Pam pointed out a couple of iris plants starting to poke up in one of our flower beds. Even though we enjoyed temps in the mid-40 degree range yesterday (our normal average), I don’t think spring is around the corner. The forecast for the next week shows high temps in the well-below-average range. I’m betting this winter goes down as one of the colder winters on record in the high desert.
Still, there are the iris plants and the robins Pam spotted a few weeks ago. On my last snowmobile trip I saw evidence of snow beginning to melt and exposing bare ground on one of the lower trails. Maybe the end of the winter is in sight. We shall see!
I’ve been in contact with our mountain driveway contractor, Peter, and I will probably meet with him at the Sanderling property sometime this coming week. Peter said he generally can begin excavation work around the first of March. Although the route of the first part of the drive is established, the final route to the saddle where we want to put the building is still unresolved. We can make a sharp turn left, up the hill, or swing out in a more gentle left-hand curve (around a slope) and go up-hill diagonally. The latter option would require a good amount of retaining wall and fill, but would result in a more gentle grade — plus the drive would be in winter sunlight (helping to melt winter snow cover).
The red line is the shorter but steeper route, the blue is the second option:
Driveway options
We hope Peter can give us an opinion based on his expertise in building driveways in the area, and his knowledge of county regulations regarding percent of incline. At this point we really need a driveway to be able to move on to other tasks; the driveway is a priority.
In other news…my old leather coat, a gift from Pam more than 20 years ago, finally died. The zipper will no longer stay shut. It’s like losing an old friend. Pam has ordered me a new L.L Bean coat to replace it (item # TC187484), but I may try to find a shop that will replace the zipper so I can continue to use the old coat for around-the-house chores.
Yesterday was a very nice day so I went for another snowmobile ride on the Grand Mesa. This trip totaled 128 miles, probably the longest ride I have been on. I carried extra fuel just to make sure I could get back to the parking lot OK. (Tabitha: Some sleds have reverse, this one does not.) Most of this ride was on forest service roads so I was able to make good time. Here are a few photos. (Hooray, more snowmobile photos…)
Heading up the trail
Buzzard Pass Divide
I saw a female moose and 2 wolves on this trip, all on Road 265, and all within about 3 miles of each other. On the photo above note the extra gas can. Behind it, in the green sleeve, is my tripod. I did use both this trip!
That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!
My “reference guide” tells me that Buzzard-Muddy Divide Pass is also the border of Grand Mesa & Gunnison Nat’l Forests. Quite a ride… Nice photo of large aspen (& well-cleared land) at 9000+ feet…
‘almost need something like a quickly-triggered “helmet-cam” to take photos of moose/wolves — wildlife always adds something to the stark background in the high country…
I’d assume that the least “damage” done w/your driveway would be best, following the natural slope would seem to provide less maintenance problems. Off course, too steep an incline also provides numerous problems, especially in winter. I’d also assume the shaded, steeper route would also have less exposure to wind (drifts, etc)?
i’m going with the signs of an early spring. i really want one!!
hopefully the driveway guy is helpful—though sounds like you’ve really thought it through well!
thanks for the shout out on the reverse! sure took them long enough 🙂