PCT Rock Skills

Traditional Trail Skills Workshops

Talasi gives participant advice on waterbar.
After four years of SCA and Forest Service crews, the Pacific Crest Trail between Mono Creek and Silver Pass has seen a remarkable improvement. Although there are still scattered areas that could use some attention, the trail is much closer to a sustainable ideal. Workshop participants dug in check steps to reduce steep grades and reinforce drainage structures, built retaining walls to hold up switchback corners, stabilized sections of steep slickrock with tiers of rip-rap, and installed reinforced grade dips and water bars.

The workshops also touched upon how the Forest Service’s High Sierra Ranger District prioritizes work based on preserving wilderness character. The educational aspect of these workshops went beyond trail construction and encompassed many of the questions that are part of the larger picture of wilderness stewardship.

Annie and Mike move boulder with rockbar. This traditional trails skills workshop is a unique program for SCA in that they are open to the public, located in a remote setting, the work is very technical, and there is a strong wilderness ethic that pervades the training. These are wonderful qualities in a workshop and SCA and the Forest Service are both fortunate in this partnership.

Participants of the workshop this year included representation from:

  • Sierra National Forest
  • SCA
  • California Conservation Corps
  • The Sierra Club
  • Los Angeles Conservation Corps
  • Boy Scouts of America
  • Appalachian Mountain Club
  • San Gabriel Mountains Trail Builders
  • Stanford University
  • Santa Monica Trails Council
  • Appalachian Trail Conservancy
  • Angeles Volunteer Association, and
  • A trails recreation planner and a private trail contractor.

The connections made between individuals and organizations during the workshop went far beyond building rock steps or learning how to use a rifting hammer. People left the workshops with fresh trail skills, but perhaps more importantly, they left with new friends, contacts and ideas that will continue to help them in their respective fields of work.

Joe breaks up rocks for crush behind check step. 



Workshops are made possible
through funding from the US Forest Service, a generous grant from the National Forest Foundation, and contributions to the Student Conservation Association.