Nick September 17th, 2008
As the summer starts to wind down, one thing I wanted to make sure I did is to extend a thanks to the local shops that stepped up and helped out the MMBA and Metro North chapter by sponsoring tool purchases.
The MMBA put together a group purchase of Pulaski’s and Mcleods for the chapters. These are some of our most important tools for trail work, and they aren’t tools that many volunteers have, so it’s important that we be able to provide access to these tools for those attending trail days. They are a great asset for the chapter to have.
For those who aren’t familiar with the tools, here is some information about them.
The pulaski is a special hand tool used in wildland firefighting. The tool combines an axe and a mattock in one head, similar to that of the cutter mattock, with a rigid handle of wood, plastic, or fiberglass. The pulaski is considered one of the most versatile tools for constructing firebreaks, as it can be used to both dig soil and chop wood. It is also well adapted for trail construction, gardening, and other outdoor work. As a gardening or excavation tool, it is quite adept at digging holes in root-bound or hard soil. As a result, it can often be purchased in a retail setting.
The invention of the pulaski is widely credited to Ed Pulaski, a ranger with the United States Forest Service, in 1911, although a similar tool was first introduced in 1876 by the Collins Tool Company. Ed Pulaski was famous for taking action to save the lives of a crew of 45 firefighters during the disastrous August 1910 wildfires in Idaho. His invention (or reinvention) of the tool that bears his name may have been a direct result of the disaster, as he saw the need for better firefighting tools. The pulaski came into wide use by the Forest Service after 1913, and in 1920 the Forest Service began contracting for the tool to be commercially manufactured.
The McLeod is a wildland firefighting tool with a large hoe-like blade on one side and tined blade on the other. It is commonly used in the mountains of the American west.
It was originally intended for raking fire lines with the teeth and for cutting branches and sod with the sharpened hoe edge. The McLeod is useful for removing slough and berm from a trail and tamping or compacting tread. It can also be used to shape a trail’s backslope.
Because of its shape, the McLeod is an awkward tool to transport and store. It is carried with the tines pointing toward the ground, ideally with a sheath over the cutting edge.
When the opportunity to purchase these tools came up, I reached out to many of the local shops to see if they could assist with the purchase. Two WONDERFUL local shops were able to help.
I want to thank Cycletherapy and Fraser Bicycle for stepping up and helping the chapter out. Without the support of shops like these, we wouldn’t be able to as easily provide tools for our trail workers. Their support directly leads to the building and maintaining of your local trails. Be sure to thank them for their support of the MMBA and Metro North chapter the next time you visit them.