Projects and Skills

Large mountain footbridge project

  • Although this stream does not look like much in the photos, for most of the non-frozen year it is very wide and fast flowing, particularly during spring snow melt.

  • The girders for this project were flown in by helicopter

  • Some of the material was brought in during the winter by snow mobile so that dragging would not damage the trail or vegetation

  • Approach rockwork was improved to elevation

  • Girders moved and placed through teamwork then bolted down

  • Sub-plank, plank and guard boards were all bolted or screwed in place

  • Final approach rockwork and trail improvements

Mountain Trail re-routing

There are times when new trails need to be built, or old trails need a re-route for one of many reasons

  • Lining out the trail to determine the new trail bed and grade

  • Removal of topsoil and organic matter

  • Establishing and hardening the new trail bed

  • Using natural materials for steps, retention walls, and erosion control.

Porch and front garden rehab project

  • Overgrowth removal

  • Small pond removal

  • New bed lining

  • New bed decorations

  • Porch and eave painting

  • Concrete driveway widening and extension

  • From mud and ruts to a finished pad, this time the HOBOS got a delivery of the 10 yards of concrete - they normally small batch mix it on site.

  • Ground clearing and prep

  • Forming

  • Steel reinforcement

  • Pouring and finish work

Laminated boardwalk extension, erosion control and trail bed improvements.

Laminated boardwalks are often used in areas with high snow fall as they are flexible to a point, but can also handle high snow loads and movements common in mountain trails.

  • First flood and erosion control are used to manage the waterflow

  • Grooming and thinning of the area vegetation to improve drainage

  • Clearing and preparing the trail bed and landings

  • Construction of the laminations and boardwalk

  • Life expectancy of the boardwalk 20-25 years

Fuel dispersion.

  • Sometimes fuels (ground up material, high burning temp wood) need to be dispersed to manage forest ecology.

  • Juniper trees are just one example of a high temperature fuel that after thinning and grinding into mulch, the material has to be dispersed to reduce possible flaring into the treetops during a natural fire or controlled burn

  • Acres of raking!