Woodland - Spring 2013 - (Page 20)

© JeNS oTToSoN/SHUTTeRSToCK.Com features the three Ps for a perfect path To make the most of your trail system, keep the following guidelines in mind: • Prevent soil erosion and disruption to wetlands and other sensitive areas. • Protect water quality and wildlife. Twentyfive percent of America’s fresh water flows from private forests, and 60 percent of at-risk species depend on these forests for habitat. • Plan who will use the trail and incorporate features that make it appealing, such as a reasonable grade and points of interest. 20 woodland • Spring 2013 climbing they’re doing,” says Morton. “You don’t want the climbs to be too tedious and you want to be exhilarated on the downhills. It’s important to have a series of climbs and traverses to reduce the visual awareness of the ascent. You want to keep people dancing through the woods by creating diversions.” This desire to disguise the climb is a reason why logging roads and skid roads tend to make poor recreational routes. They take the most direct route through a forest, designed to get timber out as efficiently as possible. It’s a common notion among those who log their land to simply use the network of roads that already exist. While these roads might be suitable for hiking, a trail constructed with hikers in mind will keep users more inspired and entertained. “It’s always possible to incorporate existing woods roads into a trail system, but it might mean configuring or linking them in ways that aren’t obvious,” says Morton. “You want to have a fun, technically stimulating trail. You might climb 30 yards on a logging road, then create a traverse to a gentle switchback, then go back on the logging road again. To make a trail for pedestrians, it’s better to incorporate more traverses on the climbs and break up the descents with S turns.” Morton also suggests having people travel in one direction. “It can be safer, such as on a loop with a slope that makes an exhilarating descent but is challenging to climb,” says Morton. “Going in one direction is particularly important with shared-use trails. If people are going both ways, it can create danger points, particularly if you have mountain bikers, horses or others that are not hikers on the same path.” places to avoid Planning a trail should take into consideration more than just topography. Places to avoid include wetlands, buffer areas beside lakes and streams, and habitat of threatened or endangered species, both plants and animals. That said, a properly designed trail can enhance the sustainability of your land. A trail determines where people wander and discourages random bushwhacking, which aids conservation initiatives and makes your property more wildlife friendly. “I was putting in a trail that was supposed to traverse an old gravel pit,” recalls Morton. “It turned out to be one of only three places in New England where fringed gentian grows. Ironically, fringed gentian only grows in old, disturbed areas. We ended up designing the trail so hikers could view it and learn about it, but not intrude. Trails can better protect sensitive areas.” According to Riter, you can put a trail almost anywhere. “The number one limitation is wetlands,” he says. “The permitting hoops for trails through wetlands can be prohibitive. Putting a trail through dry woods is a third the cost. You would be amazed how steep the terrain can be and still have a trail, but whether you do or not depends on how much money you want to spend. It also depends on your expectations for the land. If you plan to harvest timber in an area in five years, then you might save trail cutting there for Phase Two.” commitment Once you’ve put in trails, you’ll need to maintain them. The amount of upkeep required depends on who uses the paths. If your goal is to host mountain bikers who ride daily on your property, be prepared for more maintenance, as mountain bikes cause more wear on a trail than hiking boots. However, most properly designed trails don’t require a lot of attention. “There’s no such thing as a maintenancefree trail,” says Riter, “but if the trail is designed correctly, maintenance should be minimal—mainly keeping vegetation clear. It will grow back. Over time, berms and cups may form that also need repair.” When Riter puts in a trail, he works around trees that are six inches in diameter or bigger, clears the understory below 15 feet and trims three feet on either side of the trail. He also puts in “grade dips” rather than waterbars ( low berms angling across the trail that direct water off the path) to control run-off. “If the trail undulates up and down, it creates natural drainage,” says Riter. “The trend is away from structures like water bars, to minimize maintenance.” “Hiking trails are subject to the natural evolution of the forest,” says Morton. “You

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Woodland - Spring 2013

Woodland - Spring 2013
Contents
Overstory
On the Ground
Faith and Forestry
Take a Hike!
Tools and Resources
Forests and Families

Woodland - Spring 2013

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