Hoes & trailbuilding tools? Whatcha got?

Seeing this I want to put aside other essential work, oh, little matters like collecting more firewood etc... and go make & improve trails. I guess tools for such work are situational depending on the conditions and terrain around. Till now my trail work's consisted mostly of laying out routes with ribbon and cairns, clearing over-head branches, fallen trees and so on and so on... involving saws, ( I'm lacking a decent punner but'll be skipping that one for a new battery Husqvarna ), axe, nata and mattock, maybe a decent sized pry-bar in case of a boulder or two intervening.
I'm thinking a tool like you've shown there would even supplant the need of a shovel for the most part though it seems the handle connection will need the right judgement in use to prevent it breaking.
Oh yeah, a flask with some rum in it's always handy out there.
 
I'm not into trail building exactly, but do work on my dirt driveway often, as well as other digging tasks. I have several eye hoes and mattocks that see frequent use in addition to an assortment of shovels and digging bars
 
I bet this guy has some favs. Lorien Lorien

I am mostly the saw and dog water guy now so not much digging.

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Thanks for the interesting responses. Please post pictures. Some of us have ADHD ya know 😊
 
Danke42 said:
I bet this guy has some favs. Lorien Lorien

I am mostly the saw and dog water guy now so not much digging.

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saw and water are pretty important, as are dogs!

The North Sword pictured here is one of my favourite trail tools. I designed it for that purpose and Dan Keffeler did all the metallurgical magic
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I love my Rogue Hoe, it's been through a lot and still treats me right
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One of the most important tools, for me, has been this rake. I wish they lasted forever but for their weight they're surprisingly durable
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Sledgehammer, of course
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The arsenal;
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And some gratuitous photos;
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I use a bunch of tools to maintain 6 mile trail to my 1 1/2 mile driveway to my cabin on 240 acres. We put in the trail/drive to my place and a neighbor’s 80 acre place.
A wildland firefighter’s tool like in the OP is great for lots of work. Mine is a McLeod and very rugged. I also use a 6’ breaker bar and 4’ crow bar for big rocks. Standard pick, multiple shovels, etc. I use a small sharp-shooter shovel with file sharpened edge frequently for roots and light prying. Multiple machete’s, axe’s, hatchet’s. Stihl loppers are fantastic and much safer than running a saw at times- can cut limbs and roots really well. I have 8 Stihl chainsaws of different sizes (I admit I go smaller as I get tired!). Stihl gas pole pruner, Milwaukee elec pole pruner and manual pole saw are great for reaching out. Husqvarna log tongs are the greatest thing since sliced bread for moving limbs/trees that are downed. Come-a-long with 150’ rope is awesome for moving things.

In winter I like my Silky Big Boy, Stihl loppers, Stihl MS261 (great saw and light), Milwaukee m12 hatchet (6” chainsaw), and Milwaukee m18 pole saw.

That ‘baby chainsaw’ looks like a toy, but has been amazing for cutting overhanging limbs when it is icy or tons of snow, by allowing me to safely grab the branch with one hand and control the cut with the other. Really nice not having to start up a gas saw when standing on ice covered trail or reaching from my snowmachine. It rides in a pack against the backrest.

I carry way more stuff than I need going to cabin because I usually travel solo and never know what situations might occur. Trail maintenance is hard work but ver gratifying!

(Almost forgot to mention my old JD dozer)🤣

Good luck with your efforts!
 
Danke42 said:
Save them to Imgur and cut and paste the BB Code over.
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D42, thank you and I appreciate the help. It appears I am beyond such help with my old and outdated internet access I am continually rejected by imgur and all the rest, my walls closing in more and more. This is my problem of course since whenever the choice comes, it is always one analogue tool, saws, rakes, axes and their accessories... Or the other that's Bumping such virtual options - latest computer, transportable smart telephone or whatever, down lower and lower on my priorities list so in this virtual existence I suffer these limitations.

So here, that is to say the high desert/forest boundary on Colorado's western slope no decomposition takes place so the bulk of waste has to be accumulated, hauled to a clearing and burnt. It means rope, straps and my personal favorite, sappie, have to be included.


 
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Lorien said:
One of the most important tools, for me, has been this rake. I wish they lasted forever but for their weight they're surprisingly durable
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Zen of Trail Clearing

For a weed infested overgrown section I've discovered a nearly labor-free method of clearing, purely depending on my conditions. By throwing out a can of chicken feed the turkeys will come around, knock down and shred knee high weeds and leave behind neat, raked ground. All I have to do is put seed where I want cleared and it gets done automatic.
 
I have great fondness for my jackhammer

and where would the human species be without chainsaws?
 
Lorien said:
check out this link
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Well, I already have my dads 'Nam machete, a cane knife, a different cane knife, a truck machete, a sorta parang, the machete I bought before dad gave me his, and some random True-temper one that was just too good a deal to pass up, but now I think I need something like that design as well, 'cause reasons. (seriously that's a dandy piece of gear there).
 
Lorien said:
I have great fondness for my jackhammer

and where would the human species be without chainsaws?
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Awesome! I have a Bosch jackhammer that has been awesome for busting rock, thick ice, and for sinking rebar into the ground to hold railroad ties in place. I have used a wide bit to tear up big tree root balls that are too rock/dirt filled to risk a saw or axe. Great tools that you don’t realize you will use much until you have one.
 
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