Intro to Blazing

  Blazing 101   Trails cannot lead you anywhere if you cannot find where they are or where you are on them. At first glance, marking or blazing a trail is a simple task that anyone can do, after all isn’t it is just putting paint or nailing a tag onto a tree. But blazing is more complex especially when a new trail is being built or a trail system is designed. Both situations require an approach that asks how the trails are configured on the ground and where they are relative to each other. Simply put, placing a blaze must be made with the user in mind and relative to other blazes. This interactive and hands on 3-hour course will give participants both the big picture and the small details to make trail manage more user friendly.   Goals Be able to plan how the trails are marked within a new park Learn to have well blazed trails whether a loop, access, long distance or a short segment Learn about fixing blazing problems both on trees and within a park     Instructor: Hank Osborn is the East Hudson Program Coordinator for the Trail Conference with a long history and deep passion for the outdoors. Hank has taught geology, environmental science and ecology and has completed the outdoor educator course at the National Outdoor Leadership School.