Countless studies have shown that a dose of the great outdoors provides numerous health benefits, such as lower blood pressure and improve mental health, so it’s no wonder why there are so many people wanting to explore and enjoy nature. Some of my most memorable experiences are during hikes. Whether it’s a challenging trail with an arduous scramble or a path that gently winds through the landscape, there is a certain satisfaction and sense of peace after completing a trail that is intoxicating.
Before serving for the Squam Lakes Association, I was aware that trails had to be maintained, of course, but I do not think I truly understood the effort involved. I have since been enlightened by helping with the upkeep of the Squam Lake Association’s (SLA) 50 miles of trails and I have developed a whole new appreciation for the people who maintained all of the trails I have hiked in the past.
First off, there are many tools that we use, but I would say that the “top dogs” for the SLA are the loppers, mattocks, McLeods and handsaws. In addition to these tools, we always bring safety protection and a first aid kit as a precaution, because we can be swinging around some pretty hefty tools. Last but not least, we bring plenty of water and food for, well, basic human needs. As you can probably imagine, with each tool weighing anywhere from 3-7 Lbs. the extra weight can add up quickly, so it helps to be in good hiking shape and important to remember that it is not a race.
The type of trail work we do can range based on a variety of factors, such as the use and nature of the trail. On trails that have a lot of water erosion, we create and maintain water bars to lead water away from the trail. Other trails primarily require sawing and moving blow downs that are blocking the trail or lopping low branches that grow into the path. Let me tell you, nothing is more satisfying than the moment your hand saw goes through a blown down tree you’ve been sawing away at for what feels like an eternity, and you are finally able to clear it from the path. It may sound strange, but it’s nice to be able to take a second to admire your work with the knowledge that you have cleared a path that many future hikers will now continue to enjoy.
A couple of weeks ago, Qiyah and I had the pleasure of joining a group from the University of New Hampshire to help harden a section of our most popular trail, Old Bridal Path that leads up West Rattlesnake. This involves moving large rocks to create a stone pathway along the trail. This substantial task reduces erosion from foot traffic and prolongs the life of the trail. So, we scoured the area looking for good-sized boulders that were relatively flat and fit to serve as a piece of our pathway. Once a fitting specimen was found, we used rock bars to hoist it out of its place of settlement and rolled it onto a large rock net to carry it back to the trail. We spent the first half of the day lugging these ginormous rocks to the trail. After taking a relaxing break for lunch, we headed back to the trail to complete, in my opinion, the more fun task of actually assembling the path. It was similar to putting together a puzzle as we moved the rocks in every which way to ensure they fit together nicely. You quickly learn how to pay attention to the shape of the rocks and how they slope because, as you could imagine, these rocks are super heavy, so you want to move them as little as possible.
Once the day was done and we looked back at our work, it was impressive to see the section of the path we put together as a team! Now, every time I hike up Rattlesnake there is an unmistakable physical feature displaying the effort we put into maintaining the trail for years to come. It is trail-work days like these that are the most gratifying. Yes, I may sweat my posterior off and be a little sore the next day, but it is ridiculously satisfying knowing that my hard work is allowing other people, as well as myself, to get out and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Heather enjoys warm weather, reading, and eating 75 cent poptarts from Hannafords. You can read more about Heather here.