Archive talk:Phelix Creek Trail Workhike 4

I'd like to come, but unfortunately I have committed to a family event Saturday night. Here's what I learned from doing the trail markers at Brew:

• I would suggest a 1:1 hammer to saw ratio. There's lots of bushy trees on the upper part of the trail that will need extensive trimming to keep the branches from obscuring the markers. For a lot of these I think you'll have to saw first then attach the marker later. Small bow saws or pruning saws are good choices
• Big tall trees with bare trunks are best because you don't have to trim much and they don't get pushed around by snow.
• Trim branches above the marker so that when they are pulled straight down (simulating snow loading) the marker is still visible. This could mean trimming 2 or 3 feet above the marker
• Trim branches at least 12" below the marker, because snow can pile up on the branches.
• For trees that are seriously in the way, flag them with a pre-determined colour and then chainsaw them in the summer. Trees that get pushed over the trail in winter don't necessarily obstruct the trail in summer and can be hard to identify. Don't put markers on these trees.
• Always have a spotter go up or down the trail to make sure the marker is visible before you nail it on.

Scott Nelson 17:37, 3 March 2008 (PST)

It's probably also worth asking Webster to put an active appeal for volunteers in the VOCene... if it really took 20 people a whole day to mark the Brew trail we don't really have a hope of getting everything done this weekend with 5. --Matthew 19:03, 3 March 2008 (PST)

Sometimes a smaller, more organized group is superior to an enormous gong show. Scott Webster 20:22, 3 March 2008 (PST)