Using Vintage Crosscut Saws In Today’s Trail Management Pre-Conference Workshop Tuesday, April 23, 2019 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Early Bird Fee: $50 includes workshop, lunch, & transportation

Presenters: • Ken Bonus, Trail Crew Coordinator for TrailFit & C-rated Crosscut Sawyer • Greg Wilson, Descanso District, Cleveland National Forest & B-Rated Crosscut Sawyer

Description: Learn how these old saws can have a new life on your trail system. They are safer than chainsaws (no fuel geysers!), approved for wilderness use, fire safe, quiet, light weight, emission-free, and fun! We’ll cover the history of the saw, basic safety procedures, examples of use on San Diego area trails as well as trails in the Golden Trout Wilderness, summarize USFS training requirements, and let you get a feel for how these saws work. The workshop will include hands-on training to cut some downed trees so you can see that with proper maintenance, they are quite effective. But, please note, this class does not provide certification as a crosscut sawyer. The saws will range in size from 3 to 7 feet. Participants are also free to just watch if they prefer.

Itinerary: 9:00 – Depart hotel 9:30 – Instruction and Practice 12:00 – Break for Lunch 1:30 – Return to hotel

How to Prepare Participants should wear comfortable clothing that fits close to the body, including long pants and long-sleeved shirt. Bring water, hat, and sunscreen. Also, bring work gloves. Lunch will be provided.

Min and Max attendance: Minimum 3, max 12

Weather dependent: In case of heavy rain, the workshop will be canceled.

Presenter Bios Ken Bonus the trail crew coordinator for the TrailFit program operated by San Diego Ultra Running Friends, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Mr. Bonus is a C rated crosscut sawyer (bucking only) and he also restores and tunes-up the old saws. He has been leading trail work crews in the San Diego mountains for over 15 years.

Greg Wilson Mr. Wilson served in the Army and joined a Forest Service trail crew in 2012. In 2013, he hiked the entire Pacific Crest Trail (2,600 miles). In 2014, he started working on Developed Lands for the Forest Service and is currently in charge of trails and wilderness areas. He is a B rated crosscut sawyer.

Notes: Ken's top 10 advantages of a traditional crosscut saw over a modern chainsaw: 1. Quieter. Everyone can talk to and hear each other. No risk of hearing damage. And, more importantly you can hear what your log is doing. 2. Way, way, way less dangerous to sawyer and crew. Crosscut saws should be razor sharp and you can get a serious cut, but unlikely to be life threatening. 3. Lighter and don't need to carry in extra gas, oil, chaps, helmet, spare chain, etc. 4. Only option when bucking downed trees in Federal wilderness. Ditto some state wilderness trails. 5. OK to use during fire season. 6. The sawing process is generally slower to unfold so you have time to study what's happening with your cut. 7. Safe to use volunteers to help saw with a few minutes of training. 8. In hot weather, the sawyer doesn't need to be wearing kevlar chaps and a heavy saw helmet so much easier to stay cool.

9. No pollution or CO2 emissions (excluding the heavy breathing from the sawyers) and little if any noise impact on wildlife, other hikers, horses, etc. 10. It's a great upper body workout!

General info: • Backcountry Horseman various links for crosscut saws: http://www.bchw.org/Tech%20tips/Crosscut%20Sharpening.htm • Vendor selling useful tools, including underbucker: http://westerncrosscut.com/# • Dolly Chapman's website. She's one of the real pros in using and sharpening these old saws: http://www.sharpcrosscut.com/ • Another vendor selling both restored vintage saws and some modern stuff: https://crosscutsaw.com/vintage-saws/