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richmondgolf
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# Posted: 16 Feb 2014 12:01pm - Edited by: richmondgolf
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I have 15 acres in southwest virginia. The property is fairly wooded except for an old logging road that is cleared and goes through the middle of the property. The land is not flat and has good elevation change throughout. Looking for any tips in terms of tools needed, technique or things to look for when building walking trails on the property.
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hattie
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# Posted: 16 Feb 2014 12:21pm
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Look for game trails and follow them. You can cut back tree branches, etc. along the game trails and make them dual purpose for the animals and humans.
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Just
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# Posted: 16 Feb 2014 12:30pm - Edited by: Just
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gloves, long sleeves , hard hat , good boots ,chain saw or good hand saw for green wood ,long handle pruners , go around the big stuff , through the small stuff ,try and lay out a plan before you start cutting.
try to go around wet low spots , if not build a small bridge or the trail will not be used .
LEARN TO IDENTIFY POISONOUS PLANTS WILD THINGS THAT MY BE OF HARM .
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beachman
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# Posted: 16 Feb 2014 01:37pm
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Use Hemlock for the low and water spots. No need for any preservatives or pressure treatment to leach into the land or water.
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SE Ohio
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# Posted: 16 Feb 2014 04:15pm
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Locust logs work well like the hemlock mentioned above, as well as cedar and some others. A log laid somewhat horizontally along the downhill side of a path catches "stuff" and helps create a flatter path along a hillside. These can be staked or pinned in place. Short sections can be staked or pinned for steps. Flat rocks oft found in creek beds work for steps or stepping stones.
Bow saw works great for cutting smaller trees and branches, and can be swung to take out smaller vines and brambles.
We ran some rope along some unavoidable steep path sections to work like a handrail.
Some ribbons or paint blazes help to keep track of the path if it gets overgrown.
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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 16 Feb 2014 04:18pm
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What Hattie said. I made a nice walking trail from a deer trail on our property with a hand axe.
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Gregjman
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# Posted: 16 Feb 2014 05:45pm
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When we had trails roughed out from removing branches and whatnot, we tied a heavy wooden pallet with some weights on it behind the atv and drove the trails as many times as we could. Made a huge difference.
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SubArcticGuy
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2014 01:04am
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We build some last year and I used a brush saw with a 4 prong blade and the guard removed (no rocks or serious obstacles in this area). Churning up the forest floor with the saw made very quick work of breaking down the mossy areas...Though there was still lots of hand tools and labour that went into it. It took about 4 or 5 people a few days to put in about 1km of trail....but it is a very good trail now.
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BaconCreek
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# Posted: 17 Feb 2014 05:29pm
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We used a DR Brush and Field mower. It worked great! Bought it at a consignment store. It really helped us clear our land.
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