Because wildfires, wind storms, floods, gravity, and vegetation growth are constant threats to the PCT, the annual maintenance and reconstruction of the trail is a never-ending and monumental undertaking. Such work, historically carried out by government trail crews, is increasingly done by hundreds of volunteers organized by the PCTA. These volunteers perform hard, physical labor so that others may safely enjoy the beauty and challenge along the trail.
To help our volunteers succeed in their trail work, PCTA collaborated with many partners to develop a Trail Skills College curriculum. It is designed for workshops to train volunteers both new and old. The curriculum is available for free for all who wish to use it, whether you are a partner working along the PCT, or working on trails around the world.
Overview (last updated: January 2019)
Developing Thinking Sawyers Curriculum for Chain Saw and Crosscut Saw Certification
Trail Terminology (PDF) – January 2019
This introductory sampler class is intended for people brand new to trail work who want an overview. One quarter of the class covers “how trails work,” i.e. basic trail design concepts; one quarter covers trail work safety protocols; one quarter covers hands-on brushing and handsaw clearing; and one quarter covers hands-on drainage cleaning. This sampler class does not prepare students to work independently. Instead students will understand a range of trail work tasks and have a good idea of what they want to do under a crew leader, or what class they want to take next.
Student Field Reference (multipage)
Student Field Reference (Trifold)
Handtools for Trail Work (PDF) – February 2005
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, by their number, location, and size.
Student Field Reference (multipage)
Student At-Home Exercise (Pre-training, Post-training)
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. Tread and drainage work doesn’t require big muscles, though it is fairly strenuous.
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.
Student Field Reference (multipage)
We rely on hand tools to lop branches, dig drain dips, remove slough and berm, construct waterbars and check steps, and much more. As a result, hand tools receive a great deal of wear and tear. This course will cover the most common tool problems that are encountered during trail work, including how to properly sharpen basic trail tools and why we don’t sharpen others. Class may also involve re-handling and repairing broken tools.
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. 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.
Online Powerpoint – Jan 2023
TSC Powerpoint – March 2019
Intended for someone who has taken 102 (Tread and Drainage) and/or has experience doing drainage work. Learn how to design and locate effective drainage structures. After a comprehensive explanation of hillside hydrology and how trails work when they shed water properly, this class shows students how to design and construct long, rolling drain dips as a way of reducing erosion on existing trails.
Intended for someone who has taken 201 (Drainage Design & Drain Dips) and/or has considerable experience doing drainage work. Where earthen rolling drain dips are not feasible, drainage features are sometimes armored using rock or log. Learn contemporary techniques to build water bars and checks with both rock and log. 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.
Student Field Reference (multipage)
For students aiming to help pull off multi-day trips in the backcountry or frontcountry. Whether your group will be large or small, this course provides helpful tips on nutrition, food planning, and shopping, setting up a field kitchen, what to bring, and tips for cooking with trail crews. It also covers best practices for food storage and sanitation at camp. No prior experience is necessary, although familiarity with typical work parties and basic kitchen equipment will be helpful.
Student Field Reference and Instructor Planning Guide
Food Survey (Word | PDF) – January 2019
Menu Plan (Excel | PDF) – January 2019
Recipes for Trail Crews (Word | PDF) – March 2019
Serving Size Guide (Word | PDF) – January 2019
Trail Crew Chore Chart (Excel | PDF) – April 2017
Backcountry Nutrition Myths & Facts – Quiz & Answers (Word | PDF) – January 2019
This course goes beyond a triage approach covered in Course 203 (Waterbars & Checks) because reconstruction indicates a more thorough restoration of damaged tread to ideal specifications. Review hillside hydrology and basic trail layout. Practice systematic slough & berm removal, re-cutting sidehill tread and restoring tread to original or ideal specs. Learn to reconstruct tread after gullying, tread creep, nasty roots, and uprooted trees.
Pre-requisites: 201 (Drainage Design) OR 102 (Intro to Tread), equivalent experience may be substituted.
Learn how to put a campsite or section of trail to bed so that it returns to nature without erosion. Some call this “trail magic,” or “Zen and the Art of Wilderness Gardening” because, if properly done, the old scars disappear, replaced by a natural-appearing landscape. Methods include transplanting, seed collection, and rock placements. There are no prerequisites for this class, though students should have interest in working with plants and be willing to get dirty. Patience and a good eye for design help.
Be much more sign savvy! Understand trail sign specifications and learn how to install signs correctly. Learn to record sign inventory records in conjunction with agency partners. Students must be seasoned hikers experienced with map reading, have some experience with basic tools, be detail-oriented with clear hand writing, and be comfortable learning to use digital devices.
Student Field Reference (multipage)
Student Field Reference (Trifold)
Trail Sign Examples (Powerpoint) – March 2019
Learn fundamentals of rock construction including an emphasis on effective and safe use of rock bars, the critical tool for all rock work. We’ll tackle basic rock placement techniques for rock walls to last the ages.
Pre-requisites: 203 (Waterbars & Checks), or equivalent experience may be substituted.
The PCT and its feeder trails cross water courses of every conceivable size and type. Because bridges are time consuming and expensive, whenever possible it is better to build simpler structures that are more durable. Learn to build and maintain two to three of the following: fords, stepping stones, culverts, French drains, armored swales, and step down drains. If you enjoy working in water, this is the course for you!
Pre-requisites: 201 (Drainage Design), 203 (Waterbars & Checks), 205 (Tread Re-Construction) and 300 (Rock Retaining Walls).
For students with moderate to extensive trail building experience who want to lead trail crews and work parties. Not a construction techniques class; this is about effective and welcoming leadership. Students will have classroom and field work in the following topics: Work Day Responsibilities; Risk Assessment and Safety; Tool Safety & Tool Talks; Welcoming Leadership & Emotional Intelligence, Practical Experience Leading Trail Crews.
Multi-day projects in the backcountry may seem like an overwhelming burden because of all the food, tools, and gear needed—that is—unless we have the assistance of pack animals. Thankfully, the PCTA has many talented packer friends willing to help. This course, taught by a packer, is meant to take any intimidation out of planning a trip that’s going to be pack-supported, especially for those not experienced with equine. Students will learn safety around the stock, and some horseman lingo. They will learn what essential pieces of information need to be discussed with the packer in advance. This course won’t make students into packers, but, they will gain a general understanding of the key principles of packing and balancing panniers, coolers, tools, and other trail crew gear.
Learn the steps for estimating time and materials, and setting up a work project. Learn about trail triage: how to prioritize and what techniques to use when total trail reconstruction to ideal specs is not an option. Understand environmental concerns and policies that may impact projects. Learn what to look for when scouting a trail and how/when to schedule work. Develop advanced knowledge of project layout and trail (re)construction.
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!
Elbow grease and brute force will only get you so far, sometimes you need to work smarter and not harder. This class is an introduction to devices and systems used for applying mechanical advantage to lift or move a load, be it a large boulder, log, or buckets of gravel down a zip line. Starting with a rock bar as the simplest of levers, the class will progress to an introduction to winches, blocks, and mechanical advantage rigging systems.
This class, available during the Central Cascades Trail Skills College, will feature an interpretative hike with the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area botanist. Come enjoy an afternoon walk as you learn about the local flora and fungi, how to spot some common invasives, area fire history, and whatever you’ve always wanted to learn from a botany expert in the Gorge!
A grant from REI funded the initial development of this curriculum. The PCTA worked with U.S. Forest Service Trails Specialist John Schubert to write these documents. They are free to be copied provided the PCTA and John Schubert are acknowledged as the source. Drawings from publications of The Student Conservation Association, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, U.S. Forest Service, and IMBA are used with permission.
The referenced forms contained within the curriculum can be found on our crew leader page.
If you have questions, suggestions or corrections on the PCTA Trail Skills curriculum, please email your volunteer team at [email protected].