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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAddenda - RFP - P982 BOBCAT RIDGE TRAIL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTON (22) 2309.18,2 Page 1 of 19 FSH 2309.18 - TRAILS MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK WO AMENDMENT 2309.18-91-2 EFFECTIVE 11/8/91 CHAPTER 2 - TRAIL DEVELOPMENT 2.02 - OBJECTIVES. The objective of trail development is to provide a facility that minimally affects resources, that provides opportunities for satisfying recreation experiences, that requires minimal maintenance, and that serves the intended type and level of use. 2.03 - POLICY. Because some trail facilities accommodate various types of users during the changing seasons, design them to meet the most demanding use. 2.1 - SEQUENCE OF EVENTS. After the decision is made to construct a trail within a corridor, a series of steps occur before the opening of a trail for recreational use (ex. 01). The steps involve all phases in the development of a trail project or program. 2.1 - Exhibit 01 Project Level Planning Design Elements Selection Average Lead-Time Years Project Level Planning Programing 5 Design Elements Selection Preconstruction 1/ Route Investigations Preliminary Flag Lines Reconnaissance 4 Environmental Assessment Final Route Selection Commence R-O-W Acquisition Survey 2/ Preliminary Stake or Flag Location Survey 2 Classification Data Project Estimate Final Design Drawings and Contract Specifications Preparation 1 Plans-in-Hand Review Contract Award Contract Administration Construction 0 1/ The phases of trail preconstruction do not all occur separately. The most notable overlap is the design element. Design begins in reconnaissance, is further refined in location surveys, and is completed prior to developing drawings and specifications. 2/ The survey work should not be started until the environmental assessment has been completed. 2.2 - GENERAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS. The following elements should be kept in mind during the reconnaissance phase of designing a trail. 2.21 - Recreation Opportunity Spectrum. The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) system identifies experience levels and management prescriptions to assure a diversity of recreation experiences. Trail development and uses must reflect the direction provided in the Forest Land Management Plan and, specifically, the ROS classes identified in it (FSM 2310). 2.22 - Difficulty Levels. Difficulty levels are based on trail gradients, alignment, clearing width, tread conditions, gain or loss of elevation, and other appropriate criteria outlined in the trail guide matrices on the following pages. Difficulty level has design implications and affects user expectations. For management personnel, difficulty level often indicates what presently exists on the land. Often the most difficult levels are found in the more primitive ROS settings, but difficulty is not unique to these settings. For example, a most difficult trail could be provided in a rural setting. Volume of use usually will vary by difficulty level with higher volume occurring on the easiest level trails and lower volume occurring on the most difficult level trails. 2.23 - Trailheads. 2.23a - Locations. Provide trailheads in locations to allow access to the greatest number and types of trails. Consider snow use as well as nonsnow use where appropriate, along with opportunities for using existing facilities (National Forest and other jurisdictions). Match the size of the trailhead facility to the carrying capacity of the area to be served. Other considerations include pull-through parking for vehicles with trailers, space for unloading trailers and stock trucks, and safety of vehicles while unattended. Use visual resource management principles to minimize the visual impacts of the trailhead on the trail user. 2.23b - Parking. When space is available, consider separate parking facilities for certain user groups, such as horses and hikers. Provide separate facilities within walking distance of areas of concentrated public use, such as camp-grounds. Locate the trailhead next to the trail so unlicensed vehicles (for example, trail bikes and snowmobiles) are not forced to travel on roads requiring street licensing. In most cases, a trailhead is not needed for a four-wheel drive way since this type of vehicle is street legal and users can drive from population centers in caravans. 2.23c - Pack and Saddle Stock. The trailhead needs of pack and saddle animal users vary with the type of vehicles used for transportation, the number of animals being handled, and the length of stay at the trailhead. Many animals are now transported in trailers or trucks equipped with portable ramps, so unloading ramps are not needed at every trail-head. As an alternative, consider designing an earthen bank for unloading. Trailheads used primarily by day riders require less development than those used as end-of-the-road horse camps. Trailheads with a full range of facilities, such as a loading ramp, corral, water source, hitchracks, and feedbunks, may be justified if the objective is to have users bring pack and saddle animals out of the backcountry for the night. This may be especially desirable for areas with scarce forage or fragile soils. Provide toilets and fire rings when a need exists. Corrals are expensive to construct and maintain and should be considered only when animals need to be held for more than one or two nights. Many owners are reluctant to place their animals in a corral with other animals with which they are not familiar. A watering source for livestock is an important consideration. A trail to a nearby stream may suffice, but for heavy-use sites consider piping in water to a watering tank. 2.23d - Barrier-Free Design. Make the parking and toilet access characteristics compatible with the trail they serve. Locate these facilities within 350 feet of the trailhead. Provide drinking water if practical. Parking should provide 13 feet of width per vehicle. (Reference: Barrier Free Site Design, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, and American Society of Landscape Architects Foundation, Washington, D.C., 1974) 2.23e - Snow Removal. Coordinate plowing with local highway authorities or agencies. Pave the surface of the road or parking lot if rotary plows are used. The size of the plowed parking area will provide an upper limit for trail use. Consider the following points in providing winter parking: 1. Snow Removal a. Adequate surface for snowplowed lots. b. Adequate slope for drainage and operation of appropriate equipment. c. Proximity to buildings and surface obstructions. 2. Size and Shape of Parking Lot a. Design for efficient snow removal and use. A compromise between the visual resource and efficiency of snow removal may be necessary. b. Maneuverability of necessary equipment. 3. Adequate Snow Storage a. Removal of the same snow more than once is inefficient. b. Protection of adjacent vegetation from mechanical or chemical damage incidental to snow clearing. 4. Access Road a. Adequate width. b. Proper snow storage available. c. Reasonable distances to major access. d. Minimal curvature. e. Ideal grade is less than 3 percent. f. Sight distances for parking area or access entrances. 2.24 - Wilderness Considerations. Trails and waterways leading to and within wilderness areas become the principal management tools for achieving wilderness management objectives. The Forest Land and Resource Management Plan establishes the specific objectives of wilderness management, including appropriate levels and types of use. The transportation system serving the wilderness shall be planned and managed accordingly (FSM 2323). The criteria for locating, establishing, and maintaining trails or waterways in wildernesses are based on the management objectives outlined in the wilderness operating plan. The standards for trails and waterways within a wilderness will reflect the minimum requirements to achieve the following goals: 1. To construct and maintain the trail and necessary facilities so that they appear to be a part of the wilderness environment and not an intrusion upon it. 2. To meet and maintain the levels of acceptable use established for specific areas of the wilderness. 3. To meet the setting requirements for the ROS class established for a given area of wilderness. 4. To meet the visual quality objectives established for a given area of wilderness. 5. To protect the safety of the wilderness user consistent with the normal degree of difficulty the user would likely encounter during the main season of public use. 6. To protect and perpetuate the ecological wilderness character. 7. To construct and maintain trails or waterway facilities with nonmotorized equipment. 8. To provide trail treads that do not exceed 24 inches in width. 2.3 - TRAIL CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE GUIDES. Although an assortment of trail types are discussed in this handbook, not every National Forest unit or subunit must provide all types or any specific combination of trail types. Planning should determine the specific needs. A variety of other special trail activities exists, including cave, glacier, underwater, and dogsled opportunities. Regional guides may be developed for these opportunities as needed. If a particular activity becomes common, a Service-wide Forest Service handbook guide will be developed. 2.31 - Nonmotorized Trails. 2.31a - Hiker Trail Guide. 1. Design and Location Considerations. Trails for hiking generally require less development than other travel modes and offer maximum opportunity to bring users close to nature. Tread width, clearing width and height, alignment, and structures for crossing streams normally are of a smaller scale (ex. 01). If more than one travel mode is accommodated on a hiker trail, consult the appropriate guide for the other modes to ensure adequate standards are incorporated. On hiker trails, grades leading to and away from switchbacks should not be less than 10 percent. Reduce the grade on the turn to less than 10 percent for a distance of 5 or 6 feet. The radius of switchbacks for hikers can be very tight; 2 feet to 4 feet, for example. Some method of preventing crosscutting should be used; for example, rocks, logs, or native vegetation. When hiker trails cross wet areas or streams, select routes that require the fewest structures. In designing structures to cross wet areas, the tread, whether in the form of stepping stones or flattened logs, should be at least 12 inches wide. Set stepping stones no more than 24 inches apart. Design bridges to prevent overloading, especially if they are located in areas used by pack and saddle stock. The upper limit of grade for hiking trails reaches the lowest class of mountaineering scramble trails. Trails requiring the use of nonconstructed hand and toe holes or ropes should not be included in the hiker trail category. 2.31a - EXHIBIT 01 IS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT. 2.31b - Pack and Saddle Trail Guide. 1. Design and Location Considerations. This trail type accommodates a wide variety of pack and saddle animals, including horses, mules, donkeys, burros, and others. Some trails are simple day-use bridle paths and others are built to accommodate long strings of pack animals on journeys lasting many days. The combination of shorter and longer trails affords opportunities for natural experiences for the greatest range in user ability and knowledge. Give special consideration to the care and safety of live-stock and their riders when locating pack and saddle trails. If practical, provide reasonable access to streams or lakes for stock watering at intervals not to exceed 10 miles. Inform visitors if water intervals are excessive. Avoid locations near campgrounds or other concentrated-use areas where dogs or loud noises could startle pack animals. If the trail must cross highways or railroads, select sites with adequate sight distance. Consider the use of climbing turns (exhibit 01, section 3.12c) if the terrain permits. Design switchbacks with a curve radius as long as possible, with a minimum of 5 feet. To discourage shortcutting, design grades of at least 10 percent to 15 percent for a distance of 100 feet to and from switchbacks. Consider using a rock or log barrier for a distance of 15 to 30 feet back from the turning point. Clearing needs vary depending on whether trails are designed for day rides or for pack animals. Pack clearance normally is measured at a point 30 inches above the center of the tread. Three feet on both sides of the centerline is the minimum clearance for pack trails (ex. 01). Additional widening is needed to accommodate pack clearance on trails cut through solid rock on steep sidehills. Along a precipice or other hazardous area, the trail base should be at least 48 inches to 60 inches wide to be safe for both animal and rider. Pack and saddle animals can cause severe wear and tear on the trail tread, especially when soils are wet. When possible, locate trails on stable soil types or on side-slopes where water can be drained away. Gravel surfacing, turnpiking, or puncheons may be needed on wet sections. Fords are preferred to bridges for stream crossings, provided the velocity and depth of the water is acceptable during the normal use season. Locate good natural fords and route the trail to them rather than build a ford. Generally, streams can be forded safely if the depth of water is less than 24 inches. Construction of a ford requires widening the trail base to a 36-inch minimum, removing large rocks, and leveling the stream bottom to make a relatively smooth and level crossing. Widen the streambed to reduce depth and velocity as a means of making a ford viable. Ice buildup during late fall may be an important factor to consider. If a decision is made to build a bridge for pack and saddle animals, select a bridge site with an adequate foundation for abutments and stream piers. The bridge must have a load-carrying ability equal to the maximum number of loaded animals that can occupy it at one time or the maximum anticipated snowload, whichever is greater. Design railings to prevent packs from getting caught. The minimum width of pack and saddle bridges is 48 inches. 2.31b - EXHIBIT 01 IS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT. 2.31c - Mountain Bike. Mountain bikes can utilize trails and routes constructed for other purposes. Mountain bikes can be ridden on hiker, pack and saddle, and motorized bike trails and four-wheel drive ways (ex. 01). Development of more elaborate paved bike paths is not considered a normal responsibility of Forest Service trail management, though occasional cooperative efforts with adjacent local agencies may result in a paved bike path on a National Forest. The basic design for this type of trail should follow guidance developed by numerous transportation and development agencies. 2.31c - EXHIBIT 01 IS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT. 2.31d - Cross-Country Ski Trail Guide. 1. Design and Location Considerations. Cross-country ski trails may be designated specifically for winter travel but should also be considered for use during the snow-free seasons. Opportunities to enjoy the natural setting are generally enhanced in the winter but should be considered under both winter and summer conditions. Locate or review potential trail locations during the winter months. Locate cross-country trails where reliable snow conditions exist for 2 to 3 months. Utilize topography to extend the period of snow cover. Consider aspect, prevailing wind direction, shading, and microclimate factors. Avoid avalanche hazards. Consult with people knowledgeable in local avalanche hazards before developing cross-country ski trails. Avoid hazardous stream and lake crossings. Normally, 6inches of hard blue ice is considered safe for cross-country ski trails. Avoid locating trails under dense canopies, especially in tall, old-growth stands. The canopy intercepts much of the snowfall, and when the air temperature rises, large chunks of snow fall on the trail. Trails are rated by difficulty similar to downhill ski runs: easiest, more difficult, and most difficult. Although this is a relative rating, trails designated as easiest should always be designed for novice skiers under normal snow conditions. Trails rated most difficult should provide challenges, but no unusual difficulties, to experienced skiers. More difficult trails will fall somewhere between these two extremes (ex. 01). Provide only sweeping curves on downhill sections. Locate outruns to permit the user to slow down before turning. A check-space in midslope is desirable on long downhill runs. Alignment must be correlated with grade. Avoid sharp turns on snow trails. a. Trail Width and Tread Considerations. Cross-country ski trail widths vary depending on the terrain, steepness of the trail, sharpness of curves, amount of use, and number of tracks. On flat or gently rolling terrain (up to grades of 3 percent), single-track groomed trails are cleared to 6 to 8 feet wide; double-track trails are cleared to 10 to 12 feet wide. Steeper, uphill sections should include extra clearing width where herringbone or sidestep skiing techniques might be used. The extra clearing width should be one-half times the normal width, up to 14 feet. Downhill sections require extra widening commensurate with the speed of the hill: the lower portions and runout require the most widening, while the upper portions require less. Normally, a downhill run is cleared to 1.5 times the normal width from approximately one-third to two-thirds of the way down the hill. From two-thirds down to the bottom and through the runout, the trail is cleared to twice the normal width (ex. 02). b. Length. Accommodate user needs for different distances and degrees of challenge by providing cutoffs on a system of loop trails. Recommended Lengths Half Day Full Day Easiest Trail 3.2 mi 6.4 mi Most Difficult Trail 6.4 mi 9.5 mi c. Height. Clear overhead branches and obstructions the full width of the trail to a height of 10 feet above the average peak season snow depth. d. Bridges. The minimum width for all snow trail bridges is 6 feet. All ski trail bridges must be designed to allow skiers to stop safely before crossing and must provide adequate track width under maximum snow cover. Bridges on groomed trails must accommodate the width of grooming equipment. e. Intersections. Approaches to intersections have grades of 5 percent or less to allow for speed control. Clear intersections to a diameter twice the trail width. f. Marking Standards. Cross-country ski trails are marked so travelers unfamiliar with the trail can follow the trail during poor weather conditions, with no tracks to follow, under relatively poor light conditions. See FSH 7109.11, Sign Handbook, for guidance on marking trails. 2.31d - EXHIBIT 01 IS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT. 2.31d - Exhibit 02 SEE THE PAPER COPY OF THE MASTER SET FOR SECTION 2.31d - EXHIBIT 02. 2.32 - Motorized Trails. 2.32a - Bike Trail Guide. Generally, biking on the National Forest is a trail-oriented activity with emphasis upon featuring the forest setting. 1. Design and Location Considerations. Avoid locating bike trails on forest roads where state laws require bikes to be street legal. Open suitable closed roads and employ fuel breaks for bike use, if practicable and appropriate. Fuel breaks may require some modification before use. On the easiest trails, alignment is moderate with no sharp curves combined with steep grades. Novice riders may be subjected to sharp curves, but not in combination with rough surfaces or steep grades (ex. 01). Trail alignment should exhibit increasing randomness as the rating progresses from easiest to most difficult. User needs for different distances and experiences can be accommodated by providing cutoffs on a system of loop trails. An experienced rider can ride approximately 50 miles in an average day. This travel normally includes trails ranging from easiest to most difficult. Some riders can cover over 100 miles of trail. Favor drainage dips over water bars. Use climbing turns and avoid switchbacks whenever possible. Climbing turns have a radius of more than 10 feet and have grades up to 25 percent on a large radius. Design turns to minimize excavation and cutbank exposure. For the easiest trails, locate turns on level ground or on slopes of less than 6 percent. The minimum radius of a switchback is 8 feet. Tread width is increased to 36 inches for switchbacks with a 4-foot radius. On novice and intermediate trails, provide a 4 -to 6-foot barrier on the down-hill exit side of the switchback. The radii of turns should vary depending on the speed of the motorcycle entering the turns; the trail designer can slow the speed of the motorcycle by decreasing the turning radius. The designer also may increase the length of a trail in a limited area by increasing the number of turns. Hardening of switchback or climbing turns in sensitive soils is recommended. Suggested hardening materials include concrete blocks, soil, and cement (ex. 02). Bridges should have a straight-on approach and should not change directions. Construct bridges to provide a minimum clearing of 42 inches. Special decking may be necessary to accommodate wheeled vehicles. Locate trail junctions so they are not intervisible. No more than two trails should intersect at one point. 2.32a - EXHIBIT 01 IS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT. 2.32a - Exhibit 02 SEE THE PAPER COPY OF THE MASTER SET FOR SECTION 2.32a - EXHIBIT 02. 2.32b - All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) Trail Guide. ATV use should occur on trails and routes designated for other motorized uses which fit the ATV trail guide specifications. These include bike and snowmobile trails and four-wheel drive ways. These trails and ways provide a variety of experiences with emphasis upon bringing the users into concert with the natural setting. ATV's vary in width, length, weight, height, and other characteristics. Use 36 CFR Part 261.55 as needed to control ATV use. 1. Design and Location Considerations. Include frequent elevation changes and turns appropriate for each skill level. These features slow the operator, increasing safety and providing more riding time per mile of trail (ex. 01). Minimize obstacles and the number and sharpness of turns on easiest trails. If possible, incorporate wide-radius climbing turns to ascend hills. Use switchbacks on steep slopes only for more difficult and most difficult trails. Use tread-hardening techniques for sensitive soils, wet areas, and facilities protection. 2.32b - EXHIBIT 01 IS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT. 2.32c - Four-Wheel Drive Way Guide. Four-wheel drive ways generally utilize facilities constructed for other purposes. Plan, develop, and manage four-wheel drive ways in accordance with policies and procedures in FSM 7700 and 7709.56. These ways provide a variety of experiences. The emphasis in developing and/or managing these ways is to provide a 4x4 recreation trail opportunity that is in harmony with the natural setting. 1. Design and Location Criteria. Use the established recreation trail objectives and their associated guides in exhibit 01 as the design criteria for determining the appropriate standards for the four-wheel drive way (FSH 7709.56). Degree of difficulty changes according to the size of the machine. For example, the more difficult way for a short-wheelbase (less than 100 inches) vehicle is most difficult for a long-wheelbase (greater than 100 inches) vehicle. Four-wheel drive ways have varying degrees of horizontal and vertical alignments, with safe tread for an average speed of 2 to 4 miles per hour. Mark loop roads if intersections are present. When feasible, provide spurs to viewpoints and tie existing and suitable roads to the planned system. Alignment on ways with grades of 4 percent or less should provide five lock-to-lock turns (five changes of direction of the steering wheel, from far right to far left) in the first 150 feet of the way to control the class of vehicle. The rest of the way should have two to five lock-to-lock turns depending upon vegetation, topography, and planned difficulty level (ex. 01). Trails on grades of 4 percent to 10 percent should have wider radius turns and dips and bumps as topography allows. Depending on topography, locate 10 percent or more of the way on relatively straight alignment, with a maximum side slope of 30 percent. Offer a variety of way lengths to provide trips of both short and long duration. Use bumps as topography allows with vertical alignment equal to 35 percent of the wheelbase length, depending on which class the road is designed for--shortor long-wheelbase vehicles. Identify some snow-covered system roads for four-wheel use. Plan ways that are not used for skiing, snowmobiles, or plowed for regular vehicle use. This may reduce conflicts that occasionally occur where four wheelers have damaged groomed snowmobile and cross-country ski trails. 2.32c - EXHIBIT 01 IS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT. 2.32d - Snowmobile Trail Guide. Snowmobiling is often done in large groups, so the needs of large numbers of trail users must be considered in the design and location of snowmobile facilities. Incorporate opportunities for picnicking, off-trail spaces, and trail sections of varying difficulty into the system. Also, because some snowmobiling is done at night, give special attention to posting signs and reducing hazards. 1. Design and Location Considerations. Snowmobile trails should lead to a destination of scenic or other natural interest, or connect destinations, such as recreation sites and communities. When possible, use all or parts of existing snow-covered system roads that are not planned for other users, such as wheeled-vehicle or nonmotorized use. Potential hazards need to be evaluated. Snow depth, natural light conditions, and nighttime operation add hazards to snowmobiling that are unique, especially in off-trail areas. Examples of hazards include cliffs, gates, fences, water crossings, and avalanches. Where possible avoid development of one way trails. A loop trail system should provide a half-day of snowmobiling without repeating a trail experience. Individual trails within the system are at least 5 to 10 miles long, with 15 to 30 miles a desirable median. Plan alternate, shorter routes within the main system area. A short, easy, trail approximately 1 mile in length and separate from the main system should loop to and from the trailhead. This route is for use by the novice operator receiving orientation and instruction, as well as for groups taking turns operating one machine. Variety in vertical alignment contributes to user enjoyment. Use vertical alignment in proper combination with horizontal alignment to control operating speeds for safety while enhancing the experience (ex. 01). If the topography offers no feasible location alternative, the 25-percent grade limit may be exceeded for short distances when the following two conditions are met: a. Approaches to the steeper portions (which may also include grades of less than 25 percent) can be provided as horizontally straight, gradual grade transitions. b. The resulting grade conditions do not compromise safety or the enjoyment related to ease of operation. As the season progresses, drifting snow may alter the effective grades of some portions of the trail. During the location phase, identify areas where drifting is probable and try to avoid them in the alignment. Where rerouting is not possible, limit grades to the most adverse condition anticipated. When a planned snowmobile trail will cross a public road or railroad right-of-way, contact the responsible authority at the earliest possible stage to coordinate plans. Coordinate on the final selection of the crossing point, approval of approach alignment and sight distances, sign plans for both highway and trail, and agree on respective responsibilities. Snowmobile trails frequently use existing roads and are thus constrained by the physical characteristics of the road. However, where possible, trail junctions should be layed out so only two trails intersect at one point. Crossings and T-junctions should be at right angles with particular attention to grade conditions approaching the junction. Level grades are desirable to permit users to better control approach speeds. 2.32d - EXHIBIT 01 IS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT. 2.33 - Special Trails. 2.33a - Barrier-Free Trail Guide. Barrier-free trails are designed for users with special needs: the aged, the blind or severely visually impaired; the deaf; the mentally retarded; people confined to wheelchairs or who need other apparatus to be ambulatory; and people with respiratory ailments and arthritis. 1. Design and Location Considerations. Not all trails need to be barrier-free. Consider barrier-free design for existing and future trails that meet the location criteria. When constructing or reconstructing trails for other uses, consider the suitability of barrier-free design. Design trails on side slopes of less than 40 percent. Slopes steeper than 40 percent cause user apprehension and may endanger hikers or those in wheelchairs or restricted to walking devices. Limit the lengths of barrier-free trails to 1.5 miles or less; include shorter loops. Offer varied trail conditions and lengths to challenge hikers' different levels of ability, while ensuring their safety. On more difficult trails, provide some challenges, such as steeper ground, obstacles, and rough tread. Generally, locate barrier-free trails within an hour's drive of population centers or near large National Forest sites. Make a special effort to provide access to viewpoints, activity areas, such as lakes and streams, historical sites, and other points of interest. Avoid switchbacks; if necessary, switchbacks should flatten at a turn and allow for a minimum turning radius of 4 feet. Provide access to trailhead facilities, including toilets, picnic tables, and parking lots that are constructed or modified for handicapped use. Classifying difficulty levels of barrier-free trails is difficult. Generally, however, difficulty increases with increased grade, roughness of tread, and length. Because disabilities vary greatly, it is difficult to classify a trail as most difficult and state with assurance that an individual with a given handicap could manage the trail. Use guide in exhibit 01 during the design phase to analyze the trail conditions for barrier-free trails. Post signs along the trailhead and specify the trail difficulty rating. The rating system also may be explained. Be sensitive about the use of the term "handicapped"; for example, do not identify a trail as "for the handicapped." Notify users of the vertical distance they will climb. Signs to accommodate the partially sighted should have large print (18-point minimum or 3/16"). Signs that are 32inches above the ground are the easiest to read, and the trail adjacent to the sign should have a flat grade and be wider than normal. Supply such information as the locations of telephones, doctors, and hospitals. Trail maps, educational signs, and interpretive signs are also useful to the hiker. 2.33a - EXHIBIT 01 IS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT. 2.33b - Interpretive Trail Guide. 1. Design and Location Considerations. Interpretive trails offer access to areas with natural geologic, historical, or cultural significance. The purpose of these trails is to provide a recreation experience to enrich the visitors understanding of the environment and to achieve selective forest management objectives through interpretation. Consider providing interpretive trails in a wide range of forest settings with maximum interaction between the user and the environment. A sound interpretive plan is the basis for development of an interpretive trail. Consider the following minimum steps: a. Determine the specific audience(s) to be reached. Invite user participation in the development of the trail. b. Determine the specific objectives of the message. c. Determine the appropriate media (for example, trail signing, audio stations, brochures) that is best suited to the message and audience. d. Evaluate all sites that provide the intended message and theme. Consider population proximity, amount of expected use, adjacent facilities and services, and general desirability of the area. e. Evaluate what the area has to offer and what the visitor wants. Develop the trail message to enlarge the visitor's prior knowledge. f. Inventory the selected site to identify site limitations, opportunities, and fragile areas. This might be done by developing a grid with parallel strips representing every 50 to 100 feet. On each strip the surveyor would note in-place items of interest or map items. These strip maps then would be refined into an overall map. g. Use a multidisciplinary approach in developing an interpretive plan. Avoid critical wildlife habitats and other fragile, unusual, and sensitive areas unless they can be adequately protected; or conduct only guided walks through these areas. The standard interpretive trail is usually less than 1 mile long. Additional shorter loops can be a part of the longer section. Interpretation of special areas can be done on any trail. Locate interpretive trails near population centers or near heavily used forest developments. However, locate the trail area away from noise and distracting activities. Some distracting conditions can be corrected by a vegetation screen. Select a route with a wide range of special features or one that illustrates a single purpose sometimes known as a theme trail. The latter approach is preferred. The following design criteria apply to most interpretive trails: Design the message or theme of a trail to achieve management objectives, develop user awareness, and promote enjoyment of the area. Space stops to allow the user to absorb ideas. Plan for about 10 to 15 signs or stops per trail, with stops at least 200 feet apart. If more than 15 stops are planned, consider using brochures. Separate trailheads may be located within walking distance from concentrated public use areas such as campgrounds. Take special care in designing entry signs, registration stations, brochure distribution boxes, and other signs to present a positive image and a pleasant entrance experience. Write the language of the message at the anticipated educational and social level of the user. Indicate in the message why the item is important. Test stops and text by individual representatives of the intended audience before final development. Redesign as necessary. Do not interpret all items on the trail. Those items not interpreted can be added later to create a changing message. Consider a seasonal approach, if possible. Call attention to items to observe between stops, such as birds and animals, by noting them in signs or in brochures. 2.33c - Water Routes.