What We’re Up To This Month
August Trail Work
We’re in the heart of the trail development and maintenance season now. Here’s what’s happening this month in the field at Truckee Trails.
Q: What new trails are you working on this month (August)?
The team is continuing our work in the Sawtooth network where they are building the 1.2-mile North Bald Mountain Connection. It starts behind Schaffer’s Mill and crosses the 04 and 06 roads to connect to the 1.6-mile Back-cut Trail, completed by Truckee Trails last fall.
Q: How is trail maintenance progressing?
The team continues logging out trails across the region. Logging out trails is a part of trail maintenance which more broadly includes recon and documentation of issues, erosion, fallen trees or other obstacles on the trail. This initial review stage is followed by active work to remove downed trees or obstacles, tread repair (refinishing damaged trail surface), clearing drains, and more. Thus far, the team has completed maintenance on Alder Creek, Emigrant, Sawtooth, Big Chief, Granite Chief, Western States (west of Rt 89), and Five Lakes to the Wilderness boundary. Our field work over the summer and fall will include seasonal maintenance of 100 miles of dirt trail.
Q: Is the late snowmelt still impacting fieldwork?
For the most part, the snow has melted across most of the trail networks where we are working including, for example, to the top of Upper Big Chief (7,851′) and the Judah Loop at Donner Summit (Donner Peak: 7,989′ & Mt. Judah Peak – 8,245′).
Q: What sort of equipment and tools do you use?
A range of tools including, for example, a mini-excavator on new trail construction, and hand tools like the McLeod for follow-on hand work. We’ll use chainsaws to remove downed trees, except in the Granite Chief Wilderness which is hand cut with a crosscut saw. This past week the crew were able to use a motorized wheelbarrow, called a Canycom. It significantly reduces the work required to haul dirt and rock on the trail.
Q: How many hours of fieldwork will the crew complete this month?
Our trail crew will put in ~800 hours this month and the trail ambassadors add 300 hours.
Q: What are Trail Ambassadors and what do they do?
Our four Trail Ambassadors are seasonal employees that strategically roam the trails, help trail users with directions and information, provide first aid where appropriate, pick up trash, help assess trail conditions, and watch for wildfire risks (e.g. abandoned campfires). They work across the US Forest Service Truckee area, Donner Memorial State Park, and the Donner Docks.
Q: Lastly, who is working in the 2023 Truckee Trails field crew?
Our amazing team includes Levi Bittler, Fil Grgic, Megan Mesick, and Larry Lehman.