PCTA’s Trail Skills Colleges: a hands-on trail education

By Connor Swift, PCTA technical advisor

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

It’s no secret that the Pacific Crest Trail is largely constructed, maintained, and cared for by dedicated volunteers. So, where do these volunteers learn proper trail maintenance techniques and hone their skills? Many take advantage of the PCTA’s Trail Skills College, which offers classes every year in California, Oregon and Washington. It is becoming harder and harder to obtain the traditional skills required for trail maintenance, but our Trail Skills College events are keeping these skills alive and passing them down through generations of trail enthusiasts.

After class, volunteer saw instructor David Roe teaches volunteers how sharpen a traditional crosscut saw – by Joe Smith

The PCTA’s Trail Skills College is for volunteers who would like to expand their knowledge about trails and learn how to construct, repair, and maintain the PCT to the correct standards. Most TSC’s are held on weekends and are attended by about 50 students. When you sign up for Trail Skills College, you can choose from a variety of courses that accommodate all skill levels. The courses are one or two days long and are taught on the trail by experienced staff, volunteers and partners. The PCTA also offers a handful of certification courses during Trail Skills College sessions, such as those required to operate chainsaws and crosscut saws. These classes include an additional classroom session and final test/evaluation. Trail Skills College courses and the events themselves are constantly evolving, but here is a list of courses that the PCTA has offered in the past.

(not all courses are offered at each Trail Skills College)

This is the basic tool package for course 203 Waterbars & Checks and 300 Rock-Retaining Walls – by Connor Swift

Students hike into their Intro to Trail Maintenance class site during the 2016 Tahoe Trail Skills College – by Bill Cunningham

This October, the PCTA offered three TSC courses in Southern California. These included two Intro to Trail Maintenance courses and a Rock Retaining Wall course, all taught by the PCTA’s very own technical advisors. One of the great advantages of offering numerous courses throughout a region is that the TSC’s can be tailored to fit the needs of a particular area. For example, not all sections of trail have the same climate or ecosystem, so naturally the conditions and mantenance needs change. Tailoring classes to specific regions or locations is a great way to direct volunteers’ efforts so that the PCT receives the proper attention.

Volunteers are taught to handle and use rock bars while constructing rock-retaining walls – by Connor Swift

There are many advantages to the TSC’s other than simply offering trail skills courses. These events bring like-minded people together to be a part of something bigger than themselves. In class and around the campfire, you’ll share a wealth of knowledge and experience with fellow attendees, expanding both yours and their own knowledge of trails and trail maintenance. These events also are a great way to meet new friends and socialize with wonderful people, and to take a “working vacation” near a beautiful stretch of the PCT. The PCTA’s Trail Skills College is an investment in the volunteer community as well as in the trail itself.

Dates and details for the 2017 Trail Skills Colleges will be on our website soon!

Students from this October’s 300 Rock Retaining Walls class in southern California– by Connor Swift

Volunteer in Oregon and Washington. Volunteers came out to the Columbia River Gorge in April 2016 for the Columbia Cascades Trail Skills College. This class learned how to reconstruct damaged trail tread. – by Gray Feather Photography

Volunteers came out to the Columbia River Gorge in April 2016 for the Columbia Cascades Trail Skills College. This class learned how to reconstruct damaged trail tread. – by Gray Feather Photography