Just wondering if it's a potential ticket should Mr. FS ranger pass by.
There are a few trails I like to use that are getting nasty. Half a day and I think I could do my part to do some maintenance.
Post by: jackmaster on June 25, 2013, 12:30:40 PM
Post by: MLHSN on June 25, 2013, 12:52:39 PM
I know you can't use chainsaws in wilderness areas. I kind of wondered what options are available for logging out some of the smaller logs, or if I should even be messing with downed logs if I don't have any experience.
Post by: netcoyote on June 25, 2013, 12:55:29 PM
I think your question is more specific to a certain trail and area in a NF and I could not speak to that without some details. I can contact my resources and get you some more information if you have a specific trail and NF you are interested in. You can PM me if you want.
You would be amazed at how many people are becoming involved in trail maintenance in public lands. With all the budget issues, this volunteerism may be the only thing that keeps some of these areas open to the public. And be warned, once you spend some time doing it, you can get hooked. I've been spending many Saturdays this year with pulaskis, shovels, saws and pry bars and I still keep coming back for more. It's a great feeling to be out working up a sweat, immediately see the results of your efforts, and know that you are leaving something better for the next person.
I also should mention that there are a lot of restrictions on using power tools, like chainsaws and even large crosscut saws on public land. The NFS now has developed certification classes if you want to go that way but you don't need the cert to power a shovel or lopping tools.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on June 25, 2013, 06:52:12 PM
Post by: Alpine Mojo on June 25, 2013, 06:53:42 PM
Post by: boneaddict on June 25, 2013, 07:14:28 PM
Quote
Asking permission never crosses my mind.:yeah:
Post by: snowpack on June 25, 2013, 07:18:26 PM
Post by: Wea300mag on June 25, 2013, 07:20:46 PM
I just do it, but only do the smaller stuff like 3 inch diameter or less. Backcountry Horsemen usually come through once or twice a season and clear the big stuff. For the side trails that lead to where I want to hunt, I don't do any maintenance--I encourage the plants to go crazy at least near the beginning. :)
:chuckle: I've been known to start clearing myself a path after the first 100 yards too.
Post by: ICEMAN on June 25, 2013, 07:22:20 PM
Post by: KFhunter on June 25, 2013, 07:22:24 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on June 25, 2013, 07:28:07 PM
Just make sure you chop it out wide enough to get my ATV through
:yike:
Post by: norsepeak on June 25, 2013, 07:31:19 PM
:yeah:QuoteAsking permission never crosses my mind.:yeah:
Post by: Jingles on June 25, 2013, 07:33:53 PM
1. in order to cut any logs in the wilderness area you have to be Cross cut saw certified as no mechanized saws allowed
2. Trails must be cut to FS standards as far as width
3. Water bars must be put in where needed.
4 FS Trail boss has the right to inspect your work and progress and note if corrections or more work needs to be done.
Now mind you this was going to be volunteer work done by myself at no cost to anyone but me. The Kicker was I was going to have to pay for the class to become cross cut certified. I politely said a cross cut is a frigging hand saw and I sure as he-- am not paying for a class to learn how to use a hand saw... So the trail still hasn't been cleared and the last time the FS cleared the trail was in 1988 when the FS employee rolled a string of mules down the hill.
Post by: KFhunter on June 25, 2013, 07:35:17 PM
Just make sure you chop it out wide enough to get my ATV through
:yike:
just messin with ya'll :chuckle:
some of those atv threads....whew :o
Post by: ICEMAN on June 25, 2013, 07:38:22 PM
Post by: wilsongideon on June 25, 2013, 10:06:01 PM
Post by: JLS on June 25, 2013, 10:25:52 PM
Post by: alecvg on June 25, 2013, 11:02:42 PM
Post by: Shawn Ryan on June 26, 2013, 12:15:00 AM
Post by: Smossy on June 26, 2013, 02:54:32 AM
That made me laugh.Just make sure you chop it out wide enough to get my ATV through
:yike:
just messin with ya'll :chuckle:
some of those atv threads....whew :o
Post by: MLHSN on June 26, 2013, 07:09:11 AM
I went to the list of work parties on the WTA website and there sure aren't many in Chelan county and I didn't see a single one in the Icicle area.
Post by: Jingles on June 26, 2013, 07:31:51 AM
Post by: luvmystang67 on June 26, 2013, 07:46:53 AM
I have come to the conclusion it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission. I mean what are they gonna tell me put all the trees back in the trail and unfill the washouts?
Double on the forgiveness part.
I'm sure that nearly every forest service employee would appreciate your effort and at most give you a small hand slapping because they had to, but I doubt if any would give you permission. Don't ask, don't tell, woods style.
Post by: netcoyote on June 26, 2013, 09:21:57 AM
I'll explain what I was told by the FS when I was going to spend a summer clearing a trail
1. in order to cut any logs in the wilderness area you have to be Cross cut saw certified as no mechanized saws allowed
2. Trails must be cut to FS standards as far as width
3. Water bars must be put in where needed.
4 FS Trail boss has the right to inspect your work and progress and note if corrections or more work needs to be done.
Now mind you this was going to be volunteer work done by myself at no cost to anyone but me. The Kicker was I was going to have to pay for the class to become cross cut certified. I politely said a cross cut is a frigging hand saw and I sure as he-- am not paying for a class to learn how to use a hand saw... So the trail still hasn't been cleared and the last time the FS cleared the trail was in 1988 when the FS employee rolled a string of mules down the hill.
I felt the same way about saw certification until I learned more about it. It all goes back to how we are all tangled up in legal processes in today's world. I took the chainsaw and crosscut saw certification classes and am currently certified in both. The land managers have to safeguard the resources they have responsibility for and one of them, besides the trees, is the budget. If they are aware of, or authorize the work to be done and someone is injured while clearing a trail, guess what happens? Everyone lawyers up and thing get complicated and costly in a hurry. If you get hurt on a state managed property you are entitled to L&I coverage, not sure what coverage is available on Fed land. The certification program is a bit of a CYA for the land manager but it does certainly benefit the sawyer.
I figured I didn't need "no stinkin' classes" on chainsaw use either, but I have to say, I learned a lot and saw a lot safer now than I ever have. I've cut into a leg before and it ain't pretty.
Bottom line, when I'm working on a trail crew under a trail boss, I follow the certification rules, we do the water bars and trail dimension specs and work to land manager rules. When I'm just out hiking I carry a small handsaw like others have mentioned, I move logs and rocks where I am able and that's about it. No land manager is likely to fault that.
Post by: Special T on June 26, 2013, 09:47:20 AM
Post by: JLS on June 26, 2013, 10:43:35 AM
If you ask the Forest Service to "do trail maintenance", then they are going to have to give you the boilerplate answer complete with liability caveats. Also, don't plan on doing any bridges, boardwalks, or fancy stuff like that.
I have logged hundreds of miles on horses in the wilderness and have cleared a lot of trail. It's kind of the unwritten rule that if you have a crosscut, you remove the logs that are blocking the trail.
Go clear the trail and be done with it. It's not a bad idea though, to start 100 yards in as was already suggested.
Post by: washelkhunter on June 26, 2013, 10:58:19 AM
Post by: supagoose on June 26, 2013, 11:55:03 AM