Fixing the Cabin Driveway

Fixing the Cabin Driveway

The driveway project is done!! Well, mostly done! The driveway to Guten Cabin has long been a challenge. The property has a slope to it and years of use has resulted in deep ruts with multiple layers of gravel. During the spring, summer, and autumn, it is a climb but still usable. During the winter, the snow compacts and turns into ice. When that happens, we have a snow-blowing service regularly come through but 4-wheel drive is usually still needed.

 

Throughout this summer, a road improvement project has been underway on the main road in front of the cabin, which completely closed off our lower entrance. Without it, we were left to enter and exit through the upper drive, which is even steeper.

 

We met with Chelan County engineers and agreed the best solution would be to wait till their project was completed and then fix our lower entrance and lose the upper driveway. The road construction is in its final stages and there now is a wider, safer, and quieter road that has a nice shoulder for joggers and bicyclists.

 

With that wrapping up, I recently spent four days with Doug of Doug Bennett Landscaping. Doug is Adrianne’s father and a seasoned pro at projects like this. He brought along his backhoe, trailer, and right-hand man Huy. Huy is a talented and patient backhoe operator. He has a gentle touch and a methodical approach.

 

In just a few days they made tremendous improvement. A lower tract has been added and a new passage was forged for access to theparking behind the cabin. A turn around was also added. The driveway is in better-than-ever condition.

 

In October, we will be back to finish installing retaining walls and to transplant a dozen 14-foot spruce trees for privacy. More to come on that.

 

We want to give a huge thank you to Doug Bennett Landscaping. Without their help we may have been without a driveway this winter. They are the best in the business. Just ask his daughter.