What does the Trail Maintenance Coordinator do?

If you look at the calendar on our website and you’ll see that we’re all about two things–hiking and trail maintenance.

In our brochure you’ll also find trail maintenance. It has equal billing with guided hikes, but it wasn’t always this way.

For decades, Trail Maintenance was a closed shop. The trail was divided among four crews, who looked after their sections for the whole of the season. The crews managed their own schedules and brought in volunteers as needed.

That worked fine until key crew members started retiring. For a few years, trail maintenance coordination struggled to find a way to keep the system going. Finally, after some “wandering in the wilderness”, the board was thrilled to be joined by Karen Bell and her big-picture way of thinking.

Karen changed our approach to trail maintenance by making it an activity that is open to any person who wants to participate—no commitment required and no person ignored.

As a result, our work parties attract many volunteers ranging from very new to very experienced. Many people make it a regular part of their week, which is mostly on Wednesdays. And in between work parties, the volunteers are maintaining mowers, building stiles, and sharpening tools in the comfort of our rented garage/workshop in Edmonton’s Ritchie neighborhood.

Duties of the Trail Maintenance Coordinator

• Before the season starts, work with the Hike Coordinator to create a work schedule based on the hike schedule.
• Be a contact for Workers Compensation, reporting the hours at the beginning and end of the season.
• During the season,
  • Maintain the trail maintenance schedule and keep volunteers informed.
  • Notify landowners as per the Trail Maintenance manual, and liaison as necessary for issues and changes such as re-routes.
  • Coordinate equipment maintenance and purchases with volunteers and get board approval for large purchases.
  • Coordinate work parties: plan equipment and tasks for volunteers, arrange for orientation on safety and trail standards.
  • Work with the Permissions committee on landowner and trail changes.
• At the end of the season, review the current year’s costs and prepare an estimate for the next year’s Trail Maintenance budget. Sum up the season at the AGM.
• Report to board meetings

About the Board

The board meets on the third Thursday of most months via Zoom. Why not visit the next board meeting?

If you have any questions about the duties of the Trail Maintenance Coordinator, John Scotvold will be happy to talk to you.

Read about other board positions:

Hike Coordinator
Permissions Director
Membership Secretary
Introduction to Board Postions