trail maintenance
A Day in the Life of a Trail Maintainer
Have you ever wondered how the trail you're hiking on was created? Or the trail maintenance involved to keep it accessible? Imagine this: It's 6:00 am and the sun has...
Happy 50th to the AT, PCT, and National Trails System Act
Who wants some birthday cake? (If you’re currently hiking a trail, that’s a definite yes). This year, 2018, is the 50th birthday of the National Trails System Act and the 50th...
How the AT Works: What DOES a Maintainer Do?
Everyone knows they “keep the trail open”. But in the deep woods ‘open’ might mean something completely different than a hillside in southern New England densely packed with mountain laurel....
6 Things I Learned About Outdoor Living by Working on a Trail Crew
First, imagine working a full-time, minimum-wage job. Then, add rain – so much that everything you own gets wet and stays wet for days on end. Add backbreaking labor, knee-deep...
How the Appalachian Trail Works
We call it a "simple footpath"--but as they say, "It's complicated". Just what is the Appalachian Trail? What makes it special?
Everything You Wanted to Know About Trail Building (And Other Interesting Facts)
As hikers, we spend so much time contemplating the trail, but so few of those thoughts focus on the work beneath our feet. When I began hiking, I gave very...