Tread

• Tread Surface
• Tread Creep
• Slough and Berm
• Tread Maintenance
• Removing Roots and Stumps
• Rock Removal

Tread Surface

Tread is the actual travel surface of the trail. This is where the rubber (or hoof) meets the trail. Tread is constructed and maintained to support the designed use for your trail.

Most trail construction revolves around making sure solid, obstacle–free tread is established and enough protection is provided to keep it in place. If you don't do a good job of locating, constructing, and maintaining tread, the users will find their own pathways instead.

Outsloping is the first line of defense against tread erosion. An outsloped tread is one that is lower on the outside or downhill side of the trail than it is on the inside or bank side. Outsloping lets water run naturally off the trail. A 500–mm (2–ft) wide trail would have an outside edge 30 to 60 mm (1.2 to 2.4 in) lower than the inside edge. Tread is also the travel surface on structures like turn–pike and puncheon. Tread, whenever elevated, should be slightly crowned to drain better.

Tread Creep

Does your sidehill trail display:

• Exposed bedrock or roots along the upper side of the tread?
• Daisy–chained tread alignment (Figure 14)?
• Pack bumpers, jump–offs, and prominent tread anchors?

Figure 14—Some classic signs of tread creep.
This trail needs help now.

All three are indications that the tread surface has been eroded and compacted by travel along the lower edge. Insidious tread creep at work. Tread creep should be arrested or the trail will eventually become very difficult or dangerous to travel.

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