Need Trail Advice

[Kyle241]

So I went back for the second time to the trail I cut last August-September through a low area of our property. This area is very thick with red maple, cedar, poplar, green ash, balsam, etc. and it cuts our 82 acres almost in half so I really want to get a trail through. The area that I cut has started to grow back some and I tried getting my Kubota B20 in but alas stopped where the bulldozer guy did last year because I didn't want to get stuck. He unfortunately left a pile of stumps and peat in the way otherwise I probably could drive almost all the way through. Anyways, I had planned on a corduroy road through here because it gets very wet in the Spring but after just a little work today, I thought this will take me years! So now I'm back to thinking of hiring someone to do this work full-time and get it done. What do you guys think is the best type of equipment and best solution? Corduroy? Textile fabric and then fill?

Start of the trail:

The tracks I am making with my B20 (approx. 4200lbs):

More tracks to show how far I am sinking:

Some of the stumps remaining after last year's cut:

Coming back through the trail:

The soil is peat for about 12-20" and then it's clay for at least 12" which is what is holding in the water.

My thoughts:

1) Make the trail wider to open it up more for faster drying.
2) Perhaps an excavator would be best to make the trail wider and make a corduroy road? Not sure the size, perhaps mid-sized?
3) Dig some drainage along the sides of the trails and install some culverts every 'X' feet.
4) Where to get the earth/soil to go over corduroy road? I would like to build the trail up but unless I decide to dig a pond near the beginning of the trail, where do I get it from? The peat is too soft.
5) Can't truck in free fill as it's about 30 acres back and there is no road for heavy trucks.

Thanks for any feedback as I am feeling a little overwhelmed and would really like to get this done.

 

[Egon]

If you make the trail wider you should have a little more area to get material to build up the road.

Make some "Borrow Pits" at regulat intervals along the way for road building material. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

That is if there is lots of clay underneath the Bog material.

To do it properly remove the Bog down to clay where the road is and then build up with clay. No need for the textile fabric if you do this.

 

[9973720wb19]

i have a trail on my property and i need it accessible in all kind of weather because my shop is at the other end - i wanted to storge my equipment away from the house. it would bug me because when it rained i could not get the zmower out to cut for days until the trail dried up. it cost some money, but the trail gives me no more problems. here is what i did:

1) make the trail wider and remove the top soil.
2) put down felt landscaping paper - i purchased a few rolls 12 feed wide and did this myself...it's about all the weight ya want to handle but i got through it.
3) put some stone down over the paper - like number 2 stone.
4) next i had a paving guy tar and chip it...

after awhile the leaves fall back on it so it will look natural but it's a great base with no mud or growth. i can move my equipment back and forth in a down pour with no problems. in the winter i can plow the trail.

 

[Ken45101]

If you make the trail wider you should have a little more area to get material to build up the road.

Make some "Borrow Pits" at regulat intervals along the way for road building material. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

That is if there is lots of clay underneath the Bog material.

To do it properly remove the Bog down to clay where the road is and then build up with clay. No need for the textile fabric if you do this.

I agree that this is the best solution. However, I'm not sure that equipment you will need to do it. A big excavator may be able to work it's way in, digging up clay from the side and creating a side drainage ditch as it goes.

I would think a problem with building a corduroy road would be how long would the wood last before rotting and failing?

 

[forgeblast]

I was watching the show swamp loggers, they had made some corduroy roads, and they also used some wooden "matts" to cross certain areas.

 

[Ken45101]

I was watching the show swamp loggers, they had made some corduroy roads, and they also used some wooden "matts" to cross certain areas.

But they will probably only use them for a year or so and move on before they rot.

Matts are good and they are how excavators move themselves into soft areas. They often pick them up from behind and reset them ahead of where they are moving.

 

[forgeblast]

Thanks ken I wasnt sure how long they used them for.

 

[Ken45101]

If you used white oak or black locust or some other rot resistant species, it would probably last for a long time. Other species, not so long. Some maybe only a year or so depending on their size/species/environment IMO.

Ken

 

[Kyle241]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Ken, my plan was to use white cedar for the corduroy road and around these parts, that lasts underground quite a long time. I'm still not convinced though as building the road would be a huge task.

Yesterday I brought a 'mat' with me, a sheet of old 3/4" ply and drove over the one area that I was concerned about without any issues. I then proceeded to use my B20 to remove stumps, etc. from the trail and overall it went really well...until I dug up the wasps nest! I moved my Kubota forward about 30 feet or so real quick and decided to get off and move away, perhaps not the best idea as I got stung once. I went back later and doused their hive with soap & water and then laid a piece of clear plastic over them. I figure that the sun should warm that up pretty good and it will keep them occupied. At the time I was wearing DW's bee suit so I was completely covered.:laughing:

Next plan is to rent an excavator as I know I could do a good job of getting the trail in order. My B20 did a good job but it doesn't have the reach and it takes time to move it whereas an excavator is much better suited for this type of work. The plan will be to remove the stumps that were not cut low (mostly old and easily torn out) and then I'll start on making it wider and creating some "borrow pits" as they were named. I'll have to determine what size excavator to rent as I know the mini ex's are around in abundance but I'm not sure they will be powerful enough. Hopefully this week I'll get a lead on one.

 

[Ken45101]

If you only have individual holes that are soft, that's different than the whole road needing a solid base.

Good luck!

Ken

 

[Egon]

The more excavator you rent the easier the work.:thumbsup:

It may not hurt to have several swamp pads on hand for just in case.

 

[Ken45101]

The more excavator you rent the easier the work.:thumbsup:

It may not hurt to have several swamp pads on hand for just in case.

For moving the stumps, a thumb on the excavator will be a big help (and pretty essential for moving the pads.)

As for the swamp pads, agree they would be useful but I also suggest that you search youtube for "stuck excavator" to get an idea of what can go wrong even with experienced operators. There are some really interesting videos to watch

 

[NormL]

I agree that this is the best solution. However, I'm not sure that equipment you will need to do it. A big excavator may be able to work it's way in, digging up clay from the side and creating a side drainage ditch as it goes.

I would think a problem with building a corduroy road would be how long would the wood last before rotting and failing?

Assuming the clay remains mostly moist a few inches from the surface, any corduroy structure buried in it is cut off from oxygen and will take a long time rotting. Also, if your problem sink-holes do not occur the full length of the trail you're putting in, why not just corduroy the problem areas?

 

[Kyle241]

My problem is in the Spring, there is a lot of sitting water and it doesn't dry up until late June/July sometime so to get to the back of my property that is high and dry, I need to be able to get through this low area (approx. 10-12 acres). So I need to raise the whole trail and build some drainage ditches to keep the water away from the trail.

I'll be calling around this week for an excavator to rent.

 

[Egon]

Now I'll suggest a completly different method. I've never done it but a member "Down Under" has a post on it from years back. Probably will not meet disposal codes though.

He bolted used tires together for the base pad and then hauled dirt on top.

The tires may also work for swamp pads.

 

[beppington]

Now I'll suggest a completly different method. I've never done it but a member "Down Under" has a post on it from years back. Probably will not meet disposal codes though.

He bolted used tires together for the base pad and then hauled dirt on top.

The tires may also work for swamp pads.

Have you seen the price of bolts lately??!

 

[Kyle241]

Now I'll suggest a completly different method. I've never done it but a member "Down Under" has a post on it from years back. Probably will not meet disposal codes though.

He bolted used tires together for the base pad and then hauled dirt on top.

The tires may also work for swamp pads.

Yes I have read his posts but I would not put tires into the ground on my property. And as you say, highly unlikely to meet disposal codes.

Tks for the idea though. I looked at some mats and they are not cheap!

 

[Egon]

Only reason I mentioned mats is that if you get a "By The Hour" machine stuck it may cost before you get it unstuck.