I have built, or improved, about three miles of trails on the estates surrounding Bufflehead Manor. All my trails are loops back upon themselves or intersect another trail which closes upon itself. This is partly for convenience in returning but also a philosophical nod to the circles and cycles of the world I inhabit. I use the trails in summer for walking and in winter for cross-country skiing. The winter trails have a much wider scope and range, not being restricted by the necessity of crossing water or swampy ground, and the ditch and beaver ponds of course become trails in their own right, not just for me but for the deer, moose and coyotes, who find them a much easier passage to their feeding ranges.

Most of my trails started out as animal tracks which I cut back (with axe and chainsaw) to about six feet wide, then moved deadfall, grubbed roots and rocks and finally mowed to four feet, this being a reasonable width for two people and not too onerous to maintain over the years. The forest has a life of it's own however, and tries to fill in these useless empty spots. It is therefor a constant but not unpleasant task to move small deadfall, prune ambitious branches and clip inquisitive rose bushes as one is taking an evening stroll. Larger tree falls require a chainsaw expedition. I mow the trails twice a year to keep them clear, once in June when the growth is at its peak and later in July to reduce the foot tangle of the grass. I have mowed some of the trails in October to help ease the creation of ski trails, but this is optional. Maybe if I had a brush mower I would do it more often. One of the trails partly follws an old seismic line, straight as a die through the bush, not very interesting but handy for access. The main trail to the Manor follows the old field road so is not very bushy and is kept open by regular traffic. Some trails I built with a thought as to where they might go and found they wanted to go another way. These abandoned courses disappear in a year or two with no sign of their existence, as will my maintained ones if I quit cutting, nature heals herself.