Pouring steps down to the creek/swimming hole...nope, never done it before!

[MotorSeven]

2020 Feb, entrance to pasture from paved county road. If you look over the gate post with Motor7 on it, you can see the gazebo.
That's the wooden outhouse on the left, it just sits on the ground, and it has never moved during any flood. Yes, my neighbor left his truck in the pasture....idiot.

 

[MossRoad]

OK, that's impressive!

Creek?

 

[rScotty]

I considered a handrail, but for the reason you stated I am not putting them in. Maybe a removable one later....

I was wondering about rebar. Do your plans include rebar in the stairs?

 

[MotorSeven]

I was wondering about rebar. Do your plans include rebar in the stairs?

Yes, and if possible I will extend it into the upper and lower landing pads, making all of it one section.

 

[Streetcar]

Yes, and if possible I will extend it into the upper and lower landing pads, making all of it one section.

You should put foundation at the bottom of stairs, something like 3x3 by width of stair dug into creek bottom

 

[Shblack]

So how about building a wooden stairway designed with a pivot at the top. Set a pole right behind the top of the stairs, pole height greater than length of the stairs. Put a boat winch on the pole, run the cable through a pulley at the top with the cable connected to the bottom of the stairs. Winch the stairs up when not in use, Kinda like a drawbridge. Set a pole immediately upstream of the raised bridge to absorb the impact of flood born debris. I get used poles from our electric co-op.

I am thinking of something like this to bridge our creek, which while normally placid can turn into a raging monster every 10 years or so. Considering one of the aluminum bridge kits that one person can carry & assemble - used in remote areas.

 

[Gord Baker]

Last year, we had a bank erosion project completed on our creek that runs through the property. 300' of fabric and 120 tons of rip rap. In the summer, the water is low, and the creek is about 7-8' down from the pasture. So, with the angle of the rip rap bank, I need about 12' of steps. Trying to walk/crawl down to the creek right now is hazardous, but necessary if you are going to take a dip in the swimming hole. Flooding in spring can be 2' over the banks and completely cover my pasture out to the paved road. For this reason, wooden steps will not work.

Since I have never done this before, I Youtubed it, and now am a confident (cough)expert. Stair tread/rise calculations hurt my head, so I keep a 4' HomeDepot pre-cut Stringer handy as a template. I bought 4-12' 2x12x12 boards and marked out the risers and treads.

So, put 2x8 risers on the Stringers 2' apart(width of stairwell), drag it down to the creek and find a suitable spot to set it on top of the rip rap. I figure a 3x3 top and lower pad all tied together with some re-bar.

Will take new pics of the creek and proposed stair location......stand-by.

What could go wrong pouring 24 steps??

 

[Gord Baker]

The concrete will not likely work against moving water. Drive piles or build the stairs with 2x6 planks on the bottom side and skid them to high ground in the Fall.

 

[2manyrocks]

2020 Feb, entrance to pasture from paved county road. If you look over the gate post with Motor7 on it, you can see the gazebo.
That's the wooden outhouse on the left, it just sits on the ground, and it has never moved during any flood. Yes, my neighbor left his truck in the pasture....idiot.

Suggestions kinda got quiet here after you posted this picture.

 

[HippieFarmer]

After looking at the photos, I would suggest building the stairs on pontoons.