On the weekend of October 17-18, I joined a group for the AZT’s Trail Design and Layout training event on the Arizona Trail Passage 4 (Temporal Gulch) in the Rincon Mountains. Our training focused on:
- Why, who, what of trail design
- Design factors (use, site conditions, climate and weather)
- Construction design criteria (Trail Management Objectives)
- Control points (positive and negative)
- Trail corridor identification (GIS and visual assessment)
- Tight flagging
- Construction prescription
The first day started with classroom style learning sessions held at the Apache Springs Trailhead, and in the afternoon we went onto an existing section of the Arizona Trail to practice some of the design and layout techniques we learned.
The next day, we drove out near Tunnel Spring Trailhead to begin work on a section of the 32-mile Temporal Gulch Reroute Project. Once completed, this project will replace paved and dirt roads with a far better trail experience. It was wonderful to be a part of this effort, and over the next few years I hope to participate more.
