how to contact trail maintainers?

[forestgnome]

A few of my favorite trails need reblazing in crucial areas. Above treeline, on the Sisters of Chocorua and on Middle Moat Mtn., there is a lot of alpine flora and hikers have no idea where the trail is. This has been the case for years.

I think the blazing in alpine zone is extremely important because of the flora. True? How can I contact the maintainer to offer help?


happy trails

 

[Jason Berard]

I would contact the organization in charge of the trail, and they will contact the adopter/maintainer.

Also, sometimes just posting something on this board will let the maintainer know there is work to be done. I know DOC watches this board and Whiteblaze as one tool to see if there are any spots along the section they are responsible for that need work.

 

[wardsgirl]

I think the blazing in alpine zone is extremely important because of the flora. True? How can I contact the maintainer to offer help?

It is important to make the distinction between "blazing" and "definition." A trail can be well-defined without having any blazes. Usually, blazes are unnecessary above treeline and will be covered with snow in winter anyway. Most trail maintaining organizations focus on definition above treeline without using blazes.

The trail's managing party is listed in parenthesis after the name of the trail in the White Mountain Guide. I believe the trails you mention are both managed by the WMNF.

 

[Puck]

I think the blazing in alpine zone is extremely important because of the flora.
happy trails

Blazing in alpine zones is a thing of the past. Cairns are the way to mark the trail now.

 

[rocket21]

A few of my favorite trails need reblazing in crucial areas. Above treeline, on the Sisters of Chocorua and on Middle Moat Mtn., there is a lot of alpine flora and hikers have no idea where the trail is. This has been the case for years.

I think the blazing in alpine zone is extremely important because of the flora. True? How can I contact the maintainer to offer help?


happy trails

Great question! If you find any answers to it, please let me know - I had the same observation on the Moats last year and continue to notice the lack of blazes/cairns on non-WODC trails in the Chocorua area. I even took the liberty of moving a cairn in a very obscure part of the Carter Ledge Trail, as hikers (including me) were ending up in a badly eroded dirt slide.

 

[erugs]

Maybe it is me, wanting to go where I'm not supposed to be, but I've noticed some cairns are built exactly in the same spot where I want to place my next step. Why is that?

 

[kltilton]

I'm sure the Moat Trail is not a high priority for the National Forest crew because of its more remoat (pun intended) location. I'd be interested in getting a group together to work on the whole ridge. It is a tough trail to follow. I'd also be up for doing some maintenance on the Attitash Trail.

 

[forestgnome]

Blazing in alpine zones is a thing of the past. Cairns are the way to mark the trail now.

Makes sense.

The trails on these summits are not well-defined at all. That's the problem. No two hikers travel the same path. This is especially true on Middle Moat, and there are more alpine wildflowers up there than most people realize.

 

[NewHampshire]

As was mentioned, contacting the respective trail organization (i.e. AMC, WODC, DOC, RMC etc.) is the way to go. If it is an AMC trail then I can tell you right now there will be no blazing done above treeline. It is the AMC's stance to stop rock blazing (as noted they are useless in winter anyways). I am not sure what the WODC regulations would be on Chocorua, but figure they might be of the smae mind as the AMC.

Brian

 

[Hillwalker]

Condition reports

In the past I have asked if it would be possible to have a portion of this and other hiking forums dedicated to trail conditions such as blowdowns, waterbar, drainage status, deteriorated puncheons, bog bridges, brushing and blazing. If people would include these items in trail conditions rather than what they wore on their feet or how the views were, it would make it easier for those of us that peruse the threads for hints of maintenance needed. Maybe a sticky requesting this info on Trail Conditions may help. If anyone really reads stickys.

 

[rocket21]

As was mentioned, contacting the respective trail organization (i.e. AMC, WODC, DOC, RMC etc.) is the way to go. If it is an AMC trail then I can tell you right now there will be no blazing done above treeline. It is the AMC's stance to stop rock blazing (as noted they are useless in winter anyways). I am not sure what the WODC regulations would be on Chocorua, but figure they might be of the smae mind as the AMC.

Brian

I'm pretty sure the WMNF is responsible for the Moat trails.

 

[NewHampshire]

I'm pretty sure the WMNF is responsible for the Moat trails.

I was refering to WODC on Chocorua, but as for the Moats, if it is the FS job then I believe their official policy is.....we don't have enough people or money to do trailwork

Brian

 

[psmart]

I am not sure what the WODC regulations would be on Chocorua..,
Brian

I believe the only CMC trails on Mt. Chocorua are Beeline and Brook Trails. The closest WODC trail is Mt Mexico Trail, which ends near the bottom of the Brook Trail. In any case, all Chocorua trails are under the jurisdiction of the USFS, and I would definitely contact them (the Saco district) in regard to sensitive matters like blazing.

 

[wardsgirl]

In the past I have asked if it would be possible to have a portion of this and other hiking forums dedicated to trail conditions such as blowdowns, waterbar, drainage status, deteriorated puncheons, bog bridges, brushing and blazing. If people would include these items in trail conditions rather than what they wore on their feet or how the views were, it would make it easier for those of us that peruse the threads for hints of maintenance needed. Maybe a sticky requesting this info on Trail Conditions may help. If anyone really reads stickys.

As a trail maintainer, I always read the VFTT posts related to my adopted trail(s) for any indication of their condition. It is very helpful when trip reports/trail conditions include information about blowdowns, definition, and wet/muddy areas. I think most trail adopters check here for this, so it may be unnecessary to have a separate forum for such things. A sticky would be a good reminder and would eliminate the need for a poster to enter trail conditions in a separate forum.

 

[RoySwkr]

Blazing in alpine zones is a thing of the past. Cairns are the way to mark the trail now.

Actually the AMC started reducing cairns maybe 30 years ago in favor of rock walls on the side of the trail, often built by removing cairns. This is better in summer as cairns don't really delineate the actual footway, but worse in winter when the walls drift in and may vanish entirely.

 

[jmegillon149]

I am a trail adopter. I think the organization may be the way to go, though I have never been contacted by them about a specific problem. Make sure to post a report here, as well.

I do make sure my trail is in my signature, so that people will hopefully realize I am the adopter.

 

[Jason Berard]

I do make sure my trail is in my signature, so that people will hopefully realize I am the adopter.

Thats a great idea! I just changed mine, so people know they can contact me.

 

[MadRiver]

As someone who was recently the recipient of an unauthorized blazing, I would definitely contact the proper authorities before doing any blazing.

 

[wardsgirl]

Oooh good idea....

 

[NewHampshire]

Well, since everyone else is doing it!

Brian