North Cascades Trail Skills College

Intended for those new to trail work who want to learn how to cut brush and small logs to help clear a trail to proper specifications. After discussion of general safety protocols, students learn about safe and effective use of hand saws and loppers. This class also includes how to complete an early-season trail survey to identify and report major problems, especially blown down logs – their numbers, locations, and sizes.

Water and gravity constantly threaten our trails and thus we must learn how best to deflect them. This course begins with basics of hillside hydrology and how trails work when they shed water properly.
Includes introduction of “trail eyes” and basic trail design concepts, as well as how to recognize tread erosion patterns. Hands-on practice removing slough and berm, and effective cleaning and maintenance of existing water bars and grade dips.

Are you interested in helping certified sawyers to clear trails, but don’t have much experience working with or around saws? Regardless of if you aim to become a certified sawyer yourself, learning to be a safety-conscience saw crew member is an important place to start. This class provides field experience with crosscut saws and axes, but most of the principles are also applicable to chainsaws. Therefore, this class is the place to start, no matter what trail clearing tools you expect to use in the future.

The session begins with an introduction to crosscut saws and axes of various types, and how they work. It then covers their safe and effective use, including a review of trail clearing specifications, safety equipment, the forces of tension and bind, and the practice of situational awareness.

This class is an introduction; it does NOT provide saw certification, which is required for those who wish to be lead sawyers.

For curious trail workers who want to understand why so many trails are in bad shape because of how they were made. Learn how better design and layout makes trails more sustainable and less prone to erosion. This class serves as an introduction to different trail design standards appropriate for different kinds of trails. This class is for anybody interested in these topics, but students with some trail building and maintenance experience will benefit the most.

Where earthen rolling drain dips are not feasible, drainage features
are sometimes armored using rock or log. Learn contemporary techniques to build water bars. The class will include a review of “old school” waterbars, and how to convert “old school” waterbars to a more effective design. Furthermore, learn how to install rock and log checks where tread is gullied and cannot be drained, or in other situations requiring tread armoring

When it is not possible to move water off a trail by outsloping the tread, installing a drain, or building a water bar or other drainage structure, sometimes we need to actually elevate the trail above the water table by constructing what is known as a turnpike. Typically these are built using two parallel log or rock walls, with the space between filled with crush, dirt, and/or gravel. 

This advanced class will go over the design and construction of turnpikes– be prepared to get muddy!

• Layers work best as outdoor temperatures, weather, and your activity level will vary through the day. Follow
  the layering system for your work and camp clothes. Long pants are required to conduct trail work. Long
  sleeve shirts are recommended for sun and insect protection and in some areas are required for trail work.
  • Layer 1: Long underwear tops, bottoms, and socks; made of lightweight wool or synthetic material.
  • Layer 2: Mid-weight wool or synthetic pants and shirt. Can be more than one layer; bring additional
    layers if you get cold easily. Cotton is not advised.
  • Layer 3: Rain coat or other water/wind resistant coat or poncho and rain pants.
• Sturdy boots with slip-resistant tread that offer firm and flexible support. No sandals or sneakers
  while working on the trail but you may want these in camp. Saw students have specific footwear
  requirements. See the Crosscut & Chainsaw Training page.
• Warm hat and warm gloves while at camp.

• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping mat
• Pillow

• Sealable plastic container to pack lunch in
• Plate / bowl for breakfast and dinner
• Silverware
• Cup / insulated drinking mug
• Water bottles / hydration pack

• Sun protection: sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, lip balm
• Insect repellant
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Daypack
• Alarm clock

• Camp chair (compact)
• Supplemental snacks
• Camera
• Bandana
• Safety gear (i.e. hard hats, gloves) will be provided throughout the weekend. However, if you have safety gear that you would prefer to use, please bring it with you.