Building a cabin road

[gdicks]

Think Ill start a project thread a little later but seeing as folks here like pictures so much here are a few I took a month ago when the little man and I were up to take a look. We cleared away a bit of brush on site to show mom what the view would be like from the future cabin.


Looking North across the lake from the lot.


Looking North-East from the beach


Looking South-West with my helper.


Looking south toward the lot from the beach.

Quick video of the lake from the lot

 

[KennyG]

Wow! No matter how much work it ends up being it will be worth it.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Beautiful site for your family.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Blue line has almost no elevation change. That gets my vote.

Unless there is something that we aren't seeing, the blue line does seem to be the best. It has the fewest curves and no sharp ones PLUS no elevation change. It may be a bit less scenic that going up and over the hill but for an access road, that is the best route. An ATV trail that uses minimal soil disturbance may be good for the orange route later.

 

[airbiscuit]

Nice Pics. Did I mention "I want a remote cabin"?

If you have any 8"+ pine, cut them into Swedish Candles. Your little helper will like them.

 

[Cord]

Honestly, I think a Bx is a bit light for a project like this. It just doesn't have the weight necessary to dig and rip. In your photo there is a 6 or 8" stump. That stump will make a 7,000lb skid steer work to get it out. I know because I've done it. My skid steer can lift 2,300lb while a Bx will lift 750lb. You won't be able to dig the ground to get at the roots so the stump will loosen up. The ground being sand might help the stump loosen, but it's also going to make it easy to get stuck. I know that working on sand is one of the worst surfaces for getting traction on. I can only think of mud, snow and ice as being worse. If you can get a bigger machine go for it. But don't cut the trees down. Use the machine to push them over and then cut the stump off. The weight of the tree will help dislodge the stump.

 

[Jim Timber]

Cord, I stop about 6" DBH for trying to uproot trees, but only because what I'm pulling out usually has a wicked root mat or a tap root holding it down. A 3pt stump grinder makes that a non-issue.

I do agree that the little subcompact tractor is too small for the job though. I'd rent a big skidsteer for the earth moving portion. Doing earth moving with my 5065e is a breeze, but only when you run it within it's limitations. You can't just knock everything over or shear it off like you could with a dozer.

On that slope, the root mat isn't such a bad thing to leave behind. Grinding the stumps will get the road to grade and the roots will help keep the soil from washing out until you can get some grass growing or gravel base in place.

 

[Sodo]

Each stump could be half a day with a BX, some stumps taking 2 days. I've worked with a BX and hired a bulldozer too, there is a vast difference. A bulldozer might punch the road thru in a day, which allows your other projects to proceed. Sometimes its hard enough to get your projects to proceed in a timely manner without the uncertainty of a machine that could take 2 weeks to 2 months standing in the way of every other project. You can use the BX to clean up after the bulldozer, there will be plenty for the BX to do. You may even need time for the driveway to settle and firm up. If you punch it on thru to the site you can start planning the build.

Some things I did "the fast way" because my kids were small and that time was precious. I wanted to have my cabin up & running & usable while they were small. And I did it, and I got the time with the family before it was too late.

I enjoy my driveway, I like to anticipate whats around every turn. This is a cabin, not a business, right? I would never choose most direct or sensible path to the cabin - it MUST have something interesting. Such as a view. I hate cutbanks, I like 2-track. Not that you should that's just my perspective on your query. I did not setup my driveway for a fire truck to get in - I'm taking that chance. I guess I'd prefer the (assumed) risk burning it down than guaranteed ugly for 24/7/365.

 

[newbury]

Y'all are starting mission creep again.

If all the OP is trying to do is get an INITIAL atv/tractor trail to haul material in to build a cabin his BX (w/BH), a couple of good chainsaws and his son should be enough to do the work.

What he really needs to do is get us some ground photos on the blue route with some flagging.

I just "made" a trail about 50 meters through a stand of mixed hardwoods

yellow line

It was an overgrown (30 or 40 years) field area.

I only had to cut about a dozen trees or so that were about 6", the rest were smaller, and the trail meanders a bit so I missed the larger trees.

With the OP's potential pictured work force dragging brush to the side it should go quickly. By cutting the trees down to ground level, LEAVING the stumps to drive over, it should not be that difficult.


Face it an ax and a strong back is all he really needs. He's got a good potential work force.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I agree, for an atv trail, do it with your BX TLB. You are the best person to judge the path to take. Why not invite a buddy up for a weekend to help you out.