|
| Author |
Message |
Houska
Member
|
# Posted: 17 Nov 2020 09:52am
Reply
What do folks here use to mark (walking/hunting) trails on their property? We've tried a couple of brands of standard flagging tape, but they all deteriorate over 1-2 winters.
I'm starting to collect red coloured plastic yogurt container lids to nail to trees, which by the way would also say "No trespassing" according to our local rules. But that's a lot of yogurt, and they're needlessly big.
|
|
Brettny
Member
|
# Posted: 17 Nov 2020 09:55am
Reply
Boundry paint lasts a long time and dosnt degrade the quality of wood in the future.
|
|
gcrank1
Member
|
# Posted: 17 Nov 2020 10:54am
Reply
The orange or yellow screw on plastic caps from drink bottles (I pulled a bunch off throw aways at the town dump); drill or punch a hole and hang em with wire or, if you can stand to do it, a long roofing nail.
You can also cut bigger shapes/sizes out of those big orange laundry detergent bottles.
|
|
Just
Member
|
# Posted: 17 Nov 2020 07:45pm
Reply
No nails please
|
|
Fanman
Member
|
# Posted: 17 Nov 2020 08:31pm
Reply
I build small rock cairns.
|
|
Houska
Member
|
# Posted: 17 Nov 2020 09:33pm
Reply
Thanks for the ideas so far (more welcome!).
I shouldha thought of it, but somehow the idea of cutting markers from laundry detergent bottles (or similar) didn't occur to me.
@Fanman, yes would be nice, but won't work well in my area.
@Just, is the concern about harming the tree, or risk if later sawing the wood? I was brought up that a single large, visible (i.e. protruding) stainless or galvanized nail is OK when needed, but copper or rust-prone material is a no-no. But wouldn't be the first time learned habits weren't good ones...
|
|
Aklogcabin
Member
|
# Posted: 18 Nov 2020 09:09am
Reply
Old license plates , they have a reflection so they can be seen at night. I know that I’ve been pretty happy at times when I saw a trail marker. Finally
|
|
gcrank1
Member
|
# Posted: 18 Nov 2020 09:17am
Reply
There are often scrubby and dead trees suitable. Ive used the galvanized roofing nails but dont drive em in far, just enough to be secure; they arent hard to pull out and are easy to spot, they have an orange bottlecap under em.
|
|
|
mj1angier
Member
|
# Posted: 18 Nov 2020 09:29am
Reply
Depending on how many you need, these look good and appear to last:
https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Drifter-Trail-Markers-Pack/dp/B08KFNJ39Z/ref=sr_1_5?crid= 3I36HLKFOKJZ7&dchild=1&keywords=trail+markers+for+hiking&qid=1605709644&sprefix=trail +markers%2Caps%2C208&sr=8-5
|
|
Aklogcabin
Member
|
# Posted: 18 Nov 2020 09:48am
Reply
For those concerned about putting a nail in a tree. Why ? Other then hitting it later on with a saw if it was to be processed.
|
|
Brettny
Member
|
# Posted: 18 Nov 2020 11:38am
Reply
Yes that's why.
|
|
KinAlberta
Member
|
# Posted: 18 Nov 2020 08:34pm
Reply
Treat the trail markers as no saw markers.
|
|
KinAlberta
Member
|
# Posted: 18 Nov 2020 08:39pm - Edited by: KinAlberta
Reply
Quoting: Aklogcabin Old license plates , they have a reflection so they can be seen at night. I know that I’ve been pretty happy at times when I saw a trail marker. Finally
Neat idea.
Any multipurpose solutions?
ie
-tin can trail marker/birdhouse
-folded license plate trail marker/perch
- milk carton? marker bird house ...
|
|
DaveBell
Moderator
|
# Posted: 19 Nov 2020 03:26pm
Reply
Quoting: Fanman build small rock cairns.
Good idea. Natural solution that lasts with no trash.
|
|
KinAlberta
Member
|
# Posted: 19 Nov 2020 03:46pm
Reply
Quoting: DaveBell Quoting: Fanman build small rock cairns. Good idea. Natural solution that lasts with no trash.
Yeah. Fine until the pesky little forest creatures realize that they can just move them on you and lead you right into their traps. Beware! Don’t become squirrel food. Secure your markers well! 
|
|
darz5150
Member
|
# Posted: 19 Nov 2020 10:08pm
Reply
Found these on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Sunnyglade-Driveway-Fiberglass-Reflective-Protection/dp/B088YY 6RFL/ref=mp_s_a_1_15_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=bicycle+flag&qid=1605841405&sprefix=bicyc le+fl&sr=8-15-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzTUZVWlRLUVMwRE40JmVuY3J5cH RlZElkPUEwNDExMzQ0TDg3TUdJM0U2SjI1JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxODM0NTExMDVGR1Q1VDBVNlZBJnd pZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfcGhvbmVfc2VhcmNoX2F0Zl9uZXh0JmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9n Q2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
Don't know how long your trails are. But 100 markers could go a long way.
|
|
Brettny
Member
|
# Posted: 20 Nov 2020 06:03am
Reply
How many miles of trails do you have that they need to be marked?
|
|
NorthRick
Member
|
# Posted: 20 Nov 2020 07:01pm
Reply
Quoting: Aklogcabin Old license plates , they have a reflection so they can be seen at night. I know that I’ve been pretty happy at times when I saw a trail marker. Finally
This. Unfortunately, in my neck of the woods there are so many of these marking trails to who knows where that they are not that helpful. Since I've gone in and out from our cabin 3,284 times, it's not a problem for me.
|
|
Desim
Member
|
# Posted: 21 Nov 2020 08:59am
Reply
Dad used recycled vinyl siding and a word template then painted them. 20 years later they are still there.
He nailed them onto scrap trees.
|
|
mj1angier
Member
|
# Posted: 21 Nov 2020 10:02am
Reply
I would also use double headed nails to put them in unless you got problems with folks messing with them. Easier to remove but also easier for someone cutting tree to see.
|
|
Aklogcabin
Member
|
# Posted: 21 Nov 2020 10:37am
Reply
NorthRick, I’ve been back n forth from our cabin a few times also. My beautiful wife n me were out a couple years ago when we didn’t have any snow till middle of January. Trail was frozen rough. It got to twenty five below for a week or so , so we just hunkered down till it got warm enough to travel more safely. It did n we got 3’ of snow. We tried to make it but machines bogged out in the deep fluffy snow.
Worst was trying to see or stay on a trail. There was no trail. I’m sure glad I could pick those trail markers out. Just a few degrees off n we could have been lost pretty easily. And this could have turned real bad real easy. Those trail markers were a welcome sight. At least I knew I was on a trail. Any trail.
Not saying that trails don’t get lots of different markers n such.
Hey get on out n enjoy, were finally getting some snow, and warming up a little. I heard a rumor that the trails in your area have been groomed. Beautiful wife been saying that papa needs a trip to the cabin. I think she knows something about me.
Stay safe man. See you down the trail !
|
|
NorthRick
Member
|
# Posted: 21 Nov 2020 08:13pm
Reply
Aklogcabin, we have snow but unfortunately we still have falling beetle killed spruce trees. I'm the groomer to our cabin and it was a rough go last week. I came in solo late afternoon and busting the trail into the cabin was going well until I hit fallen trees hidden under the snow. Twice.
End result was to abandon the snowmachine and hike in (without snowshoes) to the cabin. I made it, but was exhausted. Took me all of the next day to retrieve my snowmachine, cut out the downed trees, and get my stuff.
breaking_trail_2020_.jpg
| 
breaking_trail_2020_.jpg
| 
breaking_trail_2020_.jpg
|  |
|
|
Houska
Member
|
# Posted: 21 Nov 2020 08:32pm
Reply
Thanks for the various suggestions, all!
For our vegetation and geology, think it has to be something colourful (and lasting plastic) attached to trees. I'll try making my own little rounds or squares from plastic detergent (etc) bottles first, but the Wild Drifter trail markers, or some of the stuff on Amazon under "plastic tags" (instead of trail markers) might work well.
Due to COVID, there's actually supply chain issues and fewer than usual U.S. amazon.com items are available through amazon.ca up here in Canada (and I don't want to pay expensive international shipping). So by seeing how far I get with home-made stuff will be a good way to wait'n'see until amazon availability in Canada gets better.
I do have 10-15km to mark, so cost is a factor.
Thanks again!
|
|
Brettny
Member
|
# Posted: 24 Nov 2020 11:21am
Reply
So about 10mi of trail to mark. That's a distance! 1gal of boundry marking paint is about $50 US. Surely faster than hammering something into every tree. You may not even need to get off your machine with paint. The stuff lasts decades in the state land here.
|
|
|
