The trail machine in this case is a track-laying
tractor with a bucket on the front, a backhoe on the rear, and my B-I-L has
installed a grading blade underneath.
A Pulaski is a tool with an axe on one side and a
digging tool on the other end of the head. Plus a handle, of course.
It's a firefighter's tool. A McLeod is my favorite tool for building
trail. Its head has a hoe-like edge on one side and a stout set of
teeth, much like a rake, on the other side of the head. Plus a
hoe-length handle. Go to baileys.com and look at all the firefighting and
logging tools. You should be able to see a picture there. Or just
Google "Pulaski" and "McLeod." I'll bet you could find them that
way.
From the looks of the photos, it could be
done. My brother-in-law has built trail through solid rock walls,
without blasting. He has a trail machine and he used the backhoe
portion, I think. He has built trails around here with it.
Someone with a trail machine could do it, I'm sure. Some of that
terrain in the photos looks like it could be widened with a Pulaski,
McLeod, and/or a pick. Lots of distance, I agree, but I understand the
California Loop was created with a trail machine, so where is it now when it
is needed?
One of these days, someone is going to be killed,
and I think the trail should be widened before that
happens.
I know I would be terrified to even ride it at
all, but then I'm very frightened of drop-offs.
