Chapter IV

GOOD NEIGHBORS, GRACIOUS GUESTS

Working with the Landowners

The term, "WODC trail", implies some esoteric sense of ownership. Yes, we created the trail system and have maintained it for a century, possibly establishing some prescriptive public rights. But beyond the small circle of club membership, in the much larger world of deeds, easements and real estate law we are merely permitted visitors.

In order to assure perpetuity of the trails and our continued involvement in their maintenance, we must respect the rights of the landowners and work with them to create a sense of trust and cooperation.

Generally speaking, these meetings and negotiations should be handled under the direction of the Executive ,Committee, but as trail adopters we should think of ourselves as WODC ambassadors and remember that our actions will be viewed as actions of the club.

 

 

PRIVATELY OWNED LANDS

Although the majority of WODC trail mileage is within National Forest boundaries, all trailheads are on private land. The WODC map will show which trails are wholly or partly on private land.

If your trail falls into this category, you would be wise to familiarize yourself with the locations of property lines along the trail. On some trails this may not be feasible (on Brook Path it would keep a professional land surveyor busy for months), but the transition from private land to National Forest is usually well marked with signs and red paint.

If you should get the opportunity to introduce yourself to your host/landowner, seize it. The benefits, both organizational and personal, could be many fold. WODC is fortunate that most of our neighbors and hosts are also active members in the club. An encounter with a Wonalanceter is almost always a pleasant experience.

Any trail clearing activity done in accord with Chapter I is acceptable on private land. Just be extra mindful of the placement of cuttings if you are near houses, yards or driveways. Existing trail drainage structures outside of any owner maintained areas (yards, driveways, etc.) may be cleaned and maintained. Any trail work above and beyond this should be done through the Trails Committee.

If the landowner does any work on or near the trail, or asks you to do any work that you suspect will be damaging to the trail or a hindrance to passage, do not take matters in your own hands. Contact the Trails Committee.

NATIONAL FOREST

The federal government is by far the largest and most demanding landowner we have to deal with. The Forest Service holds ultimate control over 18 of the 22 trails we maintain, and has very specific ideas of what should and should not be done. The WODC bears the official title of Cooperator with the Forest Service. This is a contractual arrangement which signifies that we, the club, agree to carry out our mission subject to the rules and under the supervision of the Forest Service.

The rules and guidelines for trail maintenance within' the National Forest are found in a myriad of manuals and regulations that often encompass the jurisdictional realm of agencies other than the Forest Service. This panoply of procedural precepts is subject to individual interpretation and is often the cause of numerous debates within the community of backcountry users and managers.

As individuals and as a club group, we have the opportunity to participate in these debates. The Forest Service is quite responsive to the natives. In fact it consistently seeks public input concerning it's proposed actions through what it calls "scoping" and is at least willing to listen to any unsolicited suggestions.

But as Cooperators with the Forest Service, we have the obligation to operate within the bounds of current procedural standards. Although we may and do lobby for those policies that we feel are in the best interest of the Forest , it is in our best interest to abide by those policies presently in effect.

The first three chapters of this guide attempt to outline the trail maintenance activities that the Forest Service considers to be routine and not requiring any review by their staff. As a trail adopter, you are free to perform any work that is done in accordance with this guide. Any actions above and beyond the scope of this guide should be cleared by the Trails Committee first.

WILDERNESS

The 1984 New Hampshire Wilderness Act resulted in the creation of the Sandwich Range Wilderness. Although still part of the White Mountain National Forest and subject to the same regulations and policies as the rest of the Forest , it also has additional constraints that regulate the actions of the trail adopter. A look at the WODC map will show what sections of your adopted trail, if any, are in Wilderness.

The underlying intent of the Wilderness Act of 1964 was to designate and preserve pristine natural areas where humans are merely visitors; altering, taking and leaving nothing. Obviously, concessions had to be made to allow trail maintenance. These concessions appear to be quite reasonable when we imagine the absence of maintained trails resulting in thousands of back country enthusiasts tramping willy-nilly up the mountains.

Concessions aside, it behooves the trail adopter to consider the intent of the Wilderness Act when doing trail work. Thoughtful planning and careful work can result in a trail that appears to have occurred almost naturally. Close adherence to trail clearing methods described in this guide will help achieve the desired result.

There are also a couple of specific wilderness guidelines the trail adopter should consider. The treadway (the area of the trail that is actually walked on) should be no more than 18 inches wide. This does not mean that you should clear an 18 inch wide by 7 foot high rectangle. through the vegetation. That would result in a very unnatural appearance. It does mean that when clearing trail, it is wise to contemplate the ramifications of your actions. The goal should be to create a natural looking corridor that will remain open for an entire growing season without inviting the hiker to step off the treadway.

This goal can usually be reached by careful brushing. Occasionally we encounter a situation where removing just enough of a plant to provide adequate passage results in an unattractive appearance but trimming it back to a more natural look might cause hikers to wander off the trail. The problem can usually be solved by choosing the more natural look and rearranging nearby downed branches to discourage any errant traffic. This is called "brushing in" and is also a useful method for fixing areas where undesirable paths have already occurred.

View clearing should not be done in Wilderness. As tempting as it may be, artificial clearing beyond that which is needed for trail passage is not consistent with the spirit and intent of the Wilderness Act.

Common sense and thoughtful application of accepted maintenance procedures will result in an attractive, natural pathway that will enhance the wilderness experience.

Return to Table of Contents