WHAT WE BELIEVE

Trails provide people with opportunities to recreate, educate, and contemplate.

They are an essential component of our culture. Trails offer a safe and sustainable way to access wild areas. They are also a vital part of building vibrant community; offering a recreational outlet to the public. With thoughtful, informed consideration paid to design and construction, trails enhance the intrinsic value of natural areas to the human community.

WHAT WE DO

Trail Design. Construction. Education.

For over fifteen years, Timber & Stone, LLC has assisted clients—from municipalities to private landowners—in transforming their trail aspirations into reality. Our goal is to build safe, appropriately designed trails and pathways in a sustainable and efficient manner; trails that balance recreational needs while preserving the character and sanctity of the natural landscape.

Simply put, we build trails that stand the test of time.

Founded and based in Central Vermont, Timber & Stone, LLC has completed projects throughout the Northeast. We are available to work as a contracted crew or alongside volunteers, students, and stewards. With a keen eye to safety, we empower groups of volunteers by building skills and camaraderie while effectively managing the worksite to attain a high quality product.

WHO WE ARE

Trail Designers. Builders. Educators.

Josh Ryan Principal

Trail Designer and Builder

Josh has been recreating on and caretaking trails since the day his parents first laced up his hiking boots.

For the past twenty years, Josh has worked on trails with a wide array of students, volunteers, and fellow trailbuilders, both as a Crew Leader and as an independent contractor. Previous to founding Timber & Stone, LLC in 2004, Josh worked for the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, Maine Conservation Corps, Student Conservation Association, US Forest Service, and completed his graduate coursework in Environmental Education at Antioch University in Keene, NH.

In addition to serving as the managing member of Timber & Stone, LLC, Josh has also taught courses in Trail Design and Construction at local Universities and Graduate Schools. Since 2017, Josh has served on the Steering Committee of the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC), an initiative created by Governor Phil Scott. Josh’s work through Timber & Stone, LLC was acknowledged in 2017 when he was a recipient of the Theresa S. Brungardt Award at the 74th Annual Vermont Conference on Recreation. This award is intended to honor individuals who have made “outstanding contributions to the parks and recreation of Vermont.”

Josh makes his home in East Montpelier, Vermont with his wife, two daughters, and one gigantic Newfoundland pup.

Matt Hawes

Partner/Trail Designer and Builder

Matt joined the Timber & Stone, LLC team in the fall of 2017. He brought over a decade of trailbuilding experience to the team of Timber & Stone, LLC. Many of those years were spent based out of upstate New York as a Project Supervisor and Professional Trail Builder at Tahawus Trails LLC. Additionally, Matt gained trailbuilding skills through work as a Crew Leader for the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps and as an intern for the New York New Jersey Trail Conference through the Student Conservation Association.

Matt graduated from the University of Vermont in 2007 with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Philosophy. Upon graduation, Matt completed a two year assignment as a Agroforestry Extension Agent with the Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa where he developed and implemented sustainable agroforestry initiatives for local farmers.

When not setting stone or aligning stringers for Timber & Stone, LLC, Matt can be found hiking, backpacking, or backcountry skiing. Matt currently resides in Vergennes (Vermont) with his wife and son.

Ryan Baxter

Trailbuilder

Ryan joined Timber & Stone, LLC in 2022 after nine seasons of trailwork “across the pond” in the Adirondacks; first as a member of the Adirondack Professional Trail Crew during his college years and more recently as a member of Tahawus Trails, LLC. He brings a wealth of experiences trailbuilding and working with small teams in challenging backcountry and front country trail construction settings to the Timber & Stone team.

During his numerous years of trail construction, Ryan has also worked as a farmer at Hudak Farm and Greenhouses in Swanton, VT and as a sugarer for Cabot Maple LLC in Lancaster, NH.

Ryan attended SUNY Plattburgh, where he focused his academic work on Environmental and Expeditionary Studies. When not immersed in trail work, Ryan can be found on his off-grid homestead Stonedale Forest with his dogs, goats, chickens, and the wild creatures of the Northeast Kingdom.

Tyler Brodie

Trailbuilder

Tyler joined the Timber & Stone, LLC team in 2023. During the trail off-season, Tyler spends his time operating his own busines: Precision Cut Pruning (established in 2018.) His business provides winter orchard pruning to both commercial operations and homeowners. He estimates that in an average December to May season he maintains an impressive 7000+ trees.

 Previous to working for Timber & Stone, Tyler was immersed in farm work at Demerrit Hill Farm and Butternut Farm, both located in New Hampshire. Both of these positions allowed him to use the knowledge he gained while completing his Associates of Applied Science in Integrated Agricultural Management from the University of New Hampshire.

 While completing his B.S. in Environmental Science-Natural Resources and Conservation, Tyler completed a season as a Seasonal Research Intern for the US Forest Service. He brings a myriad of skills and wealth of knowledge from all these experiences to his trail work at Timber & Stone, LLC.

 Tyler and his wife split their time between their farm in Derby, VT and home in southern New Hampshire.

Ian Ruggerio

Trailbuilder

Ian joined the Timber & Stone, LLC crew in 2024. He discovered his passion and penchant for trail work as a crew member for the Student Conservation Association (SCA) and NH Conservation Corps in 2022. While working on projects in Monadnock State Park and the Androscoggin Wilderness, Ian gained experience in a wide variety of trail construction and maintenance techniques.  His skill and professionalism as a crew member gained him a leadership position at SCA during the summer of 2023. As a Project Leader, Ian supported and provided technical expertise to SCA crews throughout the state of New Hampshire.   

Previous to his work with SCA, Ian held positions that allowed him to gain experience in landscaping and operating heavy equipment. Ian is an active reservist having completed training as a Specialist for the US Army and works seasonally at Cannon Mountain as a lift operator

The Trailbuilders

Filmed by Tamarack Media during the summer of 2012, this documentary featuring Timber & Stone, LLC gives a glimpse into the life and work of professional trailbuilders.)