Jorn,

Did you ever wind up getting a UTV or some such thing? A tractor? I'm asking because I'm curious how the wood gets from the place you gather it to where you split. That too is a job.

I hear you on the seasonal rhythms of path maintenance. A lot of that comes down to use. I've got an MTB trail now that's a 10-12 minute loop if I ride the whole thing. If I build what I'd like to this winter, that will at least double. Then it becomes a balance of what I/close friends can ride frequently enough to keep it clear. I don't need to add "riding often enough to keep the trail from growing closed" to my list of chores. It can't become a source of stress.

Anyway, back to wood. Why not just gather it into one place throughout the year, then rent a splitter for a weekend, and knock it all out at once?