Learn about the tools professional and volunteer trail crews use by trying to match the image with the clue. The answers are at the bottom of the page.

A One of the world’s oldest tools, this implement comes in different sizes, which can be selected based upon the preference of its user. Older, handmade versions of this tool’s bit are generally of higher quality than newer counterparts. It is a staple of AMC’s trail crew and used for a variety of work, including the removal of blowdowns and water bar construction. Part of the tool is replaced after years of heavy use.

B An ideal instrument of leverage, this 16- to 18-pound tool, made of hardened steel with a chiseled bit, is used to lift and move heavy rocks. Nearby logs or smaller rocks can often act as fulcrums when the tool is wedged over them.

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C This is often the tool of choice in duffing, when organic material such as leaves, needles, and bark is scraped away from the treadway of a trail and dangerous roots are cut. It’s also commonly used to create flat surfaces, or benches, in a slope—a process known as sidehilling. The tool’s head can be 6 to 8 inches across.

D This tool is 5 to 8 feet in length and, although somewhat antiquated, it can be used in wilderness areas where motorized equipment is not allowed. It requires two people to operate, although there are one-person models. Crew members use it on trees, and choose a tool and its “bite” depending on whether hardwood or softwood trees are being cleared and whether those trees are alive or dead.

E “The rule of thumb” with this tool is to cut limbs and roots that are narrower
than your thumb, generally 1 to 1 3/4 inches. Most trail maintainers will use this tool to “brush out” a trail, clipping errant tree branches, roots, and other plants that protrude onto the trail and obscure visibility for hikers.

F A crew favorite for working in the White Mountains, this versatile tool aids in the digging, grubbing, and prying of the roots and rock that are endemic to the area. One end of the tool is often used as a fulcrum for easier lifting and pulling of rocks, while the other end can be used to chop roots. The tool’s shaft requires a periodic feeding of boiled linseed oil.

 

 Answers: 1-D, 2-C, 3-F, 4-A, 5-B, 6-E