This video is deceptive in that it looks like a rather simple and tedious process however, it is actually a very risky and high-focus endeavor.

When digging in a road or trail down form a higher elevation, you are having to compact the descending surface ahead of you as you build it.
This poses a very real risk of tipping your machine over if you aren't careful!
You will see that I am frequently using my boom and stick of the excavator as a counterbalance to help avoid just such a fate. While this kind of work is not for beginners, I like that an excavator allows you to do these kind of things. I will also point out that I always wear my seatbelt when operating an excavator and it isn't just for the obvious safety reasons. I find that cinching my seatbelt up tight keeps me in better contact with what my machine is doing (similar to when auto racing). By being one with how my machine is moving, it helps keep me out of a lot of trouble as I can feel the shifts in the weight of the machine better and it allows me to be smoother at the controls. I am always impressed by how much material I can move when using my rake and claw together in a project.