06/02/2026
We talk a lot about the big projects that take a lot of people power to pull off - the relocations, the rock work, storm damage repair, and more, but how about a little love for the lowly, lonely trail maintainer?
Every club maintains in a way that works for them. Here in Georgia, we have about 200 volunteer maintainers who have "their section" of trail to maintain - each roughly a mile in length - and not always close to the road. Sometimes they need to walk a couple of miles just to start their work. In Georgia, trail maintainers are asked to make at least four trips a year - not a tough thing to do for many of us - we love the trail and getting out on it. For many, any chance to get on the trail is taken, so a lot more than four trips are made each year.
The tools vary with the trip and the work that needs to be done. There are always the drains to clear to get the water off the trail, so a fire rake, McLeod (pronounced "McCloud"), or Rogue hoe is the tool for the job. Sometimes the work requires a little more digging or grubbing, so a Pulaski, mattock, or McLeod (multi-purpose tool!) might be necessary.
Weeding is a big deal in the summertime. With the presence of ticks, other insects, snakes, and other critters, a good, clear trail is more inviting and more comfortable to travel on, so a w**d whacker, grass hook, or other w**ding device is required.
Blazes don't last forever, so every couple of years or so, a maintainer needs to bring along a brush and paint. To make a nice, crisp 6" by 2" blaze, it's a great idea to carry a template, too, to get good, sharp edges.
Then there's always the unexpected, so pruners and a small folding saw are always in the maintainer's kit. Sometimes the unexpected is a blowdown - more than the folding saw is designed for - so a phone is a handy tool, too, so that photos can be taken and the blowdown can be reported to the sawyers, who will make the trip to do the work as quickly as they can.
Every maintainer maintains "the best section" on the trail! Just ask ‘em when you see ‘em! There’s a great pride in “ownership” among section maintainers.
Sound appealing? If you want to check out trail maintenance in general to see if it's something you'd be interested in doing, you can come along on one of our crew trips. But if you're ready to dive right in, join the club and get an assignment! Training will be provided, so we can all be on the same page and continue to provide some of the best hiking experiences along the A.T. corridor! We'd love to have you join us!
Go to https://georgia-atclub.org/about/trail-maintenance/ to learn more!
