Wetlands access

johnday · Dec 1, 2004

Need some ideas as how to build a raised walkway thru a bog I own. As far as the walkway itself, not a problem, that's nothing more than a narrow deck. But, how do I install posts into the ground and not have them settle excessively? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gifI know the first thing to comeup will be to drive posts with my FEL, but thats a sure way to loose my tractor for all eternity /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. The ground is just too saturated to drive on. I'd like to build it similar to what you see in a lot of public nature areas, with an observation blind at the end of the walk. Probably close to 200 feet in length. Also wondering on dealing with the 3,000 or so special interst groups out there. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Anyone have experience in doing this?

MossRoad · Dec 1, 2004

My father-in-law's club built a floating walkway. They used plastic barrels for the floats. They put some water in the barrels to get the correct boyancy. Then they just had to anchor the walkway to keep it from drifting around.

They had tried posts, but there was not bottom to hold them up.

Dargo · Dec 1, 2004

Wait until the ground freezes and then bore holes for your posts and set them in concrete?

johnday · Dec 1, 2004

Moss; Ah yes, the ubiquitous blue barrels. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif And I can even get them for free, and it's less labor than digging /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I like that idea! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

johnday · Dec 1, 2004

Dargo; Thats a good idea also. But I might have a bottomless quagmire. I'm still thinking tho, and that can be frightening. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

turnkey4099 · Dec 1, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Dargo; Thats a good idea also. But I might have a bottomless quagmire. )</font>

Well there's your solution to the 'special interest groups'. Just put a trap door somewhere on it and invite them to inspect the project.

Harry K

EddieWalker · Dec 1, 2004

I like the barrel idea.

The special interest groups always scare me reall bad. Worse than any horror movie, cause they have nothing else to do than mess with you and they have to mess with somebody to justify their financing.

I'm a big fan of just doing it and not saying a word to anybody. I don't know about your area of the country or how accessable your bog is, but in California, where I used to live, they flew over everyones land and photographed it. They compared the older photos and came after you with the pics. It happened to my dad and to a really good friend.

Dad fought them and won. My friend said it had always been there and he just fixed it up. You couldn't tell from the old photos because of the trees that blocked the view, so he won also.

I wouldn't suggest you do anything illegal, but that if you had some sort of previously existing floating bridge that you could say your repairing, you'd be in a totally different legal position if somebody did come after you.

chucko · Dec 1, 2004

I would think if it is as soft and deep as you say almost anything would settle over time.
You bee a wide foot print on the bottom of the post. Bell shaped conc maybe but the weight of the conc may make it sink faster. maybe you cound do something like in this stetch and keep you post long so you can adjust the dect as the post sinks

johnday · Dec 1, 2004

Chucko; I like that idea too! Appears to be a lot less fooling around with things too. But then again, the blue barrels are free. Free materials and more work, or pay for materials and less work. Well HUH, the scales haven't tipped yet. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

johnday · Dec 1, 2004

Harry, Absolute solution to one of our biggest problems when trying to do something on your own land. I REALLY like that idea.LOL /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif