This volume is the 2nd edition of Appalachian Trail Design, Construction and Maintenance , and is probably the most useful book available, for AT maintainers. Birchard and Proudman have combined their many years of trail-building experience with their unique ability to present the material clearly and informatively. The contributing authors include Lester Kenway, Peter Jensen, Michelle Miller, Mike Dawson, Don Owen, Morgan Sommerville, Kevin Peterson, and Greg Knoettner, a group who lend particular expertise in a variety of trail maintenance topics.

William Birchard and Robert Proudman, copyright 2000
publisher: The Appalachian Trail Conference
237 pages
$9.72

The material covered in Lightly On The Land, The SCA Trail Building and Maintenance Manual is very similar to the information in the Proudman and Birchard book, above, but its intended audience is SCA crew leaders, and includes discussions of crew leadership and crew safety, in somewhat more detail than the AT volume. The book is very well written (the principle author, Robert Birkby, is also responsible for the recent editions of the Boy Scout Manual) and is nicely illustrated.

Bob Birkby , copyright 2006 new edition
publisher: The Mountaineers
304 pages
$16.47

The Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook is published by the Missoula Technology and Development Center of the USDA Forest Service. It's an excellent, small volume and well worth the price, which is nothing. The book can be ordered from the Federal Highway Administration's web site or can be downloaded as a pdf document.

principle author: Woody Hesselbarth, copyright 2004
publisher: USDA Forest Service
74 pages

The A.T. Fieldbook is intended as a packable supplement to A.T. Design, Construction, and Maintenance. The content and format is comparable to the Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook. The small volume contains lots of valuable information, though, and the price is right.
Trail maintainers can download a pdf version of the Fieldbook by clicking here (2.4 MB download).

publisher: Appalachian Trail Conference
96 pages, spiralbound
$4.20 for ATC members (discounted for AT maintainers), $4.95 for non-members
call 1-888-AT-STORE to order with maintainer discount)

The 3rd edition of Complete Guide to Trail Building and Maintenance is the most recent update of the trail maintenance manual published by the Appalachian Mountain Club, and continues the tradition of exellent publications produced by that organization. The authors, Carl Demrow and David Salisbury, were the club's Director of Trails and White Mountains Trails Supervisor, respectively, at the time of publication. The line drawings and photographs could be improved, but the text is clear and informative.

Carl Demrow and David Salsbury, copyright 1998
publisher: Appalachian Trail Club Books, Boston, MA
246 pages
$9.72

The 2nd edition of AMC Guide is still available, and is preferable, in some respects to the more recent version. Written by two of the club's Trails Supervisors, Robert Proudman and Reuben Rajala, the book lends a different perspective to some trail maintenance issues.

Robert Proudman and Reuben Rajala, copyright 1981
publisher: Appalachian Mountain Club in association with the National Park Service
286 pages
$10.36 for PATC members, $12.95 for non-members

The Rigging Handbook is an excellent, pocket-sized reference for volunteers and trail crews that employ rigging and hoisting equipment in their work. The book includes over 180 illustrations and tables, and is widely used in technical colleges as the standard reference for this type of work.

Jerry A. Klinke, copyright 2003 (2nd edition)
publisher: ACRA Enterprises, Inc.
168 pages
$12.95

An excellent discussion of the care and maintenance of virtually all sharpened tools, Leonard Lee's
The Complete Guide to Sharpening is useful to trail maintainers for its clear and concise information regarding axes, crosscut saws, chain saws, adzes, etc. The book is well illustrated and includes substantial background information (tool history, physics of sharpening, informative sidebars). Highly recommended.

Leonard Lee, copyright 1995
publisher: The Taunton Press
256 pages
$14.92

Other Print Resources:

The USDA Forest Service Technology and Research Program has produced a wide variety of informational books and pamphlets. In addition to the Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook (above), FS publications include: the Crosscut Saw Manual, Wetland Trail Design and Construction, An Axe to Grind, Handtools for Trail Work, and Hand Drilling and Breaking Rock for Wilderness Trail Maintenance. Several of these books were produced in conjunction with informational videos. The books are available through the Missoula Technology and Development Center, but some may be out of print. All are available, however, as downloadable pdf files (see Other Resources).

In addition to the resources listed above, that are specifically targeted to trail builders and maintainers, there are many excellent books that trail volunteers will find useful. These include books on tool care and sharpening (Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Sharpening is recommended), books that explain rockwork skills (Building Stone Walls by John Vivian is a good introduction), and first aid manuals (the NOLS Wilderness First Aid is very thorough).