Convert clay path to adobe driveway?

My retreat is in an area accessible only by a 500 ft clay trail. When it rains or snows itisimpossible to drive in or out.

While the weather is nice, can I add sand and straw (and perhaps even some quickcrete) and turn this into an adobe driveway? I am willing to work it section by section if need be. I just need advice. Last winter I (my car was, that is)was "stuck" there (too stubborn to walk out as I had everything else I needed) for 3 weeks.

http://books.google.com/books?id=pAAAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA96&dq=tiller+soil+cement+popular&hl=en&sa=X&ei=jkovUuXtA4yayQGtj4CYBw&ved=0CEAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=tiller%20soil%20cement%20popular&f=false

See if this link works.

That was an AWESOME issue of Popular Science for the permie.

Edit: you may have to scroll back up to get to the top of that article.

Basically you are building rammed earth flat on the ground. NO STRAW. If you have clay, you will need to add sand/gravel and concrete per mix. It will take a lot of work for a 500' drive (beg/borrow/rent a tractor with tiller and a compactor).

Probably cheaper (but still not cheap) to add rock. If you are going to rock the driveway, do it right or the clay will absorb all the rock within a year or two and you are back to the beginning.

hi Miller, I wouldn't use straw or any other organic material, as it will decay with time and continue the mud. You need rock. http://www.ruralhometech.com/RoadDrivewayMaintenance/ADitchInTime/tabid/79/Default.aspx

james beam

http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@asia/@ro-bangkok/documents/genericdocument/wcms_101011.pdf

another excellent couple chapters to read, that details roadbed drainage with principals & techniques.

james beam

Do you have a lot of brush or wood waste on site or nearby? You might try building bonfires on the driveway, section by section. If you get it hot enough long enough you might bake the surface hard, like a brick. Perhaps you can incorporate biochar or some other yield from the fires.....