TKU New Trail School: Design Lab – South Coast

Instructors: Steve K., Trevor B.

Max Class Size: 8

Hike Distance: Less than 2 miles

Elevation Gain: Less than 500 feet

Hike Intensity: Medium

Work Intensity: Medium

Training Type: Trail design and flagging

Class Overview:

Join TKO as we scout and flag a new trail system at South Slough. In this informative adventure, we will be planning and scouting the trail system, not physically constructing it.

The morning will consist of field-based instruction, and the afternoon will consist of flagging the trail to be. Join us for the morning, or the whole day!

Students will learn:

• The characteristics of a sustainable trail design.

• How to lay out a proposed trail on a contour map.

• How to use a clinometer (either analog or phone app).

• How to flag a proposed alignment in the woods and record a GPS track of it.

Hiking information:

Since we’re flagging new trail, we’ll be hiking on uneven, sometimes steep, ground in potentially wet weather. The area will also be brushy.

The instructional portion of the course will last from 9-12. The South Slough Reserve will provide a lunch for us at noon.

Then, students are invited to stick around for the afternoon portion from 12:30 -3 where we begin flagging our new trail. Those that can only attend the morning instruction are welcome to leave at this time. (Please select your preferred option during registration.)

COVID-19 Information:

**You will be asked to electronically sign the e-waiver for this event, provide proof of vaccination or recent negative COVID-19 test result, and perform a self-assessment health screening within the 24 hours preceding the event.** The crew leader for this event will verify that you have completed these requirements at the trailhead safety talk before the trail party begins. The registration confirmation and pre-event emails will contain further details and links.

What to bring:

• Plenty of water
• Snacks
• Gloves if you have them (loaner gloves available)

What to wear:

• Boots (Please wear something sturdy that will protect your toes from sharp tools. Tennis shoes are not recommended and may not be allowed.)
• Work gloves (loaner gloves available)
• Long sleeved shirts and pants.
• Rain gear, insulating layers, sun protection, etc. as appropriate for the weather
• TKO will supply hard hats

Directions:

Directions will be supplied to registrants via email 48 hours before event

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: TKO recognizes that the trails we work on travel through the traditional lands of many Indigenous tribes. In every corner of what we now call Oregon, these people were forced to cede their land, their home, to the US government at various times from 1853 – 1871. We are privileged to be here today and we express gratitude to these tribes and their descendants for being the original and continuing stewards of these spaces.

EQUITY & INCLUSION: TKO seeks to make Oregon’s trails a place where people can go to connect with nature & one another. Not everyone feels safe or welcome in the outdoors due to issues that include racism, bias, and hate. We commit to being part of the solution to this problem and to enact change. Conduct, speech, or expressions that target any individual or group will not be tolerated by TKO, regardless of whether they are based on age, citizenship, disability, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, geographic origin, language, marital status, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status.

PERSONAL SAFETY: Your physical and emotional safety is our number one priority. If a person’s actions or comments make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, you may: interrupt directly, tell a crew leader, and/or inform TKO staff via the post-event survey.