Hiking Trail Markers - You Don't Want to Get Lost!!

Our Trails Deserve Beautiful Signs

Whether you are hiking, hunting, bicycling, riding on horseback or participating in motorized recreation, nearly everyone uses trails for a similar goal – to spend time outdoors.

Trail markers are an important tool for these activities and are used to help stay on the right path, avoid hazards and to keep you from getting lost. Trail markers come in a variety of shapes and sizes – and even colors (they aren’t always orange!)

Types of Trail Markers

There are several ways of marking trails: paint, carvings, affixed markers, posts, flagging whiskers, flagging tape, cairns (rock piles), and crosses, with paint being the most widely used.

At Elusive Hunter, with our Trail Chasers® brand ground markers, we use flagging whiskers combined with either lightweight stakes for easy carry or our upgraded hard ground stakes for compacted soil or gravel. The trade-off is weight; the hard ground stakes weigh three times as much as the lightweight version.

Trail Marker Colors

Trail markers typically come in four different colors: orange, red, yellow, and blue.

Orange trail markers that are widely used in hunting and on state park/forest hiking trails. Orange is universal and easy to see. Orange flags, whiskers and paint in trail marking is a color that generally holds up well against UV fade. Color tests show orange will last a year or so before fading.

Red trail markers are used to mark mixed use trails meaning bikes, horses, and foot travel all are fair game on the trail. Red pigments in marking flags, whiskers and paint don’t hold up as well as orange. Color tests show fade beginning in a few months and show only a trace around nine months out.

Yellow trail markers represent local hiking trails for foot travel only. Like Red, the natural paint pigments will begin to fade rapidly, but do hold on to the color for roughly nine months

Blue trail markers are typically used to represent ski trails. Blue colored flags, whiskers and paint will generally hold up for a year or more.

Member of the Trails Community

We are a proud Trail Supporter of American Trails the national organization working on behalf of all trail interests. American Trials is passionate about trails and the positive impact they bring to all communities. Based in Boulder, Colorado American Trails is one of the world's most comprehensive online sources for planning, building, designing, funding, managing, enhancing, and supporting trails, greenways, and blueways. https://www.americantrails.org/

Our Trail Dogs

Our trail dogs for this post are: Cody, named for Buffalo Bill Cody of the American Wild West days and is our over-energized two and a half year old Golden. He’d run the River Trail ten times over if we let him. Cleaver is our six year old mellowed-out Flat Coated Retriever. He’s a rescue from the Republic of Turkey. He’d just as soon chill out strolling the trail.

On Top of Pikes Peak

Look what we found on the top of Pikes Peak.

Recently we took the The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway to the top of Pikes Peak. This Cog Train climbs to the top of one of the most iconic mountains in the United States, Pikes Peak in Colorado. Very scenic and a must add adventure the next time you’re in Colorado Springs.

As we disembarked the train at the top we immediately started seeing survey markers like Trail Chasers - Pink Hard Ground Markers. Land and construction surveyors use many different types of survey markers to mark survey control stations, set out points or property boundaries.

Trail Chasers - Hard Ground Markers are sturdy enough to drive into compacted soil and durable enough to withstand high winds, intense sunlight and wide temperature swings that are common on top of high altitude landscapes.

How’s the Color Holding Up?

Looking at these markers you can tell some color fade has occurred. Over time, color pigments in wire marking flags and ground whiskers will slowly fade due to UV exposure. While fading is going to occur, the Smi-Carr Stake Chaser brand marking Whiskers, like those used in Trail Chasers brand ground markers, have UV stabilizers added to protect against degradation from UV light.

Even with stabilizers added, different colors absorb UV rays differently resulting in variations in the degradation time. Check out our Blog from February 29th for more detailed information on UV Color Testing.

Front Range of the Rocky Mountains

Pikes Peak is the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in North America. The ultra-prominent 14,115-foot fourteener is located in Pike National Forest, 12 miles west of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado.

UV Color Testing Stake Chaser Ground Markers

Color-Fast Testing of Stake Chaser® Whiskers®

Over time, color pigments in wire marking flags and ground whiskers will slowly fade due to UV exposure. While fading is going to occur, what colors fade the slowest?

Smi-Carr Stake Chaser brand marking Whiskers, like those used in Trail Chasers brand ground markers, have UV stabilizers added to protect against degradation from UV light. These UV stabilizers work by absorbing or screening out the sun's UV radiation slowing color fade. Even with stabilizers added, different colors absorb UV rays differently resulting in variations in the degradation time. The below test results will give you an idea, but no guarantee, what to expect with how long various Whisker colors will last. Keep in mind these tests were conducted in an area of the United States* with possibly different results from your geographic area.

White Stake Chaser Whiskers - Lasts over 1 year

Pink Stake Chaser Whiskers - Some fade @ 2 months or less; only a trace left @ 9 wks

Red Stake Chaser Whiskers - Some fade @ 2 months or less; only a trace left @ 9 wks

Yellow Stake Chaser Whiskers - Fade possible @ 3 weeks, have tested lasting to 7 retaining sufficient color

Orange Stake Chaser Whiskers - Lasts over 1 year; S.F. U.V. some fade @9.5 Mo.; Key. Some fade @ 11.5 !

Blue Stake Chaser Whiskers - Lasts over 1 year

Purple Stake Chaser Whiskers - Lasts over 1 year

Green Stake Chaser Whiskers - Lasts over 1 year

Glow Orange Stake Chaser Whiskers - Lasts 2 weeks, totally GONE in 1 month

*The actual USA test area was situated around 1,700 feet above sea level with an average 243 days of sunshine, high temp of 95°F and low of 74°F on generally flat terrain, with limited vegetation, at the edge of a humid subtropical climate, with areas to the west being semiarid.

Contact our Pro Desk for special orders or to request a quote for your entire project. 

Trail Chasers® - Easy to Deploy, Easy to Move and Easy to Retrieve!

Stake Chasers - World's Best Ground Marking Systems

Since 1965, when the late Willard D. Carroll, Sr., invented a product that would streamline the road construction and surveying industries forever: the Stake Chaser® brand whisker flag has been a prime choice for both commercial and home use. Designed to provide maximum visibility and trusted for their durability and flexibility; Stake Chasers are the world’s best ground marking systems.

Smi-Carr’s Stake Chasers

Smi-Carr’s Stake Chasers brand marking whiskers are virtually indestructible, these APWA color-coded whiskers spring back up when run over by lawn mowers, graders and heavy equipment. Unlike flagging tape and wire flags, Stake Chasers are highly visible, rugged, reusable, impervious to dirt and will blend into most ground vegetation while still being easy to spot. These whiskers are perfect for construction projects, subdivision developments, landscaping designs, buried utility lines, survey, hunting and hiking trails; football and soccer fields.

Elusive Hunter’s Trail Chasers

Elusive Hunter’s Trail Chasers are prepacked Stake Chasers 6-inch whiskers with either 7-inch lightweight non-rust aluminum stakes for use in most topsoil conditions or heavier 6-inch galvanized nails for compacted soil or gravel. Standard packages of 10 or 25 count includes everything you need to start using immediately; no extra trips to buy nails or stakes. Our dedicated Pro Desk can help plan your entire job with any mix count of whisker colors and stakes to be sent to one or more job sites.

One Stop— Contact our Pro Desk to select products, get a quote and set up delivery for the entire project. 

Trail Chasers - Easy to Deploy, Easy to Move and Easy to Retrieve!

Great Stocking Stuffers for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Perfect for Stocking Stuffers or Hang on the Tree

Outdoor enthusiasts, hunters and hikers included, can always use trail markers when camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, or trekking around the woods to mark that special location. Trail Chasers® ground markers are just the trick! Lightweight, durable, easy to deploy, easy to move and easy to retrieve. The 10-count package of Orange Trail Chasers is 6”x11”x1” and will fit in most stockings or hang from the Christmas tree.

Marketing flags, such as Trail Chasers® brand are available in eight code colors including Orange, Blue, White, Green, Pink, Yellow, Red, and Purple. All colors are available in packages of 25-count. Only Orange, Blue White and Green are in 10-count packages for stocking stuffers.

FREE SHIPPING inside the United States. Standard shipping on orders received Monday - Friday by 2:00PM EST (US & Canada) will ship same day. After 2PM, weekends and holidays items will ship the next business day. Tracking Numbers are confirmed and sent to you with each Purchase Order.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

www.TrailChasers.com

5 Common Methods for Marking Your Hunting Trail

You have a place to hunt, you have scouted it and found the perfect spot for a stand, now how do you find that spot again, day or night, without spooking you quarry? Finding and marking a good route to your stand is as important as finding a good spot for your stand.

There are five common methods for marking your trail; permanent markers, flagging tape, marking flags, marking tacks and GPS.

Common Trail Marking Methods

Permanent Markers

If you own the land or get permission from the landowner you can mostly mark at will. Permanent markers are usually paint markers on trees, posts, or whatever. Special marking paint that has reflective properties is available, but basic spray paint works well.

• Pros: You are probably sitting on a great piece of land with few others able to hunt on it.

• Cons: We don’t all have that land access.

Flagging Tape

We have all seen flagging tape as it hangs high from tree limbs. Blaze orange marking tape is common and works great. It will last a few years and can be easily removed.

• Pros: You can readily follow the trail, it can easily be hung and later removed, Orange tape is good for all sorts of useful things, not just trail marking. Flagging tape is also good for temporary marking while tracking a downed animal.

• Cons: Everyone else will see it, even the unethical hunters poaching off your spot. Also, flagging tape last forever and is hanging off trees across the land and over time it gets ugly. It's not reflective.

Marking Tacks

Marking tacks are basically larger thumb tacks that have a reflective finish. They come in many colors, white, orange, and brown being the most popular. When you shine a light on them at night, they light up like cats eyes.

• Pros: They are usually reflective, sold in multiple colors and easy to install.

• Cons: They are difficult to see in the daylight, not as easy to remove and yet again drive by hunters can pick up your trail.

Marking Flags

Marking Flags also called stake chasers and ground whiskers are highly durable 6 inch plastic whiskers when combined with either a lightweight non-rust stake or hard ground galvanized stake can be driven into the ground to mark a position.

• Pros: Okay, these are our favorite and we are biased, but marking flags are easy to carry, can be easily deployed, easily repositioned, and eventually easily removed. Like flagging tape, marking flags can be used at home, in the garden and on the worksite. Other hunters are not going to be easily able to find them.

• Cons: They are not reflective and if you don’t know where to start the trail, they can be hard to find. Also, heavy snow areas will cover up the whiskers after a 6” fall.

GPS Tracking

GPS tracking is much more time and cost intensive and often considered the least effective option. Most GPS units allow you record the path you have taken. Follow your trail with your GPS recording your path and then you can refollow your trail. Unfortunately, most GPS units can be off by 15 to 30 feet. Which can be the difference between your trail and a swap bottom.

We Vote for Marking Flags, the Whisker Type

Marking flags also know as Stake Chasers or Ground Whiskers perfect for marking hiking trails, hunting locations, survey points, ground hazards, garden layouts, landscape designs, athletic fields, running courses, social events and more. Unlike flagging tape and wire flags. Marking flags are highly visible, rugged, reusable, impervious to dirt and will blend into most ground vegetation while still being easy to spot.

Marketing flags, such as Trail Chasers® brand are available in eight code colors including orange, blue, white, green, pink, yellow, red, and purple.

Happy Trails!

www.TrailChasers.com

Use Ground Markers to Avoid Common Vegetable Garden Planning Mistakes

We can all learn from our and other’s mistakes and gain valuable experience in the process, but it’s much easier to learn from someone else’s experience! There are three very common mistakes that most gardeners will make at some point when planning a vegetable garden. Read on to learn what they are and how to avoid them.

1. Overcrowding

Even experienced gardeners will tell you that every now and again they succumb to the temptation to try to grow more in the space they have. When first planted it will seem as if they are growing perfectly well, so you may not notice the issue straight away – it’s only when the plants are approaching full size that the problems start, as each plant’s root system begins to compete with its neighbors for water and nutrients from the soil and the plants fail to mature properly, resulting in a disappointing harvest.

Use colored ground markers to designate the areas certain plants need to grow. For example, a White ground marker would indicate plants in this area need 18” spacing to grow to full size. Place the marker center point about where you would expect to place seeds or mark the whole area. By using a colored ground marker, you are reminding yourself this part of the garden needs more or less space between plants. 

2. Ignoring Nature

A little forward planning can ensure that Mother Nature is on your side. For example, it’s a good idea to mix in several different companion planting flowers to attract beneficial insects such as hoverflies so that, when the pests descend, these natural predators will keep them at bay. If pests strike early in your area, remember to include some early flowering companions, or leave a few onions, garlic bulbs or carrots in the ground over winter to flower early and provide an excellent first source of nectar to attract nature’s defenders.

Use colored ground markers such as Pink to designate exactly where you might place companion plants to help keep bugs away.

3. Planting Everything at the Same Time

Planting out all your tender crops at once can be disastrous if there’s a sudden late frost; similarly, transplanting pea seedlings only to have birds or slugs eat them is all too common. The best method is to sow seeds in small batches, every two or three weeks. As well as ensuring you have backup options if disaster strikes.

Blue marked beds could indicate beds you want to plant early spring that will grow to harvest early summer.

Green marked beds could indicate beds you want to plant late spring and to harvest early to mid-summer.

Orange marked beds could indicate beds you want to plant late spring that will grow to harvest all the way out to late fall.

Plan Ahead, Use the Best Products and Avoid Mistakes

There’s much more to successful gardening than just these three tips, but by avoiding these common mistakes you’ll save yourself some hard work and heartache and get your garden off to a great start! Enjoy!

Gardeners PRO TIP

The original Trail Chasers branded ground markers are highly durable 6-inch plastic whiskers when combined with either a lightweight non-rust stake or hard ground galvanized stake can be driven into the ground to mark a position. Trail Chasers brand ground markers are sold in packages of 10, 20 or 25 in eight different colors of whiskers.

www.TrailChasers.com

Utilities Field Services Controlling Survey Costs 2022

Many utility companies both private and public have robust project pipelines going into 2022. Although business is strong, the current labor shortage has led to increased competition, increased labor costs, and capacity constraints. None of these are new issues, but the pandemic has certainly exacerbated the challenges; none of which is cheap.

The average cost to hire a land surveyor is $510, but a range of cost factors come into play

Exactly locating, aligning, and marking in the field projects using maps, GPS or other correlator equipment is critical to controlling costs and protecting margins. Once these points are determined, and following safe dig practices, these survey points need to be marked in ways not subject to changing. Lost or moved survey markers will result in added project costs and delays.

Choosing the Most Cost Effective Survey Marker

In the utilities industry, field worker techs have a variety of options including wire marking flags, wooden stakes, stake whiskers and more. Key to choosing the right ground marker are factors including how long do they need to be in the ground and visible, what kind of weather conditions will be in the area, what kind of equipment will be in the area, how many need to be placed and how many may need to placed and later repositioned as changes occur in the project.

Stake Whiskers are For the Long Run

For heavier commercial or industrial use in compacted soil or gravel for longer deployment periods, stake whiskers, also known as stake chasers, stake flags, nail whiskers or marking whiskers are considered the better option by many field techs. These can be purchased with either 7 inch lightweight or 6 inch galvanized stakes.

Trail Chasers® brand stake whiskers are available in UV resistant select APWA and international code colors including long lasting orange, yellow, blue, white, green, pink, red, and purple in packages of 10 or 25 with lightweight stakes or package of 20 with hard ground stakes.

Plan Ahead and Save on Project Costs

A well-planned, well supplied project with clear goals/vision with correct tool selection would help create a roadmap for implementation will result in saved project costs and shorter delays.

Surveyors PRO TIP

Lightweight stakes are great for carry, but sometimes the ground is harder than anticipated. Use a ¼” x 12 in. drill bit (carbide preferred) on a cordless drill to predrill a ground hole. This will make placement much easier; especially for projects requiring many to be laid out.

The Surveying and Mapping Industry in 2022

Surveying & Mapping Services in the US

The domestic Surveying and Mapping Services industry has grown over the last five years primarily due to strong demand in the downstream residential and nonresidential construction markets that was brought on by low interest rates. However, with inflation reaching levels not seen in years and the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic the industry has seen trends dampened which has caused activity in the survey and mapping industry to stagger. No longer can it be assumed that favorable market conditions will continue to lead to strong demand for services.

The industry's primary markets are building and construction companies; government departments and agencies; land development companies; professional service operators; and various utility and mining operations. Operators in this industry perform surveying and mapping services of the surface of the earth, including the sea floor. These services may include surveying and mapping areas above or below the surface of the earth, such as the creation of view easements or segregating rights in parcels of land by creating underground utility easements, which give certain rights to real property without possessing it.

Key factors and sensitivities for the industry for the next five years to facilitate strong demand for surveying and mapping services are the expected continued growth for the construction sector, primarily in infrastructure projects stimulated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts of 2021. As a result, industry revenue is forecast to rise during the period. As the housing and construction market continues to expand, downstream industries will continue to demand industry services over the five years to 2024.

Near Term Significant Industry Projects and Services Include

• Highway and rail programs

• Solar and other alternative projects

• Highway safety improvement programs

• Cadastral, property line and boundary surveying

• Continued strength in construction surveying

• Topographical and planimetric surveying and mapping

• Geospatial processing services

• Subdivision layout and design services

Surveying and mapping services extensively use Trail Chasers brand of ground markers for their durability and suitability to harsh conditions.

We Are Holding the Line on Price Increases

First quarter 2022 Pricing Guide

2021 was a wild ride on the supply chain roller coaster and once again we have received notice that prices on all our raw materials will be increasing in 1Q22. These increases will affect production costs on all Trail Chasers, Stake Chasers, stake flags, survey markers, flagging tape and trail markers for hunting. However, we are holding the line on our retail pricing going into 2022 for as long as possible.

Affecting the lightweight stakes used in Trail Chasers brand products, aluminum prices in 2021 continuously grew and in October 2021 reached $2934 per tonne, gaining 62% compared to October 2020. Due to increasing demand against expected supply limitations, the average yearly price of aluminum in 2022 is projected to rise by another 6% year-over-year.

The pandemic has also wreaked havoc on the historically stable resin market which is used in the manufacture of the plastics used for marking whiskers. Disruptions in the global supply chain by labor shortages, increased demand for plastic, increasing demand for plastic packaging materials, plastic production shutdowns, and domestic inflation has led to a severe spike in the price of plastic goods.

While there is no way to forecast prices on these raw goods, some of our suppliers are telling us that there is hope that costs soon will stabilize. Unfortunately, aluminum prices will probably continue to rally in 2022 but resin experts are anticipating a year-long recovery period for the plastics industry, meaning normalcy would resume in 2022, assuming there are no further interruptions. Whether that timeline is still feasible remains to be seen. We can only hope!

We appreciate each one of our customers, distributors and wholesalers and will always strive to produce the best product on the market at the lowest cost possible.

Bye Bye 2021 - Welcome 2022 Best Wishes!

What Do You Call These Things Popping Out of the Ground?

You have seen these multi-colored whiskers popping out of the ground around construction sites, utility lines, survey sites, nature trails, golf courses, landscape projects and even in the forest marking hunting locations. These whisker type ground markers have been around for a long time and are the trusted ground marker for their visibility, durability and flexibility when designing outdoor spaces.

But what do you call these things popping up out of the ground? These ground markers are most called stake chasers or stake flags, marking flags, marking whiskers, nail whiskers, survey markers, landscape markers, athletic field markers and the list goes on. By brand name, Stake Chaser® by Smi-Carr, Inc., is the original, most well-designed whisker marker and is the gold standard and most widely used manufacturer and best of all MADE IN THE USA.

Available in eight APWA and international code colors including RED for power lines and lighting cables. YELLOW for gas, oil and steam lines. ORANGE for marking communication lines, cable, or conduit. BLUE for potable water. PURPLE for slurry lines. GREEN for sewer and drain lines. WHITE for proposed excavation sites and PINK for temporary survey marking.

For home and garden projects Trail Chasers® brand ground markers take the Stake Chaser® whiskers made by Smi-Carr and combine them with a 7-inch lightweight aluminum stake in packages of 10 or 25. For heavier home, commercial or industrial use Trail Chasers combines the Smi-Carr whiskers with 6-inch upgraded hard ground stake.

So, regardless of what you want to call these whiskers popping out of the ground, remember when you are looking for maximum visibility, durability and flexibility in a ground marker look for whiskers in the specialty hand tool section of your hardware supplier.

Wire Marking Flags or Stake Whiskers - Which to Use

Wire Marking Flags or Stake Whiskers – You Decide

Which do you get for your project; steel wire marking flags or stake whiskers? It all comes down to durability and strength.

Wire flags are good for temporary marking, but their structure leaves them vulnerable to high winds, harsh weather, and heavy equipment. For projects that require ground markers to remain in place for extended periods of time, extreme conditions or need to be deployed in compacted soil or gravel; stake whiskers are usually the better option.

Stake whiskers are perfect for marking hiking trails, hunting locations, survey points, ground hazards, garden layouts, landscape designs, athletic fields, running courses, social events and more.

Stake whiskers are available in eight APWA and international code colors including RED for power lines and lighting cables. YELLOW for gas, oil and steam lines. ORANGE for marking communication lines, cables or conduit. BLUE for potable water. PURPLE for slurry lines. GREEN for sewer and drain lines. WHITE for proposed excavation sites and PINK for temporary survey marking.

Trail Chasers brand ground markers are stake whiskers and are available in packages of 10, 20 or 25 units. Each unit consists of a highly durable 6-inch plastic whisker when combined with either a lightweight non-rust stake or hard ground galvanized stake can be driven into the ground to mark a position. Package includes everything you need to start using immediately; no extra trips to buy nails or stakes. Over the years, Trail Chasers brand of ground markers have become the prime choice for home and industrial use.

PRO TIP – Trail Chasers lightweight stakes are great for carry, but sometimes the ground is harder than anticipated. Use a ¼” x 12 in. drill bit (carbide preferred) on a cordless drill to predrill a ground hole. This will make placement much easier!

Which do you get for your project; steel wire marking flags or stake whiskers? It all comes down to durability and strength.

Orange Trail Markers Have Taken Over the Production Lines

From the looks of how many Orange Trail Chasers are moving through production you can really tell it's almost hunting season. These are perfect for marking hiking trails, hunting stand locations, archery yardage points and GPS reference points. But there's more, Orange Trail Chasers have become a prime choice for marking buried utility lines, communication lines, underground alarm or signal lines, cables or conduit, survey points, survey boundaries, construction site planning, and hazard markers.

Orange is Taking Over

Like Us on Facbook

Friends, please Like our new Facebook page for Trail Chasers to help launch this product into the world of social media!. Thanks!

Trail Chasers Volume Discounts on Amazon Business

Check out our volume discounts on Amazon Business for orange Survey Markers, white Excavation Markers, blue Irrigation Markers and the ever popular green Drainage Markers.

Trail Markers for Hunting & Fishing

It's also most fall hunting season. Our Trail Chaser ground markers are perfect for marking hiking trails, hunting stand locations, archery yardage points, GPS reference points and more. Being ground markers they are easy to spot while not giving away your stand location. Shipping daily.