Volunteer students and instructors at the 2017 Columbia Cascades Trail Skills College. Photo by Gray Feather Photography.
2018 Columbia Cascades Trail Skills College
You’re invited! The Columbia Cascades Trail Skills College is a free weekend event for local volunteers to learn about trail maintenance and stewardship. Beginners and experts alike can benefit from Trail Skills College courses like Drainage Design & Drain Dips, Tread Re-Construction, Crew Leadership and more.
Trail Skills College is offered free of charge in an effort to inspire citizen stewardship of trails. In exchange for attending the training, we encourage you to volunteer at least 16 hours of work on trail projects in the coming year.
The 2018 Columbia Cascades Trail Skills College is possible thanks to the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon State Parks, PCTA’s Mount Hood Chapter, Washington Trails Association, Trailkeepers of Oregon, Backcountry Horsemen of Oregon, Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, Mount St. Helens Institute and the Port of Cascade Locks.
When is it?
April 20-22, 2018
Where is it?
Port of Cascade Locks, Oregon
Are meals and lodging provided?
Free camping is available to all participants on Friday and Saturday. Tent camping is available on Thunder Island and there are a limited number of RV spaces in the Port. Meals will be provided at no cost starting with dinner on Friday and ending with lunch on Sunday.
What’s the fitness level of Trail Skills College?
The fitness level will vary depending on the classes you select during registration. However, all participants should be prepared to hike a minimum of 1-2 miles while carrying personal gear and tools. Participants should also be prepared for the hands on learning opportunities in many of these classes, resulting in 6-8 hours of active trail maintenance per day.
What classes are being offered?
Detailed descriptions of all the courses are available here.
Friday, April 20
- First Aid and CPR
- 103 Basic Saw Crew Training
- 107 Hand Tool Field Maintenance (1/2 Day Class)
- 203 Waterbars and Checks
- 204 Cooking and Camping with the Crew
- 206 New Trail Construction
- 398 Hazards of the Burn Zone and Emergency Scenarios
Saturday, April 21
- First Aid and CPR
- Intro to Trail Maintenance Day One (1/2 Day Class)
- 104 Intro to Chainsaw
- 201 Drainage Design and Drain Dips
- 205 Tread Re-Construction
- 206 New Trail Construction
- 300 Rock Work
- 306 Working with Packers and Packstock
- 398 Turnpikes
Sunday, April 22
- Intro to Trail Maintenance Day Two (Full Day Class)
- 201 Drainage Design and Drain Dips
- 205 Tread Re-Construction
- 206 New Trail Construction
- 207 Trail Decommissioning and Wildland Restoration
- 297 Chainsaw Practicum
- 304 Crew Leadership: Managing Volunteers
- 398 Working with Mechanical Advantage
Saw Training and Certification
- Chainsaw and crosscut training and certification will be available the following weekend, April 27-29, at Wind River.
- More details, including registration instructions, are available here.
How do I register for Trail Skills College?
Registration has closed.
Follow along!
Don’t forget to follow the event on social media.
Can’t wait?
Don’t forget, you can learn new trail maintenance skills by volunteering on a PCTA trail crew any time. Most crews do not require any previous trail maintenance experience. Knowledgeable and experienced crew leaders are on site to teach you the necessary skills. Visit the online project schedule and Mt. Hood Chapter Eventbrite to find trail projects near you.
If you have questions about Trail Skills College, contact PCTA’s Volunteer Program at 916-285-1838 or [email protected].
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