TKU Saw School: Chainsaw Recertification (1 Day) – Mt Hood

Saw Instructors: Vito P. – Josh D. – Sam G. – Art M.

Max Size of Crew: 12

Hike Distance: < 3 miles.

Elevation Gain: < 500 ft.

Hike Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

Work Difficulty: Moderate

Work Description: Chainsaw Recertification

Land Manager: Mt Hood National Forest

District: Zigzag Ranger District

What to Expect:

This TKU Saw School training event is for volunteers who are looking to receive recertification in chainsaw or advancement to the B level. You are required to have a current or recently lapsed saw certification to attend this event. We will start the day with a safety briefing and a quick overview of expectations. We will then head into the field to warm up and then start saw evaluations. This event could potentially be rescheduled due to weather and snow levels.

Please contact Vito Perrone if you have any questions (vito.perrone@trailkeepersoforegon.org).

Chainsaw Bucking Recertification (1 day): You must be at least 18 years old to attend. Every saw operator must be certified to ensure safe and quality work. This session is for those who have a previous chainsaw certification and are looking to get recertified or those who are pursuing advancement in their current certification. The course will cover key safety procedures and best practices for clearing trails effectively in challenging and potentially hazardous situations.

**A current First Aid and CPR certification is required to attend this event and for saw certifications to be valid.** TKO staff, volunteers, professionals, and USFS staff cannot use crosscut saws or chainsaws unless they hold a recognized and valid sawyer certification, First Aid, and CPR card. You can enter your First Aid/CPR certification by clicking on this link. FA/CPR Certification Record.

Note: Please bring work gloves, safety glasses, hard hats, hearing protection, and chainsaw chaps. Some of these PPE items can be provided by TKO staff if needed. Please contact vito.perrone@trailkeepersoforegon.org if you have any questions.

Potential cancellation: We will not work in the field if the weather is not safe for our team.

Additional Information:

Check out the TK-U Saw School page for more info.

Free online crosscut course from the University of Montana.

Saws That Sing. A guide to using crosscut saw.

One moving part: The Forest Service Ax Manual

Event details:

Detailed event information, including directions to the meeting location, will be provided to registrants via email 48 hours prior to the event. If you’re volunteering for the first time, read this blog by a volunteer to know what to expect at your first trail party.

What to bring:

• Plenty of water
• Snacks/lunch
• Work gloves if you have them (loaner gloves available)
• Any medications or emergency supplies you may need
• Sunscreen + insect repellent
• A pack to bring all of this with you on trail
• Need gear? TKO has clothes, boots, camping gear, and more available for loan. Reach out to volunteers@trailkeepersoforegon.org to let us know how we can help!

What to wear:

• Boots (Please wear something sturdy that will protect your toes from sharp tools. Tennis shoes are not recommended. Open-toed shoes will not be allowed.)
• Long sleeved shirts and pants
• Rain gear, insulating layers, sun protection, etc. as appropriate for the weather

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: TKO recognizes that the trails we work on travel through the traditional lands of many Indigenous tribes and communities. We are the most recent in a long line of stewards to this land, and it is our responsibility to do so with humility and respect. We are grateful to these tribes and their descendants for being the original and continuing stewards of these spaces, and encourage everyone to go beyond a land ackowledgment by supporting Indigenous communities and organizations in your area.

ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS: TKO seeks to make our events inclusive of people of all backgrounds and abilities. If you would like to discuss potential accommodations to allow for your participation in this event, please click here to complete a short Google survey. TKO staff will then contact you to discuss options. Please note: available accommodations will vary by event and typically need to be requested a minimum of two weeks in advance. If you have any questions, please contact TKO Stewardship Manager Lindsay McIntosh-Tolle at lindsay.mcintosh@trailkeepersoforegon.org.

EQUITY & INCLUSION: TKO seeks to make Oregon’s trails a place where people can go to connect with nature and one another. Not everyone feels safe or welcome in the outdoors and 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.

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, talk with a TKO leader, and/or inform TKO staff via the anonymous post-event survey.

While TKO no longer requires masking/vaccination for our events, we do support those who choose to mask for their own safety. We ask participants to respect the health of folks who wear masks by distancing or wearing a mask while in close proximity.