Alaska Trails will be teaching its introductory course on sustainable trail building in Alaska. Come and see what it takes to make the great trails that you have been using all these years. This class will emphasize sustainable design elements, trail planning, and management concepts for all trail enthusiasts. Also learn the importance of using a clinometer in a short outdoor exercise. A light dinner will be served.
Course fee: $50.
(Minimum 8 participants)
This interactive advanced module is a continuing education lesson for natural resource professionals and technicians who have been through Alaska Trails' "Introduction to Sustainable Trails" training. This advanced class is designed to acquaint the trainee with a rational process for establishing the design standards for any given trail, the best approach to routing and laying out the trail on the ground, and the risks associated with deviating from that approach. Emphasis is given to "reading the ground" to assess its suitability for any particular type of trail or use. Half of the day will be in class and half in the field.
Course fee: Non-Profit - $125, Agency/Gov't - $185, For-Profit - $250
(Minimum 8 participants)
This interactive advanced module is a continuing education lesson for natural resource professionals and technicians who have been through Alaska Trails' "Introduction to Sustainable Trails" training. This advanced class is designed to acquaint the trainee with both the structural nature of a trail and the variety of structures that may be used to improve trail and slope stability. Half of the day will be in class and half in the field.
Course fee: Non-Profit - $125, Agency/Gov't - $185, For-Profit - $250
(Minimum 8 participants)
Mike Sheilds, Instructor -- Mike is a retired National Park Service Chief of Maintenance with exceptional trail experience in seven western parks including Denali and has been teaching this class and others since 1972.
These interactive advanced modules are continuing education lessons for natural resource professionals and technicians who have been through Alaska Trails' "Introduction to Sustainable Trails" training.
The "Trail Design and Layout" advanced class is designed to acquaint the trainee with a rational process for establishing the design standards for any given trail, the best approach to routing and laying out the trail on the ground, and the risks associated with deviating from that approach. Emphasis is given to "reading the ground" to assess its suitability for any particular type of trail or use.
The "Advanced Turns" class is designed to acquaint the trainee with both the structural nature of the trail itself, and with constructed turns in the trail as structural elements.
Half of the day will be in class and half in the field. Please come dressed to spend part of each day in the field.
2-day course fee: Non-Profit - $250, Agency/Gov't - $360, For-Profit - $500
(Minimum 8 participants)
Sustainable Trails 101
If necessary for students of the above May 20-21 class, a separate "Introduction to Sustainable Trails 101" course can be given the Friday or Sunday evening prior to the above course, depending on student need and availability. There is a separate $50 fee for this course
- Introduction to Sustainable Trails
- Leadership & Volunteer Management
- Trail Accessibility & ADA
- Hand Tool Safety, Sharpening & Re-Handling
- Grant Writing for Trails
- Supporting Mechanized Trail-Building Equipment
- Trail Design & Layout
- Slope Structures & Trail Stability
- Turns: Design & Layout
- Trail Drainage Structures & Basic Terrain Hydrology
- Backcountry Stream Crossings
- Trail Treadway Structures
- OHV Best Management Practices & Technical Guidelines
- Trail System Mangement & GPS Inventory
- Wet Crossings: Mangement & Trail Hardening in Fragile Terrain
To schedule a training course or to obtain more information, please contact Alaska Trails at 907-334-8049 or office@alaska-trails.org. We are happy to work with you to modify, blend or combine courses to meet your specific needs.