Smartly attired volunteer reassures
We are accustomed to seeing painted blazes along trails. Some are nice and neat, perfect rectangles like the white blazes of the AT. Then there are the rogue blazes of all types in the Uwharries. Spray paint, happy faces, dripping paint, you name it, we got it. Beginning last year, just after our crew blaze painted the Walker Creek section, the National Forest informed us, they were switching to those plastic blazes. Mary Joan, chief blazer for the Uwharrie Trailblazers asked me to help blaze a section of the Uwharrie Trail near Wood Run. In checking the forest service regulations - yes, they have regulations and guidelines for everything - I learned they aren't blazes. They are "reassurance markers". Of course, that makes sense. You are reassuring hikers they are still on the trail.
Typically, with painted blazes, you place them within sight of each other. Not so, with plastic reassurance markers. They are placed much farther apart except when the trail does something that might confuse a hiker. If the trail is obvious, those markers can be placed a long way apart. Place them on trees that have a good line of sight from the trail. Place them on either side of tree unless one side does not have a good line of sight. Put them at least 5 feet high. They do show up much better than paint too. Use aluminum (you can use the British pronunciation if preferred) nails. Not the ones the Forest Service provides. They are made to bend and go crooked. Get the extra long roofing nails at Lowes. Mary Joan knows which ones. Also, get a Lowes apron, like the ones their employees have. Its great to carry the markers and nails in. Or get your trail buddy to accompany and hand the markers with the nails already in position.
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