Weeding the maple trees

"Low impact logging"?

So did you rent the skidder or hire someone to harvest your trees?

I had a rodman once who quit to go work for a local logger and run their skidder. About a week latter the guy came back and said that he had quit the logging job because they were going to get him killed. Apparently the logger expected him to be very aggressive when operating his equipment, the more board feet that comes out of the woods the more $ he makes. I have had a few survey jobs where logging/clearing was going on at the same time and I made real sure I stayed clear of the cutters and skidders.

Be careful!

T.W.

It a cable skidder owner by a logger friend of mine. This property is way too steep to use my truck and just too big of a job for me. I am having him take approx 60 cords of firewood, and several loads of softwood logs; most of which will be sold. I will keep probably half of the firewood for myself. Finally broke down and bought a wood splitter for this one.

The sugarbush has not been thinned in 22 years and needs it. I am taking this opportunity to replace much of my tubing system and possible add vacuum.

I logged with a logger for a couple months one summer just before starting surveying for the first time.
There was just 2 of us. The boss/owner ran the dozer and cut in roads. I ran the skidder. He did the felling and I did most of the limbing and tipping. Once we had a decent sized pile we both skidded logs to the landing site. The dozer had a winch and chokers as well. I usually set all the chokers. Once we got a decent pile going at the landing, he would jump on the loader while I continued making runs with more logs and make sure he had plenty close enough to grab with the loader. If not, I used the blade to push them in place.
He wasn't a slave driver or danger seeker by any stretch but we damm sure didn't slow down once we got going.

It's still dangerous as all get out. One day I was pulling a choker up hill to set one on a big monster. They start getting real heavy after 50+ feet. The one I was pulling got hung on something and when I turned around to free, it fired loose and the ball hit square between the eyes. (glad it wasn't the bell!!) My hat went flying off about 20' away. It almost knocked me clean out. By the time got up, just a couple of seconds, the blood was already pouring down my face. It looked way worse than it was but it sure had the boss-man worried for a while until got myself re-composed.

Mom was mighty relieved to hear I wasn't logging anymore.

Eric

I have turned a few jobs over the years that involved cutting trees down. It's one of the most dangerous jobs out there.

I figure I already have enough trees to cut down just to supply my firewood, sugaring wood and logs for my sawmill. This logging operation should take care of my needs for a few years without having to fell and skid them out myself.

Now if it would just stop raining long enough for the woods to dry out.