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

• 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!