Airstrip Progress

I mentioned building an airstrip a few weeks ago (here). It’s time for an update.

Remember I said I would not be working with a shovel and rake? Here is my “tool” – it is a Case skiploader. It is WAY better than a shovel! I may occasionally refer to it is as ‘the tractor.’

It is a Case 570MXT which is a lot like a backhoe but has a six-way Gannon box scraper on the back instead of the hoe.  The scraper is really great for moving soil around.

The airstrip is taking shape. I had to clear a good many trees. The New Mexico high country “forests” are referred to as “Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands”. Yes, believe it or not, the majority of the trees are Pinyon Pine and Juniper. The tall pine trees I really love. The juniper, not so much. It has its purpose, of course; but it is not super attractive to me. I’ve never considered myself a tree-hugger but I now think that I might be. Knocking down pine trees is heart wrenching – I do not like it. As a crop, it would be fine but this is to satisfy my petty desire to have an airstrip. I kept focusing on the fact that, as I percentage, I was killing very few trees.  Plus, it will eventually become firewood.

The following are in-progress photos of the work.

With the skiploader, the Pine trees come down pretty easily with a push. The Junipers though… they can be a serious pain to remove. They have a big root system and require lots of digging all around and then a very specific push – which includes a bit of lifting simultaneously. That ‘push’ has required LOTS of practice to figure out – I certainly have not mastered it. Thus, I am developing more dislike for the Junipers than I had previously.

Most of the runways/airstrips in the country are straight. I think this is because all airstrip/runway designers are boring people that own only a pencil and straightedge. Thankfully, I don’t own a straightedge!

Actually, I’m not even sure I have a pencil…. Maybe…

My airstrip will be crooked – as in bent, having a curve.

Pretty Kewl, eh!!! 🙂

I decided to work on the airstrip in three sections. The northern most section would be the easiest and quickest as it had the least amount of work to do. The middle section next. The southern end last. The southern end would be the most work and is still waiting for me. I knew if I could get a bit of the northern end done, some friends with back-country airplanes would come for a visit.

After clearing the area, a good bit of dirt-work was required to smooth, level, and compact the soft spots where tree’s had previously stood. This means many hours on the skiploader.

Currently, I am waiting for the gravel truck to being delivering cinders. This should start later this week and continue for a week or two. Cinders are to New Mexico what gravel is to the rest of the country. Gravel is available here (in this middle of nowhere spot) but it is expensive to haul in. Volcanic Cinders are pulled directly from the ground and plentiful. Remember, this is the Continental Divide and the property is along the “Chain of Craters“. Volcanic rock (lava rock) is everywhere! The cinders, like gravel, will firm up the airstrip and make it more like a gravel road than just dirt.

This past weekend I spent a day working over the rough spots in the dirt road leading into the property. The worst sections had lots of exposed lava rock. Big ones too!! They were not going to be moved so covering them was the only option I could see. It was obvious from the ruts that the road can become mighty icky (muddy) in some spots (not where the rocks are) during the monsoon season (June/July). In an effort to minimize this problem, I attempted to create a low area beside the road for the water to run into – instead of sitting on the road. Not sure I succeeded and sure hope I didn’t make it any worse. Time will tell… some cinders over these spots would probably help.

I must enjoy the tractor work. One day this past weekend I went to work with her at about 9:00 am. After a while, I decided I should head home and get something to eat and drink. I arrived to find that it was 4:30 in the afternoon!!

Good times! 🙂