Let’s See Action

Please view this entire video prior to your participation at a future Dig Day. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. The important information herein and your compliance are critical to helping ensure that we all contribute to safer, better trails while protecting the environment and protected species.

At Dig Days, the work zones can cover a lot of territory. You likely will be far away from your vehicle all day. Please bring gloves, eye protection, hard hat/helmet (if planning to use pick mattock), layers, and lots of food and water. Also wear long pants and long sleeves to protect against the sun and ticks.

Flag Markers provide a visual guidepost for how deep into the backslope the trail will be widened to re-establish the full bench and 5% outsloped tread. The Flag Markers also establish buffer zones for the crew members to ensure a positive, safe experience for everyone given the tools can be dangerous.

At Dig Days, Crew Captains will have sharpening files. Please ask for a tool sharpening every two hours, or when necessary, depending on soil conditions. A sharp tool makes for efficient cutting/chopping of the dirt and also reduces stress on the operator’s arms and wrists.

Poison Oak resides along many of the trails at Mount Diablo State Park. At Dig Days, Crew Captains will call out poison oak hot spots with Red or White flag markers, but it is still important to know what it looks like so you can avoid the dreaded, itchy rash.

This American-made tool is our top choice for Dig Days. It is light, balanced, fast-cutting and can handle all major workflow steps, especially the Three C’s of full bench construction.

We love this Bert Hard Rake from Backslope Tools (Colorado) for chopping and casting materials. The rake’s width is a tad wider than a traditional McLeod, helping move dirt faster and more efficiently. Plus, the face of the the Bert Hard Rake can be used as a measuring device when the clinometer is left back at the truck. Watch the video to learn more.

This tool is a 3-in-1 or “swiss army knife” at Dig Days. If the cutter blades were curved, it might be our top choice, but being runner up is pretty darn good, too. We have found the tool’s light weight and versatility to be a selling point for many students.

The McLeod is a long-time favorite for many trail maintenance and repair volunteers. We no longer purchase new ones, but there will be plenty on-site at Dig Days.

American Made since 1854, Warwood Tool’s Railroad Clay Pick (aka, Pick Mattock) shines when the dirt is very dry and hard. It requires smooth, controlled movements, but the end result is a lot of dirt broken up without banging up other tools or one’s elbows and forearms. Note: Hard hat/helmet and eye protection are mandatory when using pick mattock at a Dig Day.

At Dig Days, if you can only grab one tool, select the J.R. Fire Tool Chopping Hoe. It can adeptly cover the Cut, Chop and Cast (the Three C’s) workflow steps of full bench construction. To learn more, watch two of our next-level Trail Champions demonstrate and speak to the tool’s versatile capabilities.

This video highlights the importance of removing the outboard hinge’s high berm early on when constructing a full bench. With the berm removed, there is no barrier to fight when casting the released dirt and grasses from the backslope, which saves time and energy.

Casting is an important workflow step in full bench construction. It helps spread out the released dirt and grass evenly and thinly across the outslope to facilitate natural restoration in the months after the Dig Day project.

This video offers a nice summary as you get ready for the Dig Day. First, the video highlights the finishing touches or tread smoothing step of full bench construction, and next, it pans up trail to review the important workflow steps of Cut, Chop and Cast, or the Three C’s.

Without any instructional commentary, this video provides additional highlights of the Cut, Chop and Cast (the Three C’s) workflow steps of full bench construction.

Water knicks are effective, long-lasting surface water drainage structures. At Dig Days, Crew Captains will outline the water knick’s work zone with white baking flour, which is eco-friendly.

When making the initial cut, visualize water knick construction as placing a “soup spoon” across the trail and then tilting (e.g., cutting or chopping) more aggressively as move to the outslope. The actual structural approach results in the outsloped tread increasing from 5% to 15% as move across the water knick to the outslope.

After the water knick’s initial cut, switch to a chopping hoe and break down the released material. This technique makes for easier, thinner casting of the dirt across the outslope, facilitating natural restoration.

Use the Hard Rake’s blade side to smooth out the water knick. Note how the finished water knick is part of the trail; it is not a tripping hazard like a water bar. Dig Days do not use water bars.

Water knicks handle a lot more water than a water bar. They last for a long time, and water knicks do not impact the safety or experience of trail users.