I was told it is a bad idea...hold my beer!

[Tiptoo]

Lol. I'm still alive. I've never seen it so dry before that the ground crumbles to dust beneath the wheels. My red tractor has been and is tan from all the dust. The soil condition is causing me trouble keeping traction and increasing my fear to continue for the moment. Ive taken my tractor up there 3 times since my last post and and returned all 3 times with zero progress and full uncertainty on my next move. We had our 1st rain in quite a while just yesterday but not enough to balance out the soil. More rain expected this weekend.

I've walked it several times, sitting, and thinking of what to do next....I've also measured the distance to the top and have a rough estimate of around 400ft if tackling it straight on. The next 100ft will be the most difficult.

Alrighty, about time for our next bi-monthly installment of pics here. Or at least confirmation that you didn't roll down the hill and get squashed yet.

 

[Tiptoo]

You made me go up there! It's 45° straight up which I've done before but with the protection of being in a gulley not a ridge. This is definitely scary. Contemplating winching myself past the hard spot and using the box to push a path down.

 

[bridge4]

You made me go up there! It's 45° straight up which I've done before but with the protection of being in a gulley not a ridge. This is definitely scary. Contemplating winching myself past the hard spot and using the box to push a path down. View attachment 617096

With the steeper points, do you backup ever? Or always forward with a low bucket? I got my tires filled yesterday and today I am going to attempt some of the steeper parts of my property if I have some traction now? Luckily I did most my super steep trail cutting with a mini-ex, but I'm worried my tractor won't even go up the hills I made with it.

 

[deezler]

You made me go up there! It's 45° straight up which I've done before but with the protection of being in a gulley not a ridge. This is definitely scary. Contemplating winching myself past the hard spot and using the box to push a path down. View attachment 617096

Holy schmokes, man. Careful. I really do love your trail though. Looking at this most recent pic, I find my self thinking that you should wind the trail in some gentle curves around the established trees on that ridge, cutting in a bench as you go. Could get a more gentle grade that way.

Let me ask you something. You have a really nice property, house, barn, and tractors. Surely you could find $15k laying around to buy a used mini-excavator? This job would be done already if you had a mini-ex. Shoot, you could even bang out the trail job (and other jobs around the property) and sell it for nearly what you bought it for after a year or two.

 

[Tiptoo]

I do back up the trails sometimes and drag my box usually on already cleared paths...but I find it difficult when on anything above 30-35°. I either must wear my seatbelt or peg my left foot against the console. I dont like strapping myself in incase I must bail....and my left leg can only last so long.

How steep do you think your trails are?

With the steeper points, do you backup ever? Or always forward with a low bucket? I got my tires filled yesterday and today I am going to attempt some of the steeper parts of my property if I have some traction now? Luckily I did most my super steep trail cutting with a mini-ex, but I'm worried my tractor won't even go up the hills I made with it.

 

[Tiptoo]

You're definitely right. It would be done already with a mini ex. I'm married...soooooo I'm broke . My money is her money and her money is her money....you know how that goes. Long term, I weighed it out, the tractor is more versatile for all my other projects. I also would like to take building supplies up to the top with the tractor if I decide to build something up there one day. Tractors prob can't navigate excavator trails to well.

The turn radius needed to curve the tractor with loader and box attached is fairly significant. Keeping a comfortable rising angle, I would be too deep inward before reaching the elevation I need....if that makes sense. Also it is painstakingly difficult to dig smooth, controlled, and calculated paths across this terrain riddled with large rocks. Going with the flow until I can't go no more is the only agreeable solution I have.

I'm not against hand digging and clearing the next 100 ft. If I start at the top and go down....it may not be too bad.

Holy schmokes, man. Careful. I really do love your trail though. Looking at this most recent pic, I find my self thinking that you should wind the trail in some gentle curves around the established trees on that ridge, cutting in a bench as you go. Could get a more gentle grade that way.

Let me ask you something. You have a really nice property, house, barn, and tractors. Surely you could find $15k laying around to buy a used mini-excavator? This job would be done already if you had a mini-ex. Shoot, you could even bang out the trail job (and other jobs around the property) and sell it for nearly what you bought it for after a year or two.

 

[Tiptoo]

I mean, if I had an excavator starting out, I would have done so many switch backs without thought of getting the tractor up it....

 

[bridge4]

I did 2.5 miles of trail with an excavator, but I made them at least 10-15 feet wide if not more in most places. It was great fun and I really learned alot. Need to clean it up and add some better drainage/culverts in some areas. Instead of buying a mini-ex, rent one. I rented one for a month for 3k locally, a Yanmar 45A I believe. Did the trick, and can be had for a lot cheaper if you had a week straight to just go after it! Both pictures I'm attaching are trails I made with the mini ex, almost 3 years ago this winter. I wasn't living here until last month so I'm just getting back into opening the property up and building more trails etc...


I am not really sure how steep mine is degree/angle wise, tbh I'm bad at visualizing and that stuff has always confused me. I know there are a few parts that I could not get up with the mini-ex without digging and dragging myself. That was in dry hard november ground, not muck. I am attaching a pic of a short rise that is about 70% as steep as some of my steepest areas, this part is wet all the time too which makes it harder. Another picture showing some work I need to do to get to the steeper areas. What was that App you downloaded? I could do that and give it a try.

I got the tires filled yesterday and today was my first use of them full, WOW, huge difference, before with the loader on front and nothing hanging on the back I couldn't even drive up a hill on my yard.

 

[Tiptoo]

You definitely have some steep spots. I thought about a week rental if I ever truly get stuck.

I did 2.5 miles of trail with an excavator, but I made them at least 10-15 feet wide if not more in most places. It was great fun and I really learned alot. Need to clean it up and add some better drainage/culverts in some areas. Instead of buying a mini-ex, rent one. I rented one for a month for 3k locally, a Yanmar 45A I believe. Did the trick, and can be had for a lot cheaper if you had a week straight to just go after it! Both pictures I'm attaching are trails I made with the mini ex, almost 3 years ago this winter. I wasn't living here until last month so I'm just getting back into opening the property up and building more trails etc...


I am not really sure how steep mine is degree/angle wise, tbh I'm bad at visualizing and that stuff has always confused me. I know there are a few parts that I could not get up with the mini-ex without digging and dragging myself. That was in dry hard november ground, not muck. I am attaching a pic of a short rise that is about 70% as steep as some of my steepest areas, this part is wet all the time too which makes it harder. Another picture showing some work I need to do to get to the steeper areas. What was that App you downloaded? I could do that and give it a try.

I got the tires filled yesterday and today was my first use of them full, WOW, huge difference, before with the loader on front and nothing hanging on the back I couldn't even drive up a hill on my yard.
View attachment 617272
View attachment 617273

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Thanks for the update. I think this is a cool project.