As a trail worker on one of the busiest Forest Service districts, I get to hear numerous not so witty comments from users. Some are repeated all the time, while others just make me scratch my head as to what they were thinking. Anyway, here is a list...

Digging for gold?... Find any gold yet?... and numerous other variations

Putting in an escalator? Where is the elevator?

[While making crush] What did you do to get that job? You getting paid?



- To be updated -

The Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest is currently adding a few trails into its amazing trail system and making them 'official'. These are trails that already exist in one form or another through repeated use or renegade construction.

I am currently tasked with identifying the problem areas and finding solutions to make these trails more sustainable. For example, I reroute trails in soils identified as having severe erosion limitations or on slopes too steep/flat. Other spots I look for may have a trail down the fall line of the hill. One of the most interesting observations I have made is just how much the history of the trail can tell me about its sustainability. A trail developed through use without any planning is going to be obvious in layout and erosion problems whereas as a trail built by a skilled trail worker will be very different. It will have grade reversals and a nice flowing path instead of straight linear, boring features.

But one of the greatest challenges that I will have to deal with is keeping the current users and even builders happy with any changes. It will not easy to do and will require a good understanding of the trail and its character; how it was built, who uses it, and why is it unique. If I flatten every steep section with a longer reroute it will dramatically change the challenge and the speed a mountain biker may experience. My plan is to hopefully keep these users involved as in the planning and construction so that there may be greater understanding all around. It is always a balance with land management and I simply need to look at many of the other trails on the district that at one time in our districts history were made official. These trails just have too many unsustainable sections to keep up with the maintenance given our budget and they should have never been added in their current layout.

So my goal in this project is to find a routing for these new trails that is sustainable while retaining its original character. Here is a little flow chart which describes my decision process. Wish me luck! Read more about the Sedona Trails Study project.



Trails Currently on My List:
Mescal Trail
Chuck Wagon Trail
Slim Shady Trail
Made in the Shade Trail
Easy Breezy Trail
Lost Watch Trail
Snake Trail
Anaconda Trail
Various short connector trails

Contact me at jwpoehnelt @ fs . fed. us if you are interested. We will be cutting new trail, moving big rocks and getting some Sedona trails into the Forest Service system. Projects starting in October(when its cool). Check back for more information but feel free to contact me at anytime!

On some projects I complete on the Coconino National Forest mountain bikers complain about the Forest Service sanitizing the trail(removing obstacles and fun, challenging spots).

My view is that if users are going around these obstacles(often bikers), then the obstacle needs to be removed. Widening of the trail is a serious issue and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. You can see it beginning in the following picture although I come across far better examples on the trail(need a better picture).



My advice to those more technical riders is to get others to go over small obstacles that they can clear with a little effort or to get off the bike and walk.

This week I will be meeting with the botanist and a local user to help identify the layout for nearly five miles of new trail near Cottonwood, AZ. It is one of the proposed trails for the Coconino National Forest. I'll be bringing my clinometer, trimble, and a whole bunch of marking supplies! Yes the Forest Service allows the creation of new trails if you are willing to put in the effort and have the patience to get it done.

Coconino National Forest - Project Planning Page - Map of Proposed Sedona System Trails

The additions under consideration are described below. All trails would be: non-motorized, located outside of Wilderness, and in popular visitor use areas. Two maps are attached.

1. Soldiers Wash: Provide trails within the Soldiers Wash area that would link to area trailheads and to Highway 89A. Many non-system trails exist in this area. Map area A.

2. Trail to connect Girdner Trail, near the west end of FR152, with the Long Canyon Trailhead. A non-system trail currently exists aka Lost Watch Trail. Map area C.

3. Trail to connect Girdner Trail, near east end of FR152, with the Brins Mesa Trailhead outside of Wilderness. A non-system trail currently exists aka Chuckwagon Trail. Map area C.

4. Trail to connect Boynton Canyon Trailhead with Long Canyon Trailhead and OK Trailhead. A non-system trail currently exists aka Mescal Mountain Trail.Map area D.

5. Trail in the Dry Creek area to provide a connection between the Arizona Cypress Trail and the Girdner Trail.Non-system trails currently exist aka Anaconda Trail and Snake Trail.Map area E.

6. Trails that link the Village of Oak Creek with the Sedona area and with the new Highway turnout on the west side of State Route 179, opposite the Bell Rock Pathway. Nonsystem trails currently exist aka Slim Shady and Made in the Shade trails. Map area F.

7. Trail that connects the Baldwin Trail with the new Yavapai Point parking area on State Route 179. A non-system trail currently exists aka Highline Trail. Map area G.

8. Turkey Creek area trails: Provide several loops in this area. Numerous non-system trails currently exist in this area. Map area H.

9. Trail that links the Cathedral Trailhead with the Templeton Trail.A non-system trail currently exists aka Easybreezy Trail. Map area I.
10. Trail to connect the High School (Sheurmann Mountain Trailhead) with the Carrol Canyon Trail system. A non-system trail currently exists aka High School Trail. Map area J.

11. Extend Templeton Trail: Provide a short section of trail to extend the Templeton Trail all the way to Red Rock Crossing on south side of Oak Creek. A non-system trail currently exists. Map area K.

12. Trail to link Mystic Trail with Broken Arrow Trail.A non-system trail currently exists aka Hog Heaven Trail. Map area M.

13. Trail to loop around rock formations west of Schnebly Hill Road, connecting Cow Pies with Old Munds Wagon Trail. A non-system trail currently exists aka Hangover Trail. Map area N.

14. Dead Horse Trail System additions:Provide loop trails to augment trails such as Thumper and Raptor, located on Forest land and accessed primarily from Dead Horse Ranch State Park near Cottonwood. Refer to Map 2.

15. Trail links to Courthouse Butte Loop from Jacks Canyon Road and Trailhead aka Rabbit Ears Trail. Map area O.

16. Provide a connection between Lower Red Rock Loop Road and Scheurman Mountain Trail. A non-system trail currently exists. Map area P.

17. Dry Creek Road Trailhead: Provide a trailhead at the southern end of FR152, close to the junction with paved Boynton Pass Road.Provide a parking area for scenic viewing and trail access in a high visitor use area and reduce roadside parking issues.An informal parking area currently exists.

18. Verde Valley School Road Trailhead: Provide a trailhead on National Forest land adjacent to Verde Valley School Road.This trailhead would provide access to an expanded trail system in the Turkey Creek area, and create additional trail access and opportunities close to Village of Oak Creek.

The trails being considered in no way sanctions the unauthorized construction of trails by individuals or groups. No person should infer from this proposal that future unauthorized trails will be considered for adoption. If you have a specific idea for a new trail, please contact the Red Rock Ranger District.

It can be quite a challenge to get a trails job with the Forest Service for the first time. It is a long and complicated process that will test your patience. Here is some advice and required steps to help you get the job where you want.

Job Announcements - When and Where

All government jobs are announced through http://www.usajobs.gov. You can narrow by agency and location quite easily and even set it up to email you new jobs. The Forest Service, in addition to usajobs.gov, uses http://www.avuecentral.com for job announcements and the application process. The first thing to know about jobs doing trail work with the Forest Service is that they are almost always temporary positions and 'open continuous roster'. The 'ocr' means that there is one job posting to cover every national forest for certain duties and grade. There is no easy way to know what forests may have positions open or when they may be hiring and avuecentral only allows you to apply to 9 different duty stations(often the city with a district office). Bummer.

What you need to do is get on the phone. Call the ranger district you are interested in working for and ask about a trails job. When are they going to hire, how many positions, what announcement number, what duty station, etc. Some forests may post an outreach notice online or in the office to let you know about a job that a list of candidates is going to be pulled for in the future. You need to be on this 'referral list' if you want the job. If you miss it, tough luck.

Your Application

Your application in avuecentral needs to be good. Explain in detail everything that you have done relating to trail work. Be honest with your answers and provide enough information to show that you are qualified. Good luck with avue; once you figure it out it is easy, but until then...

Doing the Little Things

Make contact! Many forests have volunteer trail days. Go to it, show that you are skilled and a good worker. Learn who you may be working with. Make a good impression.

- This is a living document that I will update! -

Here is a 1 minute time lapse video I put together for a bridge that a crew of mine constructed in 2008 on the Salmon-Challis National Forest. The bridge was completed in just over a week using native materials. It is located on Kane Lake Trail.