Trail repair advice for an Eagle scout project

[DesertLake]

One of my neighbors is planning his Eagle project to repair and clean up the trail above Cottontail out here in Washoe Valley. I haven't seen the trail to know its condition, from what I'm told the ruts and washouts have made it 4WD only where it used to be a good dirt road. Unfortunately none of us involved in this Scout troop have much experience with dirt road repairs. This is going to be an all manual labor project, no graders etc. If any of you have any pointers for what works and what doesn't, and have time for a phone or email Q&A with him, please PM me and I'll put him in contact. Thanks!

 

[WILLD420]

The more big rocks you can find and throw in the holes, the less shoveling you have to do.

Use natures erosion paths to guide your choice of drainage areas.

A pick with a flat cutting edge will make quick work of hard soil, where a shovel will only bounce right off.

Do the work before it freezes solid, or wait till the spring thaw, when the top 3-4 inches of ground is all soft from the thaw.

A couple pieces of railroad iron and some chain will make a very good drag. One drag can do the work of about 40 motivated shovel holders.

 

[rusty_tlc]

What agency manages the land? ie BLM etc. he might contact that entity for advice.

I was wondering who the NFS representative was that supervised the re-opening of the Hunter Lake Spur road, I couldn't find the thread on R4X4.

Edit: Found it
http://www.reno4x4.com/forum/showthread.php/61391-Help-Re-Open-Closed-Trail

You might send Rarecj8 an e-mail and see who he was talking to.

 

[DesertLake]

Thanks! He is in contact with BLM, they have advised him on what he may and may not do, but as far as I know not what works and what does not.