Stupid question, I know... I see people talking about trails and commenting how there are no blowdowns, or that they cleared all the blowdowns... What the heck is a blowdown???? Hahahaha...

-Steve

Gotcha!! Great, thanks!!

-Steve

Yeah, usually blowdown refers to an area where a storm did significant damage to a large area.

EastcoastMike wrote:Yeah, usually blowdown refers to an area where a storm did significant damage to a large area.

Never heard it used that way. Always heard it used to refer to a tree that has been blown down - typically one that is across the trail.

Another term that might be useful to know is "waterbar." It refers to an erosion control device that diverts water off of a trail, usually made of rocks dug in with a shallow ditch in front of them on the uphill side. It is not a place along the trail where you can buy bottled water.

Buz Groshong wrote:It is not a place along the trail where you can buy bottled water.

Don't make me explain the meaning of the word "trailhead."

Buz Groshong wrote:

EastcoastMike wrote:Yeah, usually blowdown refers to an area where a storm did significant damage to a large area.

Never heard it used that way. Always heard it used to refer to a tree that has been blown down - typically one that is across the trail.

Another term that might be useful to know is "waterbar." It refers to an erosion control device that diverts water off of a trail, usually made of rocks dug in with a shallow ditch in front of them on the uphill side. It is not a place along the trail where you can buy bottled water.

I think Eastcoast is right. Here is a good example of a big blowdown. It happened in and around the BWCA on the 4th of July 1999. Over 600 square miles of downed timber. I was up there the following year and it was quite amazing.

I pasted a link below if you'd like more info.




http://www.ra.dnr.state.mn.us/bwca/

Buz Groshong wrote:

EastcoastMike wrote:Yeah, usually blowdown refers to an area where a storm did significant damage to a large area.

Never heard it used that way. Always heard it used to refer to a tree that has been blown down - typically one that is across the trail.

Another term that might be useful to know is "waterbar." It refers to an erosion control device that diverts water off of a trail, usually made of rocks dug in with a shallow ditch in front of them on the uphill side. It is not a place along the trail where you can buy bottled water.

I should have been more specific with my comment. In the ADK guidebook usually when they mention blowdown they are referring to a large area. I'm sure it can be used for both though!

EastcoastMike wrote:

Buz Groshong wrote:

EastcoastMike wrote:Yeah, usually blowdown refers to an area where a storm did significant damage to a large area.

Never heard it used that way. Always heard it used to refer to a tree that has been blown down - typically one that is across the trail.

Another term that might be useful to know is "waterbar." It refers to an erosion control device that diverts water off of a trail, usually made of rocks dug in with a shallow ditch in front of them on the uphill side. It is not a place along the trail where you can buy bottled water.

I should have been more specific with my comment. In the ADK guidebook usually when they mention blowdown they are referring to a large area. I'm sure it can be used for both though!

Wasn't saying that it couldn't be used for that meaning, just that I've always heard it for the other. A guidebook would more likely use it as you have mentioned; I hear it (as a trail maintainer) for the other use - as in "There's a 14-inch blowdown on your trail."

Ah. "blowdown". One of the most distasteful terms in the English language to outdoor adventurers after "spruce hole".

Florida Frank wrote:Ah. "blowdown". One of the most distasteful terms in the English language to outdoor adventurers after "spruce hole".

In these here parts we call 'em "spruce traps", so as not to confuse with the dreaded "sod hole".