Here in Arizona, I've primarily seen only the vertical "short-long" blaze. Most seem to be at least a couple of decades old, many much older.
Back east, apparently there is a more complicated pattern of blazes which I have not seen or used in practice.
Many people walk right past blazes without even noticing them. I'm sure I miss many, but I always enjoy seeing them when wandering an old trail.
Anybody know any stories behind blazing trees in AZ? [ photo ]
Or the more complicated tree-morse-code used back east?
Trail Blazes
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chumleyGuides: 94 | Official Routes: 241Triplogs Last: 6 d | RS: 65Water Reports 1Y: 78 | Last: 7 d
- Joined: Sep 18 2002 8:59 am
- City, State: Tempe, AZ
Trail Blazes
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nonotGuides: 107 | Official Routes: 108Triplogs Last: 18 d | RS: 0Water Reports 1Y: 7 | Last: 17 d
- Joined: Nov 18 2005 11:52 pm
- City, State: Phoenix, AZ
Re: Trail Blazes
Last time I researched this, I found it seems to relate to tree removal, sometimes for fuel reduction, sometimes for logging. They seem to go in and mark trees suggested to be removed in one color (orange or blue.) Often, they are repeating the effort of marking before the previously marked trees are removed, so they alternate the colors. I guess in some cases if a previously marked tree had all the other trees around it fall down, it might not get marked the 2nd time around. Sometimes the trees get marked both times and have both colors, or the third time around receive the original color again if they are marked all 3 times.markthurman53 wrote: ↑Oct 21 2020 6:44 pm on a slightly different note , does anyone know what the orange or blue paint markings are for in the coconino national forest Some trees have one orange stripe some two or three. I assume this is some marking for logging but couldn't get a good answer.
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Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, ankle-twisting, HAZmaster crushing ROCKS!!
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, shin-stabbing, skin-shredding plants!
Hike Arizona it is full of striking, biting, stabbing, venomous wildlife!
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, ankle-twisting, HAZmaster crushing ROCKS!!
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, shin-stabbing, skin-shredding plants!
Hike Arizona it is full of striking, biting, stabbing, venomous wildlife!
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LosDosSloFolksGuides: 0 | Official Routes: 0Triplogs Last: 98 d | RS: 70Water Reports 1Y: 8 | Last: 149 d
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- City, State: Cave Creek, AZ
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azbackpackrGuides: 27 | Official Routes: 23Triplogs Last: 78 d | RS: 0Water Reports 1Y: 0 | Last: 770 d
- Joined: Jan 21 2006 6:46 am
- City, State: Eagar AZ
Re: Trail Blazes
@markthurman53
I saw this being discussed ad nauseum elsewhere. It seems they mark the trees they are not going to cut, according to people who claimed they work in the tree-thinning business.
I saw this being discussed ad nauseum elsewhere. It seems they mark the trees they are not going to cut, according to people who claimed they work in the tree-thinning business.
There is a point of no return unremarked at the time in most lives. Graham Greene The Comedians
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.
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chumleyGuides: 94 | Official Routes: 241Triplogs Last: 6 d | RS: 65Water Reports 1Y: 78 | Last: 7 d
- Joined: Sep 18 2002 8:59 am
- City, State: Tempe, AZ
Re: Trail Blazes
I don't know if the markings are different elsewhere on the forest, but the Flagstaff thinning project explains it thusly:markthurman53 wrote:does anyone know what the orange or blue paint markings are for in the coconino national forest

https://flagstaffwatershedprotection.or ... _Final.pdf
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Alston_NealGuides: 1 | Official Routes: 0Triplogs Last: 107 d | RS: 0Water Reports 1Y: 0 | Last: never
- Joined: Apr 19 2008 5:53 pm
- City, State: Phoenix, AZ
Re: Trail Blazes
I told Deb once the forest service puts bear repellant in the orange paint, so it's safe to hike there. She asked for my pistol.
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eruGuides: 8 | Official Routes: 4Triplogs Last: 192 d | RS: 0Water Reports 1Y: 40 | Last: 191 d
- Joined: Jun 14 2019 10:06 am
- City, State: nomadic
Re: Trail Blazes
I've seen some diamond ones in the Sierra Nevada, but mostly the "i" blazes along older trails & out here.
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