Signposts for Snow Trails

Telescoping Signposts

Why not develop a telescoping signpost that could be raised as snow depths increase? This would allow a single signpost to serve for shallow, moderate, and deep snowpacks.

MTDC looked at three such systems. One is commercially available and the other two were prototypes constructed in our shop.

Telescoping square tubular steel signposts are commercially available. They can be detached from bases driven nearly flush with the ground. They work quite well for many situations.

To reduce weight and reduce the likelihood that close-fitting steel posts may freeze together, MTDC telescoped a 2-inch (51-mm)-square plastic tube onto a square tubular steel post. It was mounted with quick-release fasteners rather than nuts and bolts (Figure 16). In limited field testing, the unit held up well and did not freeze. Extren, the industrial-strength plastic we used, costs nearly $5.00 per foot. It is far too expensive for us to recommend as an alternative to less expensive signposts that are easier to install.

Figure 16-MTDC's steel and Extren plastic telescoping signpost system. The Extren plastic
cost too much for us to recommend this system even through it is satisfactory
otherwise. Telescoping two pieces of steel tubing is less costly.

MTDC also telescoped two lengths of 1 1/2-inch (38-mm) and 2-inch (51-mm) Schedule 40 PVC pipe (Figure 17). This also worked, although we do not know how sturdy this would be on sideslope installations, where snow continually migrates downhill and would bend the signpost.

Figure 17-The top of MTDC's telescoping PVC signpost. It was
difficult to line up the holes drilled through the PVC, and who wants to
dig down this far to reach the buried fastener, anyway?

If you really need a system that is anchored to the ground, the telescoping PVC signposts might work. We did not see our field testers clamoring to use them instead of permanent signposts or free-floating signposts-methods they recognized as simpler, easier to maintain, and cheaper.