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First Place West Region
Gene Eaton Sam Chambers 
Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Over the River and Through the Wood - A Wooden Walkway
The cottonwood and spruce logs lying around Sam Chambers' woodlot provided plenty of raw material, Sam's mother and brother took care of the design, and Sam and his Wood-Mizer sawmill brought it to fruition.
Sam cut the cull lumber for his mother and brother to build a 240-foot long wooden walkway over and through rock gardens in the woods near the family cabin in rural olorado. Sam cut cottonwood for the support beams and decking - and spruce for the remainder of the decking. The meandering boardwalk has stunning views in every direction and complements the beauty Mother Nature provides. Sam estimates that he cut 1,500 board feet of lumber in preparation for the boardwalk, and he's still not finished. "It is an unusual project that will be added to as lumber and time permits," Sam says. So far, he's totaled up $2,000 in savings because he used his Wood-Mizer sawmill.
The walkway is a big hit with his mother. Sam says, "Mom sits on the deck every day with her tea in a nice shaded area near our cabin." Everyone needs a peaceful place for reflection and thanks. |