Safe and efficient chainsaw operation is critical to the Green Mountain Club's maintenance of over 500 miles of hiking trails. Join this course as a volunteer to develop your skills as a sawyer and support the Long Trail or as a member of the public looking to improve your skills for working on your woodlot or with another organization. After registering, GMC will send you a full gear list to bring to the course. 

This course is Level 1, Level 2 and Storm Damage Clean-Up.  All participants must participate in all three levels. Participation and proven proficiency in all three levels will result in certification to operate a chainsaw on the Long Trail System on both Green Mountain National Forest and Vermont State Lands. 

This certification is good for 3-years with the National Forest saw policy. 

Level 1: 

• Discussion of and plan for Emergencies, and Personal Protective Equipment.
• Daily 5-Point Safety Check: Chain brake; throttle interlock; chain catcher; screws & bolt check; muffler and spark arrester.
• Discussion of Reactive Forces: Push; Pull; Kickback; Attack
• Notching: minimum of 70 degrees, no by-pass
• Bore Cutting: use attack corner, body position
• Felling Plan: Target acquisition of the 5-point felling plan
• Target Acquisition: Hazard Recognition (2 points); Side Lean – good/bad side (2 points); Escape Route (2 points); Hinge Information (2 points); Back-cut Plan (2 points)
• Scoring the Stump
• Felling Practice

Level 2: 

• Discussions of Routine Maintenance: Air filter; Recoil; Bar; Sprocket; Chain brake; Chain tension
• Carburetor Tune-up: Clean air filter; Balance Jets; High-speed test; Low-speed test; Low-speed “dump” test
• Art of Filing – scoring the tooth: Proper depth gauge setting (2 points); Sharp Point (2 points); Correct side plate angle (2 points); Correct top plate angle (2 points); Chisel angle (2 points)
• Springpole Practice
• Felling Practice
  

Storm Damage Clean-Up:

• Safe techniques for working with trees under extreme compression/tension or damage due to wind-throw, ice damage, flooding, etc., where stems may be tangled, have root systems exposed, or other hazardous situations that need to be removed.

Cost: $660 total. Full cost paid upon registration. 

Location: Johnson, Vermont. GMC Property off of West Settlement Rd. 

Accommodations: There aren't any overnight accommodations provided for the course. We'd recommend looking at campgrounds or connecting with friends in the greater Johnson area. GMC can connect course attendees if they'd like to go in together on a short-term rental for the duration of the course.