Land Clearing to House Building...

[hunterridgefarm]

One Mans Epic Saga


I have spent the last year clearing land and building a road where we are constructing our house. So naturally I have been reading a lot of TBN but not really had much time to post.

Now that the house is under roof and things have slowed somewhat I was able to load some pictures.

So I hope I don't bore you in the beginning with road and land pictures. I have track loaders, stumps, and crane pics to post later in the thread.


The first set of pictures is the road bed I had going into my river bottom and I had thought about continuing this road around the base of the ridge.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

These pics show where I extended the road. I cut most of the small pine off at the ground and used the box blade to pull the stumps as I graded the road. Some times if the trees were 6" or larger I would have to use the FEL to push over and pop the stumps out. There were not many large trees on this section.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

A few more pictures of the road to the river bottom.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

This is where I made the turn to start up the ridge.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

This next set is at the top of the ridge and a small clearing I had cut out with the chainsaw.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

In this set of pictures it shows the bottom of the ridge in the first pic and a couple from the top of the ridge. Notice the leaning tree.

The last picture is the same view from the top of the ridge once I graded with the tractor.

This was a little steep to go forward so mostly I would back the tractor up the hill and drop the box blade to rip stuff out of the way. There was some 6" + trees that I would maneuver around and use the FEL and tooth bar to pop up.

 

[3RRL]

Well, I must admit I love to see all those photos.
And you will too once you get everything cleared off to give yourself a better view from up on top like that. It will remind you what it used to look like. Man it is thick at your place. Are you going to thin any of that trail leading up to your homesite? Looks like there are larger trees you can work and build around up there too.

Are you going to do any special preparation for your dirt road? Some parts appear a little steep? I've got to keep my dirt road in tip top shape so the workers and trucks can make it up in the Winter.
Very nice start to your project. I will surely be keeping an eye on this one.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Rob,

It is very thick up top. I ended up hiring a track loader to take the undergrowth out so I could finalize the house site. I'll post some of those pics tomorrow.

The trail is now a road but still very steep. I have already had a tractor trailor get stuck delivering building materials.

I will have to do some turn-outs on the driveway for water and will pave it when all the heavy trucks have finished delivering.

 

[3RRL]

How's the weather holding out for you then? Out my way it's still dry as a bone so not any road problems yet until December or maybe November at the earliest. I had my road built under a 12% incline in the worst place but still, it is dirt and will get slippery in the rain. I can mange in my 4wd vehicles and the tractor, of course, but I wanted to keep it a dirt road for now. I hope I don't have to surface it.

If your weather looks gloomy in the near future, your trucks are gonna have their hands full getting up some parts of it. Have you considered another path for them? I can see why you want to wait until they are off it before you pave it though.

I'd like to see the other photos you got.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Rob,

I have changed the road some since I started. I now use part of this road to access the river bottom.

I still use the part where I start up the ridge only now I come with a straight shot off the highway 100+ foot of flat before I start up the ridge. And the road is about 15-20' wide now.

The weather is dry with only one rain since mid July.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Here is a couple of pictures of the top.

The first two is before pictures and the last two are after. I was able to take enough of the trees and undergrowth out to get the truck and tractor up top. And the all important chainsaw!

I was surprised what the L3130 would do. I was able to take down some large, tall pines.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Jumping ahead just a little. Here is the same area where the truck and tractor was now showing some of the logs.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

I started on this with the L3130...

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Then after getting some advice from members of TBN I went to this .

 

[hunterridgefarm]

I realized the 3130 would take a many weekends to clear the undergrowth and small trees. So I hired the track loader.

Here are some of the action photos.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

A few more action photos of the loader.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Hope this is not boring, couple more of the track loader.

 

[RobJ]

Cool Pics, always like looking at those kind of pics. I see you do have the right tool now. I thought I was going to clear a house area with some hand tools (a very small area to, hundreds of little Elms). Wanted to do it myself and all. That lasted about 1 hour. I went to get my BIL's JD350 and never looked back. You need to get up the roots and all from that stuff.

I also agree with Rob that if it starts to rain those roads are going to suffer real bad. Even that loose stuff around the house site. A good quick rain and it'll all run down the hill (DAMHIKT!!). Lay down some small stripped tree trunks or something to slow things down. You have a lot nice soil there!

Keep the pics comming.

Rob

 

[3RRL]

Hope this is not boring, couple more of the track loader.

Heck no! Those are great pictures. That track loader made short work of that area. How did you have him out there?
what are you going to do with the logs and shrub...burn pile or firewood? You'll have enough for a couple years looks like.
The location on top of that ridge is great too. With all those pines around, will you have somewhat of a view or will you be secluded?

 

[1bush2hog]

Lookin' Good! Just curious on how you decided on where your road should go. I have found out that there is an art to road building and was curious what resources you may have used in your process.

Also, what elevation is your home site at? Several people around me have had some problems finding enough water when drilling their wells. Have you drilled yours yet?

Keep those pics coming - really enjoy seeing the progress you are making, especially since I am considering similar project in near future.

Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina...