Eagle View

After losing our 20-acre dream spot to an unexpected landfill history we thought that was it for this project.  We sat in a trance of disbelief for a few days after terminating that contract, then we decided to write a few more letters to vacant land owners; we had nothing to lose.  We honestly did not think anything was going to come of it this time, but were we surprised!  We found a second land owner that was willing to sell at a reasonable price.  As fate has it, we are back under contract, this time for a 3-acre parcel of land.  This new lot is not far away from the 20-acre Irwin property, but this one is in Swan Valley, Idaho and still has the same great valley views of Baldy & Sheep Mountains, plus the other mountains surrounding the valley.  Hopefully this contract will not go down in flames like the previous.... time will tell.

The shot below shows the Head Surveyor, (Gari) with her clipboard directing the measurements we made one Saturday not so long ago.  We were on the lot trying to determine if the improvements of a shop, house, well, septic system and electric transformer would all fit onto the lot.  The land looks flat in the pictures, but there is a couple foot drop off in the corner of the lot where Romeo is parked.  We think that area would not be suitable for any of our improvements, so the 3-acres is limited to a little more than 2-acres.

Here we come out of Phase IV of this Little Spoken Project, which was restarting the search for "our spot".  We are now calling this Phase V - Eagle View.  We chose that name simply because there are Bald Eagles in the area; they like to fish the Snake River, which is just in front of those mountains seen below.  On this day we witnessed two Red Tail Hawks dogging this Bald Eagle.  The hawks were dive bombing the eagle and the eagle was swooping this way and that as hard as it could.  The huge three birds flew close over our heads and the air noise through their feathers was amazing!  Such large birds, and in flying combat mode, what a sight and sound that was.  We were able to snap one picture that captured the eagle in frame before they were gone from our sight just as quickly as they had appeared.

Below the Head Surveyor's field dog (Steve), runs the measuring wheel to the next point to be marked.  We were out on the lot with our 100 ft tape measure, when our adjoining neighbors Rick & Patty saw us wrestling the tape and brought over their Surveyor's Wheel.  We had seen but never before used a measuring wheel.  After a short learning curve our operation sped right up.  We estimate that wheel saved us a couple hours in making our measurements, definitely the way to go.  Thank you Rick & Patty!

Steve points out the foot counter display on the wheel.  Steve likes that wheel!  You can see the now obsolete 100 ft tape laying idle on the ground...

Nothing but the best in this surveying outfit!  We picked up a bundle of sticks that were trimmed at our RV park before we left and carried them to the lot to be used as surveying markers.  You can see the other surveying tools employed at Steve's feet; a rubber mallet and a spare lynch pin that was used as a punch to open up holes in the ground for the twig markers.  We later obtained some actual grade stakes and upgraded the layout.  The good news is that everything fit on the high ground with a little room to spare.

The shot below is taken from the southwest lot corner looking toward the east.  You can just see Gari and Romeo in the distance.

A little closer in below you can see the four grade staked corners of the future pole barn.  Gari is setting up a shot at about where the future house will sit.

Standing at the same southwest lot corner, now turning the camera 90 degrees to the north in the view below.  Our initial driveway will lay just to the frame right of the telephone pole that is nearest to the fence line.

This shot below is taken from the northwest lot corner looking to the east.  The initial gravel driveway will be located very near to that leaning fence post.... which all of those fence posts will have to go.  They have seen their day and have earned their retirement.

Below is a grade stake installed marking one side of the future 14 ft wide gravel driveway.  You can see the "Idaho Sand" at the edge of the lot... that is the round river rocks.  This valley was carved by the mighty Snake River and the river rocks abound here.  They continue to "grow" as they are lifted up by the freeze and thaw cycles, heaving more of them to the surface every season.

 Zooming in on the view above, you can see a better image of Red Ridge situated south of the Snake River down towards the Palisades Reservoir.  The reservoir is 16,000 acres with 70 miles of shore line right behind the Palisades Dam, which is seen below as a white line at ground level frame left of Red Ridge (pointy peak).  You can just make out the Salt River Mountain Range east of the reservoir with Bradly and Elk Mountains and Deadhorse Peak to name a few high spots.  There is still a lot of snow up there, that will soon be down here as melt off.  The dam is about 5 miles from Eagle View.