trail clearing technique and tools

[ArlyA]

I meant, do the dogs get excited when you are heading out TO the trails?

Well yes, but they do get out so much, its not that unusual.

 

[chris.benjamin1]

I recently added the Stihl Power Scythe to my arsenal. Is great for trimming back woody growth. And it doesn’t cover you in debris. I like it for poison ivy can safely cut it back. It can take up to 3/4 of an inch with a little patience.

I run it on the KM 131 it is great. I can walk along a hedgerow and tidy it up very quickly

 

[ArlyA]

In my Stihl KM 131R kombi thread, I just posted some minor issues with this setup.

 

[ArlyA]

I use a 12 inch mulching blade on my Stihl FS91 handlebar brush cutter. It may spark if you hit a rock, but keeps on working. I use it on blackberry bushes, salmon berry and saplings up to an inch. has the advantage of chopping everything to smithereens so I don't have to pick up after myself.View attachment 707665

We gave up on steel blades because of all the rocks we find everywhere here and with there small cutting radius, cutting goes to slowly. But yes, they do work.

 

[ArlyA]

I just put all my Echo gear up for sale on Criags list. We are switching to Stihl.

 

[ArlyA]

Out clearing a locale trail this am. The power-head is in my backpack.

This is a tree that fell over this trail a while ago.

Slice-n-dice we do.

A few minutes later.

What this trail looks like.

Spruce budworm deaths. Job security??

More trail pics.

Off the mian trail but trees down that need removal..

Why do we use pole-saws?

 

[ArlyA]

more of the same.

All done!

A little break in the Pilgrim river.

 

[ArlyA]

If anyone has trail clearing tools or technique questions, do ask!

 

[Fixastuff]

If anyone has trail clearing tools or technique questions, do ask!

Do you do this for a living or is it volunteer work?

 

[ArlyA]

Do you do this for a living or is it volunteer work?

We volunteer to keep trails cleared.

 

[MACflyer]

I just put all my Echo gear up for sale on Criags list. We are switching to Stihl. View attachment 708357

Why the switch to Stihl?

I ask because my local dealer stocks both, and everyone there from sales to their mechanics have done the opposite for their personal use. I was looking at the Stihl Farmboss and the Echo Timberwolf, which was out of stock. Dealer recommended waiting for another Timberwolf rather than selling the Farmboss he had sitting on the shelf. Curious to hear other opinions.

 

[ArlyA]

Why the switch to Stihl?

I ask because my local dealer stocks both, and everyone there from sales to their mechanics have done the opposite for their personal use. I was looking at the Stihl Farmboss and the Echo Timberwolf, which was out of stock. Dealer recommended waiting for another Timberwolf rather than selling the Farmboss he had sitting on the shelf. Curious to hear other opinions.

You are speaking about chain saws while I'm talking powerheads and the tools to go on them. On these, the Stihl's setup is much, much better. Tell me if that helps. For chain saws, I do own a pro Stihl, but don't use it much.

 

[TCowner]

Volunteers who help maintain any type of trail don't get the consideration they should. I helped with our snowmobile trails in SE Minnesota for over 35 years. I enjoyed the work in the fall with brush clearing, installing the trail signs, bridge building and a host of tasks that go along with having a trail system that for us, ran almost entirely on private land with landowner's permission.

While I enjoyed the work it was frustrating to listen to trail users (who never offered to help) complaining. And sometimes these were the same people who trespassed on private land without the owners permission and got a section of the trail closed. Re-routing a trail can be a major problem, especially during the winter.

So Arly, the cross country ski trail users should be on their knees thanking you and the other volunteers for the work you do.

 

[Elvenhome21]

Anybody use a backpack style brush cutter. My straight shaft looks like it locked up so looking at getting something else. Biggest use is for cutting thick nasty vegetation. I like the option for a pole saw with the backpack one.
I like the fact that the backpack one has 52cc as i have a 45cc that has good power but it gets heavy.

 

[ArlyA]

All the string trimmers we've had were pretty well balanced with its engine. Now you move the power head to your back? I see this as a long pole with a weight at its end.

 

[airbiscuit]

I've seen videos using them on steep slopes.

 

[Elvenhome21]

All the string trimmers we've had were pretty well balanced with its engine. Now you move the power head to your back? I see this as a long pole with a weight at its end.

That's why I'm asking, the one I have is 26lbs total and I use a shoulder harness but it's still an arm workout swinging this beast around for a couple hours. Moving the weight to the back would make it a little easier.

 

[hayden]

I've got probably 7 miles of trails that I created and maintain, and am making more each year. But I think you would probably classify them more as roads than trails. My minimum criteria is that it needs to be mowable with my tractor and brush cutter, and drivable on a side-by-side. That's the only way I'd ever be able to maintain them. And my latest construction standard is that I cut them back pretty much as far as I can with an excavator and mulcher head. That way I get much less downed crap over time, and it lasts 5+ years before I need to cut it back again. That reduces annual maintenance to mowing with the brush cutter.

So all in all a very different approach. I could never keep up with a pole saw and string trimmer.

 

[airbiscuit]

I learned to make trails twice as wide as I want them, because they will close in soon enough.

 

[ArlyA]

If you mow them low, clear the new branches growing over head and of course any dead falls and leaners, yearly maintenance doesn't take all that much. At least here in the northern hardwoods. (photo taken by accident)

I should add, you must do this yearly.....