The Session

Many trails have less than perfect alignments and thus exhibit problems. Steep trails are often erosional problems while trails in flat areas with certain soils can often be muddy and this can lead to extreme cases of trail widening. Many times moving these “challenged alignments” is not a possibility due to approval process problems including T+E species, cultural resources, or other issues. In some cases moving the trail would not provide the same trail experience that users are looking for and thus social sustainability may be compromised by putting the trail on a better and more sustainable alignment.

Rock armoring and tread hardening with compacted crushed stone may help solve problems in the above described scenarios. This 2 day workshop will explore the many types of armoring and tread hardening used and give participants a good foundation on these techniques. We will view many photos of good armoring work, visit some trails with different types of armoring, and then work on an armoring project and solve a “real world” trail problem using the techniques learned in the workshop.

Schedule
Sunday, March 13, 2011, 7:45 AM - 5 PM (Mt Mitchell Room, lunch provided)
Morning- PowerPoint presentation on the basics of rock armoring and tread hardening viewing many different techniques (stone pitching, flagstone armoring, boulder causeway, Appalachian Armor, Full Box Armor and more).
Afternoon- We will tour DuPont Forest trails and look at many different types of armoring to reinforce learning.

Monday, March 14, 2011, 7:45 AM - 5 PM (lunch provided)

Participants will tackle a armoring project on a steep section of trail with erosion problems caused by user impacts and water. We will be using several different styles of armoring to make this section of trail stable to withstand further damage. Machines will be used to help transport rock from a close-by depo staging area, but all the rest of the work will be done by hand.

Transportation Needs

Participants will car pool with each other to each day's work site. Some carrying capacity will be provided by workshop presenters. When you register, please indicate if you will or will not have a car at the conference. The commute to the worksite is 50 minutes from the host hotel.

Workshop presenter
Various members of Trail Dynamics staff. TD is one of the leading trail contractors in the US and has completed many successful armoring projects and have innovated new techniques such as Appalachian Armoring.

What to Bring
Participants will be walking in the woods day 1 and working on day 2. Bring work gloves/clothes and good footwear, and also eye protection.

Fee
The cost will be $325 for early registration (through Feb. 25) and $350 after Feb. 25.  
Lunches are included but participants should bring water and snacks.

Attendance limit: 16
This has become a popular workshop. To make sure that exercises can work, a decision has been made to cap enrollment at 16. Check current availability

For more information, contact Woody Keen at (828) 862-5613 or woody@traildynamics.com