Jay, Larry and I have been slowly working on clearing out a new trail that will also act as the work road up to the top. We're cutting the trail just wide enough to pull the truck up. Our hope is to get a dozer or excavator in to bench the trail well enough to pull the truck up. It'll also be a great way to quickly drive an atv, tractor or snowmachine up and down the hill. It should make for a nice beginner run that we already named "Jay Way."
During the spring we decided that it would be a lot easier to have the truck at the top. With a drive at the top of the hill we won't have to deal with counter weights etc. The two backyard tows we visited last winter at Maplehurst Farm in Greensboro both had tractor pto drives at the top. Pete, the owner, said it was definitely a lot easier to have it at the top. Since we had issues with slipping and the drive wheel being too small last winter - we figured it probably makes sense for us put it at the top as well. We'll have more room at the top to (eventually) build a shed over Roxy (the truck) too. With it being in the middle of the summer again it certainly feels like cutting through a jungle. Trees always grow in fast and fairly thick in Vermont.
Jay and I ran the chainsaws. Here is Jay.
Here is lower section after cutting.
Here is the same section after Larry stacked all of the brush off to the side of the trail.
The amount of brush Larry moved in just 2 hours was impressive.
Here is the top section right after the first of two switchbacks.
