Hoes & trailbuilding tools? Whatcha got?

[Sidehill Gouger]

I still tend to favor a forestry/firefighting grub hoe for trail making. You will find one or more in every standard fire tool box here in Washington. Dug a lot of hand lines with one in the old days and still keep mine around for when I need to build trail on our tree farm.

 

[Square_peg]

I've done a bit of trail building with the Washington Trails Association and our local DNR. When we're building a trail we aren't just clearing brush but are designing and building a trail that will hold up to heavy hiker traffic plus even mountain bikes and equestrians. So it means moving dirt and creating a solid trail bed that sheds water. My main tools for this are a Forest Service shovel that I've re-hung on a long handle and a Forest Service spec pulaski.

I also typically have Silky 270 folder in my side pocket, a small bypass pruner in my back pocket and a nice vintage pair of small Corona pruning loppers in my daypack.
Hoes and McLeods are great for clearing duff off a trail bed and for grading good mineral soil. But I'll rely on my trails group to supply those. I'm not as fussy about them as I am about my other tools.

I also have 3 sizes of rock bars for when we need to build rock walls. I own a pair of log carriers that I bring along when needed.

You may enjoy this thread:

Hey, Trailmaker!

Have you worked on a puncheon bridge lately? I think you'll like these pics. The WTA is building a puncheon bridge thru a swamp up in the Sammamish Highlands. This is the last section in order to complete the Grand Ridge Trail (7-1/2 mile trail). 400' of bridge was built over the last 2 years...

www.bladeforums.com

and this thread:

Photos - Mattock. Let's see what you have

I was given a newer India made 5lb Ludell pick Mattock from a friend's husband two years back. Two others, older and possibly USA made, about a month ago for a dollar each at a garage sale just 3 miles north on my same road. I had the one handle needed to hang the one from the garage sale. The...

www.bladeforums.com

 

[Lorien]

I've done a bit of trail building with the Washington Trails Association and our local DNR. When we're building a trail we aren't just clearing brush but are designing and building a trail that will hold up to heavy hiker traffic plus even mountain bikes and equestrians. So it means moving dirt and creating a solid trail bed that sheds water. My main tools for this are a Forest Service shovel that I've re-hung on a long handle and a Forest Service spec pulaski.

I also typically have Silky 270 folder in my side pocket, a small bypass pruner in my back pocket and a nice vintage pair of small Corona pruning loppers in my daypack.
Hoes and McLeods are great for clearing duff off a trail bed and for grading good mineral soil. But I'll rely on my trails group to supply those. I'm not as fussy about them as I am about my other tools.

I also have 3 sizes of rock bars for when we need to build rock walls. I own a pair of log carriers that I bring along when needed.

You may enjoy this thread:

Hey, Trailmaker!

Have you worked on a puncheon bridge lately? I think you'll like these pics. The WTA is building a puncheon bridge thru a swamp up in the Sammamish Highlands. This is the last section in order to complete the Grand Ridge Trail (7-1/2 mile trail). 400' of bridge was built over the last 2 years...

www.bladeforums.com

and this thread:

Photos - Mattock. Let's see what you have

I was given a newer India made 5lb Ludell pick Mattock from a friend's husband two years back. Two others, older and possibly USA made, about a month ago for a dollar each at a garage sale just 3 miles north on my same road. I had the one handle needed to hang the one from the garage sale. The...

www.bladeforums.com

the first link is awesome!