High Efficiency Trail Assessment Process (HETAP)

Cost: $395
Date & Time: March 12-13, 9am - 5pm

Instructor: Todd Ackerman, Beneficial Designs
Location: TBD

Workshop Description:

The Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP) and the High Efficiency Trail Assessment Process (HETAP) are inventory processes that provide objective information about trail conditions (e.g. grade, cross slope, width). The information obtained through an assessment can be used by land managers to enhance the safety and enjoyment for all trail users (by providing accurate, objective information about trail conditions), monitor environmental impacts on the trail, prepare budgets, develop maintenance and construction plans, indentify potential access barriers, and satisfy the self-evaluation requirement for preparing a Transition plan for outdoor recreation facilities.

The Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas (ABA) are now the law for Federal lands as of November 26, 2013. Defined in the new law are trailhead signage requirements to display data that needs to be collected for each Outdoor Developed Area. HETAP is the only automated assessment process that calculates the required data to meet the new guidelines for trailhead signs. Both UTAP & HETAP provide information about grades, cross slopes, tread widths and surfaces that enable a land manager to determine areas of non-compliance, prioritize access improvements, and identify conditions for exception.

The two-day workshop combines classroom and practical, hands-on trail assessment experience to ensure that participants have the skills and confidence to conduct assessments. The course will conclude with a written UTAP/HETAP Certification Exam, which is the first step towards certification as a Trail Assessment Coordinator.

Space is limited; to guarantee a high instructor-student ratio, class size is limited to 19. A waiting list will be created once 19 people have signed up. Please contact Beneficial Designs at (775) 783-8822 or trails@beneficialdesigns.com for more information or if you need any accessibility accommodations for classroom or on-trail sessions.

WORKSHOP AGENDA

Day 1:

9am - Noon: Indoor Classroom Session

Noon - 1pm: Lunch Break

1pm - 3pm: Indoor Classroom Session

3pm - 5pm: Introduction to Assessment Tools - Trail Module 1

Day 2:

9am - Noon: On Site - Guided Assessment - Trail Module 2

Noon - 1pm: Lunch (Provided)

1 pm - 2 pm: On Site - Guided Assessment

2 pm - 3 pm: Analyzing and Disseminating UTAP/HETAP Data

3pm - 5pm: Written Certification Exam, Review Written Exam & Certification Process

Instructor(s):

Todd Ackerman, Beneficial Designs,775.783.8822, todd@beneficialdesigns.com

Fundamentals of Trail Design and Layout - March 12-13, 2017 - SOLD OUT!

Cost: $300
Date & Time: March 12-13, 8am - 5pm (lunch provided both days)
Location: Smith Rocks State Park

Workshop Description:

This workshop presents basic trail design and layout for natural surface trails, including terrain dynamics, sustainable trail design elements, direction-reversing turns, location of structures, and use of information and measurement tools.  We will field test these concepts and tools, then turn to look at the social and aesthetic values that bring great trails to life.  Each student will lay out a trail line as part of the class.

We need a minimum of 5 students to make this workshop go, and a maximum of 12.

What to bring:

Clinometer and GPS (if you have them), outdoor clothing for an afternoon in the woods. (phone versions of clinometer and GPS are acceptable).

We will spend a large amount of this workshop outside, so please bring appropriate field gear for the weather. Expect rain and be pleasantly surprised if it stays dry. We will provide first aid kits and any additional tools and equipment necessary for the workshop. Let us know if you are unable to bring any of the above items, please contact us.

Instructor(s):

Jon Underwood, Happy Trails Inc. (http://happytrailsak.com), 907-322-5834, happytrailsak@gmail.com