High Cascades Forest Volunteers
Class Descriptions
Instructor: Lyndell Wilkin
Time: 6 hours
Westfir only
Geared for wilderness environments, this class provides information on prevention, assessment and responding to emergencies including bleeding, strains, sprains, dislocations, fractures, heat and cold illness, bites, stings and other sudden illness. Transporting of an injured or ill person will be addressed. This is not a Red Cross certification class. You will receive a Wilderness First Aid Card from the Forest Service after completing the 6 hour training A three year renewal is required for saw certification.
Westfir: Instructors: Sue West & Carol Gleason
Time: 2 hours
Allingham: Instructor: Kathy Alexander
Time: 2 hours
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills will be learned and practiced. A two year renewal is required for saw certification.
Instructor: Wayne Chevalier
Time: 16 hrs Allingham
Time: 8 hrs Westfir
Both Venues
This session is for volunteers who do not have a card, but have substantial X-Cut saw experience in the field. The course includes a review of key X-Cut safety procedures and best practices for clearing trail effectively in challenging and potentially hazardous situations. The instructor will determine the certification level. Class will be working to clear a trail. Hardhat required (will be provided if you do not have one); bring gloves, long sleeve shirt, eye protection, boots and saw if you have one. A current CPR and 1st Aid card are required to take Saw classes. Bring your cards with you to the class.
Instructor(s):
Allingham: Travis Moyer
Time: 16 hrs
Westfir: Ryan Sullivan
Time: 8 hrs
The Forest Service requires that each operator using power saws is a certified sawyer. Required: You must have a certification card, if you want to use power saws to clear trails. Saw safety review and certification time with instructor will be held in the field. Hardhat required (will be provided if you do not have one); bring gloves, chaps, long sleeve shirt, eye protection, boots and saw if you have one. A current CPR and 1st Aid card are required to take Saw classes. Bring your cards with you to the class.
To register for Early Saw ReCertification go to:Early Saw Recert Registration
Instructor: Instructor Pool
Time: 8 hrs.
Limit:16
Westfir Only
Intended for those new to trail work who want to learn how to cut brush and small logs to help clear a trail to proper specifications. After discussion of general safety protocols, students learn about safe and effective use of hand saws and loppers. This class also includes how to complete an early season trail survey to identify and report major problems, especially blown down logs, by their number, location, and size.
The effects of water and gravity constantly threaten our trails and thus we must learn how best to deflect them. This course begins with basics of hillside hydrology and how trails work when they shed water properly. Includes introduction of “trail eyes” for recognizing tread erosion patterns. Hands-on practice removing slough and berm, and effective cleaning and maintenance of existing water bars and drain dips.
Instructors: Instructor Pool
Time: 8 hrs
Limit:16
Westfir Only
Instructors: Instructor Pool
Time: 8 hrs
Limit:16
Both Venues
Instructors: Erickson Stamper
Time: 8 hrs
Limit:16
Allingham Only
For curious trail workers who want to understand why so many trails are in bad shape because of how they were made. Learn how better design and layout makes trails more sustainable and less prone to erosion. Introduction to different trail design standards appropriate for different kinds of trails. This class is for anybody interested in these topics, but students with some trail building and maintenance experience will benefit the most.
Instructors: Instructor Pool
Time: 8 hrs
Limit:1
Westfir Only
Intended for someone who has taken 102 (Intro to Tread & Drainage) and/or has experience doing drainage work. Learn how to design and locate effective drainage structures. After a comprehensive explanation of hillside hydrology and how trails work when they shed water properly, this class shows students how to design and construct long, rolling drain dips as a way of reducing erosion on existing trails.
Intended for someone who has taken 201 (Drainage Design & Drain Dips) and/or has considerable experience doing drainage work. Where earthen rolling drain dips are not feasible, drainage features are sometimes armored using rock or log. Learn contemporary techniques to build water bars and checks with both rock and log. The class will include a review of outdated techniques, and how to convert “old school” waterbars to a more effective design.
Instructors: Molly Juillerat &
Jenny Lippert Time: 4 hrs
Limit: 20
Westfir only
Even in protected wilderness and recreation areas, invasive species can invade by hitchhiking on people, dogs, horses, bikes, wading boots and other gear. Once established, invasive species replace native flora, make the habitat inhospitable to wildlife, and can even change the way the ecosystem works. This workshop offers information on what species to look for, how to report them and preventative actions. The workshop, presented by Molly Juillerat and Jenny Lippert, botanists on the Willamette National Forest, will meet and carpool to Buckhead Wildlife Area. The field day includes witnessing some of the impacts of invaders, identifying and reporting them. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to sign up for weed pulls and to adopt trails to monitor for specific species.
Instructor: Tyson Cross
Time: 4 hrs
Westfir only
This class is highly recommended for helping to survey trails and cleanup lake sites, and educate the public about trail and wilderness resources. The class is designed to be an overview of duties, training and responsibilities for the jobs of surveying trail conditions, Adopt-A-Lake, Adopt-A-Trail, cleaning out wilderness lake campsites, making public contacts on the trail, or working as a Wilderness Trailhead Host. Classroom time includes job descriptions for each project, recommended time commitments, and specific field examples provided by those who have already been out there, plus much more. There will also be out-of-classroom activities designed to teach you the skills "hands on". Bring gloves and wear work clothes.
Course 207 Trail Decommissioning and Wildland Restoration
Instructor:
Time: 2 hrs
Westfir Only
Learn how to care for your tools and protective gear. Keeping tools sharp is critical for working efficiently and safely. Session includes how to properly sharpen basic hand tools and why some others are not sharpened.
Other Classes
Saw Classes
Trail Classes
Wilderness First Aid
CPR
X-Cut Certification
X-Cut Recertification - Will Not Be Held at Westfir or Allingham Training 2013
Power Saw Certification
Power Saw Recertification - Will Not Be Held at Westfir or Allingham Training 2013
Course 101 Brushing and Scouting
Course 102 Tread and Drainage
Course 200 Basic Trail Design
Course 203 Waterbars and Checks
Course 201 Drainage Design and Drain Dips
Invasive Weed Field Trip
Volunteer Ranger Program: Surveying & Adopting Trails/Lakes, and Trail Patrols
Tool Maintenance
Course 205 Tread Re-Construction
Reviews the concepts of hillside hydrology and basic trail layout. Re-excavate badly slipped and cupped tread to re-establish outslope and restore the tread to original or ideal specs. (Pre-requisite: 102, or equivalent experience)
Allingham Instructor: Hayden
Time: 8 hrs
Limit:16
Both Venues
Course 300 Rock Retaining Walls
Allingham Instructor: Phil Chang
Time: 8 hrs
Limit:16
Both Venues
Learn fundamentals of rock construction including an emphasis on effective and safe use of rock bars the critical tool for all rock work. We’ll tackle basic rock placement techniques for walls to last the ages. Recommended after taking 203 or equivalent experience.
The PCT and its feeder trails cross water courses of every conceivable size and type. Because bridges are time consuming and expensive, whenever possible it is better to build simpler structures that are more durable. Learn to build and maintain two to three of the following fords, stepping stones, culverts, French drains, armored swales, and step down drains. If you enjoy working in water, this is the course for you. Pre-requisites: 201-205 and 300.
Instructors: Instructor Pool
Time: 8 hrs
Limit:16
Westfir Only
Course 398 Special Topics: Climbing Turn Reconstruction
This special course will teach how to rebuild a difficult, problematic turn to be more user friendly and comply with trail engineering specifications. It is problem and site specific, so it will involve a little of everything- digging in the dirt, moving of rock and logs, building retaining structures, and brushing. Bring a clinometer if you have one.
Trail Assessment Training (ETAT)
Keeping our trails open, takes more than just log-out. Trails are naturally prone to erosion, and when erosion is not curtailed, trails leave a deep scar on the landscape and sediment in our streams. Furthermore, badly eroded trails are no fun to ride, because of all of the exposed roots and rocks. Because such trails take an enormous amount of resources to repair, agency trail managers are more likely to abandon and close them.
Learn how you can be part of the solution by developing a keen awareness of erosion patterns when they are just beginning. If you can provide a detailed and accurate tread assessment to trail managers and volunteer coordinators, they are able to allocate work resources and stay on top of tread erosion problems before they become irrepairable.
We will begin with a historic look at the development of trails, to understand why trails look the way they do. We will then move into a study of hydrological patterns on hillsides, and learn what an ideal trail looks like when it's shedding. water properly. Then we'll look at common erosion problems on trails, and how they can be prevented or repaired.
Instructors: Kim McCarrel and
Kit Dickey
Time: 8 hrs
Allingham Only
Course 302 Drainage Crossings
Instructor's Pool
Time: 8 hrs
Limit:16
Allingham Only
Learn how to put an abandoned campsite or section of trail to bed so that it returns to nature without erosion. Some call this Zen and the art of wilderness gardening, or trail magic because if properly done the old trail disappears. Includes transplanting, seed collection, and rock placements.
Instructor: Chris Sabo
Time: 8 hrs
Limit:16
Allingham Only
Intro to Rigging
Instructor:
Time: 4 hrs
Westfir Only
This class covers several fine points dealing with the many different aspects of a rigging operation. Topics covered include: safety responsibilities, setting up a project with appropriate equipment, recognizing load ratings, and determining safe areas during a project operation. Focus will be on equipment and there will be several outside demonstrations using a load cell to see actual pull. Handouts with useful information will be provided.
First Aid
Instructor: Kathy Alexander
Time: 4 hours
Allingham only
This class provides information on prevention in addition to providing you with the basics of how to assess and respond to emergencies like bleeding, strains, sprains, dislocations, fractures, heat and cold illness, bites, stings and other sudden illness. A three year renewal is required for saw certification.
Course 107 Hand Tool Field Maintenance
Allingham Instructor: Brasfield
Time: 4 hrs
Both Venues
Learn how to care for trail tools and protective gear. Keeping tools sharp is critical for working efficiently and safely. We'll cover how to properly sharpen basic trail tools and discuss why we don't sharpen others.
Introduction to Mechanical Trail Building
Intended for the advanced trail volunteer, this session will explore the differences between different kinds of mechanized equipment that can be used in trail building and reconstruction. Learn how to assess if mechanical means would be the right choice for the job, addressing safety and environmental concerns, and learn the differences between excavators, skid-steers and carriers. Attendees will visit a trail construction project using equipment and have a limited opportunity to use equipment, but this not an operator training (no certifications).
Instructor: Ben Beamer
Time: 8 hrs
Westfir only
Are you interested in helping certified sawyers to clear trails, but don't have much experience working with or around saws? Learning to be a saw crew member is an important place to start and takes know-how to do safely. The session begins with an introduction to saws and and then covers: Job Hazards Analysis, chainsaw accident history and statistics, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), axe handling, saw safety features, basic saw maintenance, safe saw starting options, saw handling and use, refueling and lubing and making the cuts. This class is an introduction; it does NOT provide saw certification, which is required for those who wish to be lead sawyers.
Basic Saw Class
Instructor: Jim Bone
Time: 8 hrs
Limit:16
Westfir Only
Radio Class
Instructor(s): Pool:
Time: 1 hr
Westfir only
This is a simple class on how to properly use forest service radios in the field.
Power Saw Maintenance
Instructor: Jim Bone
Time: 2 hr
Both Venues
This class provides detailed instructions on how to clean and maintain the power saw, keeping all safety features functioning efficiently. If you would like, bring your own saw.
Noxious Weeds and Plant Identification
Instructors: Marlo Fisher
Time: 4 hrs
Allingham Only
Even in protected wilderness and recreation areas, invasive species can invade by hitchhiking on people, dogs, horses, bikes, wading boots and other gear. Once established, noxious weeds replace native flora, make the habitat inhospitable to wildlife, and can even change the way the ecosystem works. This workshop offers information on what species to look for and how to report them. Presented by Marlo Fisher, assistant botanist and noxious weed coordinator on the Bend/Ft. Rock District of the Deschutes National Forest, this course will contain a classroom and field component. The field portion includes witnessing some of the impacts of invaders, identifying and reporting them. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to learn about local and statewide weed removal and native plant restoration projects.
Map/compass/GPS
Instructors: Bob Speik
Time: 4 hrs
Allingham Only
Learn how to use the right map, compass and GPS so you can find your way in the backcountry. This course is
intended for any student who would like to improve their navigation skills. Class will also cover the basics of
wilderness preparedness.
Trail Sign Installation & Inventory
Understand sign specifications and learn how to install signs and keep proper records in conjunction with land managers. Learn about agency standards for signs. Making needed signs is very gratifying, though navigating the Forest Service sign manual requires special attention to detail.
(The focus of the 4 hr class at Allingham is on installation only.)
Instructor: Brasfield
Time: 4 hrs
Limit:16
Allingham Only
Learn the steps for estimating time and materials, and setting up a work project. Learn about trail triage: how to prioritize and what techniques to use when total trail reconstruction to ideal specs is not an option. Understand environmental concerns and policies that may impact projects. Learn what to look for when scouting a trail and how/when to schedule work.
Course 400 Crew Leadership: Project Management
Instructor: PCTA
Time: 8 hrs
Allingham Only
Wilderness Stewardship & Site Restoration
Instructors: Deschutes NF Wilderness Rangers
Time: 8 hrs
Limited to 8 students
Allingham Only
This course is intended for volunteers who would like to learn more about Wilderness and participate in a late-summer project at North and South Mathieu Lakes, Three Sisters Wilderness. Beginning with an introduction to the 1964 Wilderness Act, students will discuss Wilderness recreation, human impacts, and the role of Wilderness in our local landscape. The remaining portion of the class will prepare participants for a Wilderness campsite restoration and rehabilitation project at Mathieu Lakes from August 12th-14th, 2013. Volunteers will receive an overview of the project and use hand tools to prepare needed materials. Participation and availability for the summer project is not mandatory, though it is strongly encouraged. For more information please contact Joe Welke, Deschutes NF Trails Volunteer Coordinator, at 541-383-4040.
For students with moderate to extensive trail building experience who want to lead trail crews and work parties. Not a construction techniques class; this is about effective leadership. Students will have classroom and field work in the following topics: Work Day Responsibilities; Risk Assessment and Safety; Tool Safety & Tool Talks; Leadership & Team Building; Practical Experience Leading Trail Crews.
Course 304 Crew Leadership: Managing Volunteers
Instructors: Instructor Pool
Time: 8 hrs
Limit:16
Westfir Only
To register for Early Saw ReCertification go to:Early Saw Recert Registration
Course 208 Trail Sign Installation & Inventory
Understand sign specifications and learn how to install signs and keep proper records in conjunction with land managers. Learn about agency standards for signs. Making needed signs is very gratifying, though navigating the Forest Service sign manual requires special attention to detail.
Instructors: Instructor Pool
Time: 8 hrs
Limit:16
Westfir Only
Bridge Assessment, Maintenance and Repair
For students with moderate trail experience, this field-based course will teach you how to inspect trail bridges for
safety, perform routine maintenance and remove bridges that are inadequate. Participants will be introduced to
Forest Service bridge standards, what to look for when assessing bridge condition, and why certain bridges are
removed. This course will include an evaluation, removal and replacement of a trail bridge along the Metolius
River corridor
Instructor: Buehrig
Time: 8 hrs
Allingham Only
Soils of the Cascades
A quick and dirty hands-on introduction to soil science basics, including soil development and the crucial role of soils in a functioning forest ecosystem. Join Forest Service soil scientist Sarah Hash for an overview of the geology and common soil types on the Willamette and Deschutes National Forests, progressing from the western slopes of the Cascades to the central Oregon high desert. Soils are living history books: we’ll look at soil pits and/or cut exposures to learn how soils tell the story of past and ongoing landscape processes. Learn about the interactions of soil surfaces with water, with a focus on using site characteristics to your advantage when constructing and maintaining trails.
Instructor: Sarah Hash
Time: 4 hrs
Allingham Only
Course 101/102 Brushing and Drainage
Instructors: Instructor Pool
Time: 8 hrs
Limit:16
Allingham Only
This course combines and summarizes elements of Courses 101 and 102 into one 8 hr course.
