Plans of expanding my forest roads

With my good friend Hive account@lost.ryulincoln and his wife being here in about a week, it was time to decide where I wanted to connect the two parts of my property. There is a creek that runs between them and I think I found a spot that would be good to cross (when the water is low). I already marked the point on the opposite side of the creek and the goal is to find it today. By connecting the two spots on the creek, I can get around all my acreage without getting on public county roads. Though one spot is more steep than the others, so we shall see how feasible it is once its cleared and I get my truck on it.. At the very least it can be a walking trail. But would be great to get trucks through it too.

We start off by driving down an old logging road that was used to clear cut trees decades back. It rained not too long ago and froze over the rutted out areas. Normally this is just a muddy rutted out spot, but frozen over its hidden.

I decide to walk ahead and see if the down hill part is covered in ice or not. As there was no point driving my truck down there if its all a big ice sheet. Do not want to slide down and crash my truck into something. Luckily the sun had be out most of the day and cleared out much of the ice.

Walking back to my truck I judge the ice thickness, my boot broke through so my truck should break through it too.

Sure enough, I crunched up all that ice and just made my way through.

It was good to test out my new mudders, they worked out real well. Anyone want ice blocks?

I check under my truck once I pass to make sure none of the big ice chunks did any damage. Looks good.

My turn around spot was very slick and with ice build up. But I was able to turn my truck around and park it up on the hill where its not soo nasty.

Behind me is another way to get here, but I go the long way as its not as bad. Eventually I will want to fix those big ruts in the road.

It was cool seeing the ice in there, not getting much sunlight.

Hanging out in the sunlight for a few minutes before walking into the woods to find my path. Liking my new Cabelas jacket.

Black bears have been getting quite curious about my cameras, they have already destroyed one and this one is their newest victim.

Luckily it still worked, so I pulled out the SD card to review later. Placed a fresh one in and set the camera back up. It was pulled down the side of the tree by the bear so I retightened the straps.

Using GPS I followed my topographic maps to find the easiest way down the hill to where the creek is. At this point its all woods, no roads.. Just where I make them.

I really enjoy the mountain laurels along the way, growing all over my land.

Eventually I got down to the creek, it was frozen over mostly in the narrow spots.

Looking back is steepest part of the planned road, may need to put in switch backs or approach it more at an angle.

I tie little flags I made along the path where it looks like my truck would handle it.

Really cool seeing all of the frozen water.

Spots of the creek were flowing and the ice was only on the banks.

My flags consist of some bright string, and a cut piece of yellow microfiber rag. Hoping during the winter they will be easily spotted with all the tree leaves dropped.

I walked the creek and eventually spot my flags. Circled the one across the creek as its hard to spot. With my goal reached, I took my remaining flags and tied them on branches leading through the brush and small trees back to where I came from. Next is to walk it with my friend when he arrives, and then start clearing brush and trees. My plan is to start on the creek side, that way the steeper of the hills can be done right away and we can see how bad it is. Though walking it I think my truck can handle the climb and decent.

Takes me awhile to get back, stopping along the way to enjoy nature. The squirrels were out in force, and seemly curious about me there. I really enjoy my time out in my woods.

The same spot where I entered the woods I exited, and headed back to my truck. I hung out for a bit and then hit the road back to my house.

Driving back through the ice spots was easy, got a bit muddy on my truck but its all good. I did what I set out to, marked where I think the roads should be good. I should look into getting a wood burning stove, with all the logs I am soon going to have by clearing the road. Already have a fire pit thats almost done, but would be nice to heat the homes using some fire wood too.