Fording a creek - Small Cabin Forum

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Small Cabin Forum / Properties / Fording a creek


Author	Message
Ncgirl1975 Member	# Posted: 20 Apr 2019 05:55pm Reply My property is divided by a creek. Itâ€™s about 80 feet from bank to bank. Currently, the only way of getting from one side to the other is wading through the creek or taking a 15 minute drive around and over the countyâ€™s road. The creek depth changes frequently from as low as 18 inches to 3 feet. Weâ€™ve considered putting in a bridge, but at 80 feet thatâ€™s cost and labor prohibitive. Has anyone else had success with a ferry system, a zip line or a Tyrolese Traverse? TIA

Brettny Member	# Posted: 21 Apr 2019 08:03am Reply What are you trying to get from one side to another?

old243 Member	# Posted: 21 Apr 2019 08:56am Reply What is the bottom of the stream bed like, hard, soft. mud , gravel .old 243

offgrididaho Member	# Posted: 21 Apr 2019 11:01am Reply Lots of systems like this here in Idaho suspended over gaps easily more than 80 wide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs0G9FQ15Ww ... but looks to me like some seriously significant engineering to install. What sort of restrictions do you think your county has on doing work within the streambed? Does the creek ever go dry? If it dries out every once in a while you could consider paving across the creek bed, then you have a very solid surface (that hopefully won't erode away) to drive on. Even then though you're restricted on how deep of moving water your comfortable to drive in (not much over the hubs is what the flood warnings say). There's a place south of here that uses two old railroad car frames as their bridge, you could try something like that if you could source the cars, build a single pier in the middle. Could be pretty sketchy though.

Ncgirl1975 Member	# Posted: 21 Apr 2019 11:02am - Edited by: Ncgirl1975 Reply Re what we are moving across...Just people and a fishing pole or two.

Ncgirl1975 Member	# Posted: 21 Apr 2019 11:05am Reply The bottom of the streambed is quite rocky. We usually wade across it, but that can be treacherous. One is not likely to make it across without a good potential for a spill. Also, crossing between October and March is out due to temperatures.

offgrididaho Member	# Posted: 21 Apr 2019 11:07am Reply How about a raft clipped to a fixed cable, run it at angle so the current helps you go one way and have a 12v winch with wireless remote to pull it back the other way? Battery and small solar panel and you're set.

Ncgirl1975 Member	# Posted: 21 Apr 2019 11:16am Reply Quoting: offgrididaho ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs0G9FQ15Ww ... but looks to me like some seriously significant engineering to install This would be a perfect solution, but the engineering is beyond my capabilities. Putting anything on the creekbed isnâ€™t an option as it doesnâ€™t dry up (18 inches at its lowest), and local restriction on interference of water flow. Not to mention what it does to the ecosystem of the river.

FishHog Member	# Posted: 21 Apr 2019 12:52pm Reply If itâ€™s only a 15 min drive around I would just drive around

DaveBell Moderator	# Posted: 21 Apr 2019 04:05pm Reply Quoting: Ncgirl1975 Re what we are moving across...Just people and a fishing pole or two. I can see Ron White commenting, "try casting farther".

Rickkrus Member	# Posted: 21 Apr 2019 05:32pm Reply Old fashioned ferry. Raft with a rope tied off on both sides.

Fanman Member	# Posted: 21 Apr 2019 06:18pm Reply How about a suspension bridge?

Brettny Member	# Posted: 22 Apr 2019 10:04am Reply Zip line with a seat would be cheapest if you dont want to boat across.

Aklogcabin Member	# Posted: 24 Apr 2019 11:01am - Edited by: Aklogcabin Reply Maybe have a talk with a house moving company or steel supplies about steel I beams. They may be able to tell you how far you can span and weight support. And cost . May be able to go from foot bridge to auto. I have researched this before and was told that as long as the river banks were undisturbed no permit. Was a while back though. And as we all know government always seems to grow . Way too many folks who think more government is the answer. To the point that folks canâ€™t even do what they want to do on their own property. A shame in my mind.

beachman Member	# Posted: 24 Apr 2019 04:05pm Reply We have almost the same issue but the brook is not quite as wide but the depth varies about the same and we cannot block the opening. We were considering a road/path around the back where the brook is narrower and getting an old flat equipment trailer to roll into place as a bridge. The other expensive option is getting an Argo amphibious vehicle to use all year round.

GregGibson Member	# Posted: 24 Apr 2019 04:56pm Reply Around South Georgia, a lot of the farmers use old mobile home frames for rough bridges for their center-pivot irrigation systems. Old abandoned mobile homes can be bought for a song, and tearing off the uppers isn't a big job. The frames are heavy enough to make a light bridge, but nothing that would hold up for vehicle traffic. Golf Carts, Gators, 4 wheelers, yes. And they are available up to 80 feet, although 72 feet is more common.

mj1angier Member	# Posted: 26 Apr 2019 08:03pm Reply How about setting some Jersey barriers down and putting a walk way on top. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_barrier

KinAlberta Member	# Posted: 2 May 2019 06:18pm Reply Or two dock sections -wheels on one end of each and drop down supports on the sides -one section on each side - roll them together in the spring and retract them in the fall

Kamn Member	# Posted: 6 May 2019 03:56pm Reply You could also look at getting yourself an ex military M35A2 Duece and Half truck that is a 6x6 and just drive right through the creek

KinAlberta Member	# Posted: 6 May 2019 06:40pm - Edited by: KinAlberta Reply Stilts. Or a ferry. Run a cable across the span and connect it to a winch on a raft (with wheels) to pull it across and then up on either sideâ€™s bank.