Rückegassen

Rückegassen are narrow skid trails used in forestry to move cut timber from the harvest site to a landing or main road. The term combines Rücke, the act of dragging timber, and Gasse, a path. They are planned and laid out during forest operations and can be temporary or maintained as part of the forest road network.

The primary purpose of Rückegassen is to concentrate timber extraction along defined corridors, thereby reducing soil damage and facilitating efficient transport. The trails are typically only a few meters wide and are designed to minimize erosion by following gentle gradients or contour lines. Their spacing and orientation depend on the harvesting method, terrain, and the equipment used, whether traditional horse logging or modern skidders and forwarders.

Rückegassen can be used in thinning, selective, or clear-cut operations. In horses or cable-assisted logging, logs are dragged along these paths to the adjacent main road. In mechanized operations, skid trails serve as the internal extraction network feeding into larger haul roads.

After harvesting, the trails may be restored or incorporated into ongoing forest management plans. Maintenance can include reconditioning the surface, improving drainage, or allowing natural regeneration within and beside the tracks. The Rückegassen concept emerged with modern European forestry practices and remains common in German-speaking regions as a means to balance extraction efficiency with soil protection and long-term forest sustainability.