[pct-l] mechanical clearing of trail

[James F. Miller]

The North350Blades, a PCTA group in Washington State use Stihl 250 brushers with 7-1/4" circular saw blades on them to brush sections of the trail outside the Wilderness.Everything up to about two inches is toast.

> Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2014 16:32:08 -0800
> From: sdscpcts at yahoo.com
> To: jplynch at crosslink.net; pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] mechanical clearing of trail
> 
> So how are your crosscut crews at cutting brush and trees smaller than 2 feet in diameter? I have watched a friend of mine crank through this small stuff with a chainsaw with a good brush bar on it. I have also slowly worked my way through such stuff with loppers and bowsaws. The chainsaw is much faster on small brush than these or crosscut saws.
> 
>                     Rob
> 
> 
> 
> On Friday, January 31, 2014 9:11 AM, JPL <jplynch at crosslink.net> wrote:
>  
> We have trained cross-cut crews in Shenandoah NP and they can do a job!  The 
> other factor to consider is the impression on the public and wilderness 
> opponents.  If wilderness advocates don't respect the "no machines" rule, 
> then our arguments are undercut and the "anti's" will come in with why can't 
> we use our machines (bicycles, ATVs, dirt bikes, etc.).  Wilderness 
> protection is not a one shot deal; those of us who are wilderness lovers 
> need to be out there standing up every day!
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Hank Magnuski
> Sent: Friday, January 31, 2014 11:26 AM
> To: Dan Welch
> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] mechanical clearing of trail
> 
> 
> Yes, cuts with a chain saw are faster than a hand saw and there is not much
> difference in the results.
> 
> But the comparison shouldn't stop there. Most people would be surprised at 
> how
> effective a cross-cut crew can be vs. chain saw operators.
> 
> The chain sawyers seem to be constantly fiddling with their equipment, 
> replacing
> the chains, oiling them, sharpening them, gassing the saw. And the saws are 
> so
> much heavier to carry you usually need a pack animal to carry the saw and 
> fuel
> around.
> 
> A cross-cut crew can be in and out of an area while the chain saws are still
> being unloaded from the mules.
> 
> That plus the smoke and noise and gas residue left by chain saws makes the
> comparison a little more balanced.
> 
> Hank
> 
> p.s. Yes, I work with the Carsonora Crew maintaining the Dorothy Pass to 
> Carson
> Pass section of the PCT.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, 31 Jan 2014, Dan Welch wrote:
> 
> > I guess it depends on what you mean by "mechanically cleared".  If they 
> > are
> > bringing in bushwhackers, I see your point.  However, the difference in 
> > end
> > result between a chainsaw cut log vs a hand-operated cross cut log is a
> > little more subtle.  I doubt most would ever know the difference...
> >
> > BTW - it sounds like you're personally involved in trail maintenance.
> > Thanks for the work you do!
> >
> > Timberline
> >
> >
> >
> > <<  I've seen a lot of trail corridors that have been mechanically 
> > cleared.
> >
> > They look like a 50-vehicle multi-lane car wreck. Tree limbs that look 
> > like
> > they've been hacked off with a baseball bat, debris everywhere.
> >
> > No thanks. That's not how I want to maintain my section of the trail.  >>
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