A frame log dump

[John Ellison]

Here are a few pictures showing one of the ways to unload a truck when the wood is getting rafted in the water. A frames used to be common in SE AK. for logging close to shore and they were also used for unloading trucks. These pics were at Jim Campbells camp at Little Naukati on POW in 1979.

What you can't see at the top is a crosspiece about 3/4 the way up and a top piece, they are both notched and lashed heavily with 3/4" line.

Wish I had better pics, but see the line on the far right that goes out into the water, that is the snap guy that is strictly a safety guy that is anchored and is supposed to keep the a frame from coming over backwards if for some reason the spreader bar is pulled all the way to the top and then some. They normally would lift the load with the mainline untill the bunks were cleared and then slack the haulback which would let the load drift out under the tip of the A frame and it hung out a ways over the water. Then both lines were slacked and the load was lowered to the water. Toggel hooks held until the load hit the water then fell off when they got slack. Notice how the left leg is gouged out from the spreader hitting it. That and the snap guy have a place in "the rest of the story".

 

[John Ellison]

Here is the boom boat getting a bundle that was just dumped, the bulkhead is on the right. I only worked on the water a few days so if anyone spots any terminolgy errors be sure and holler at me. They would push the bundle out to the raft that they were building nearby.

 

[Gologit]

Good pictures. Thanks.

 

[paccity]

View attachment 194360 heres one from valsetz at the log dump on the back side of the lake. used to go wach it when i was a youngone.

 

[John Ellison]

Shortly after these pics were taken the left leg of the a frame (where it was gouged out) broke while unloading a truck. Big mess and took awhile to clean up. The siderod and the bullbuck took off looking for two perfect sticks. They were around 4'+ x 90'+. Took awhile to locate, fall, and then get them to camp several miles away. Then they had to be peeled and notched and the crosspiece and top piece fitted and lashed. Then positioned with the top out over the bulkhead. We waited until after supper to raise it. The whole camp came down to watch. There was a d7 dozer on each leg. Two cable shovels picking it up out by the crosspiece, and a Washington TL6 swing machine pulling on the top from about 100+ feet behind. It slowly went into position, we connected the guy lines to a deadman ( buried log ) and it was standing on its own. Pretty cool as it was the first time I had ever seen anything like that. Haha but it was'nt gonna be the last.

Next morning there were just four of us there. Was'nt much left to do and it would be ready to go. The operater started the machine and then went over to bs with the siderod. Myself and another guy were putting some more cable clamps on the guy lines that were behind the yarder. The snap guy was'nt anchored yet and the main was not connected to the spreader, it was choked to the bottom of the aframe so it would'nt get away. We were bent over upside down working on the clamps that were about a foot off the ground. All of a sudden the lines jiggled a little and then started dropping. We raised up, wondering wtf and then realized the a frame was coming over backwards! RUN Dang, of course it hit the yarder dead center and totaled it. He had the frictions in on the main line when it was started.
The snap guy wasnt anchored which should have prevented it. The yarder had air frictions that turn the drums so when it built up air it went to work. Just broke one leg of the a frame but it sure was a mess.

So we had to do it all over again plus bring in another sled yarder. The guy in the pic was'nt the operator at the time.

 

[John Ellison]

Don't you know that story got told a lot all over S.E. for awhile. We had the distinction of being the only outfit that had three different a frames in three different days.



Here are some good ole boys headed to town for some fun and games. Sixty miles of gravel road each direction. Bunkhouse A and B in the back. Thats were all the rigging rats stayed. View attachment 194380

 

[John Ellison]

View attachment 194360 heres one from valsetz at the log dump on the back side of the lake. used to go wach it when i was a youngone.

Yes its neat when a bundle hits the water, can really make a splash.

 

[slowp]

I was told, that when equipment became obsolete in this area, it got a second life in Alaska.

 

[lfnh]

Back in post 5, the first photo, do you know the Make/Model of the Yarder or have any more photos of it ?

Good photographs and story about the A-arms. Thanks.

 

[John Ellison]

I was told, that when equipment became obsolete in this area, it got a second life in Alaska.

Yep, most or all came up on barges.

 

[John Ellison]

Back in post 5, the first photo, do you know the Make/Model of the Yarder or have any more photos of it ?

Good photographs and story about the A-arms. Thanks.

No I was wondering that myself. Besides wishing I took more photos I didnt write much down about them.
Here are some that I put on AS before but its been years ago.

View attachment 194386 This is me and a Skagit 80. We were taking it up a hill side on Dall Island June 83.

 

[John Ellison]

Same yarder a little further up the hill. AndView attachment 194387View attachment 194388 an a frame that was used for logging and swinging down from the head tree.

Going from memory but I think it was a Berger on this a frame.

 

[slowp]

I like the views of the water--But that would make it too tempting to go out and go fishing.

 

[John Ellison]

Here are some more. First one the climber is hanging the block for the main line. He was good. Second is dup, sorry. Third is the head tree or the first one up from the water. I chased on this one. Had to wear two whistles as I could not see the yarder and the a frame on the water was swinging them down the hill as they came in to this tree(hot0

I was wrong about the yarder on post 12, here it is again and I can see the Skagit sign on the cab

 

[paccity]

Yep, most or all came up on barges.

we are waiting for some equipment to come down from there on barg.

 

[John Ellison]

we are waiting for some equipment to come down from there on barg.

Check the fuel tanks they are probably full of water. Only half in jest.

 

[Joe46]

They had a similar setup in Port Angeles when they were still booming in the harbor. It was on Ediz Hook. They had a little half moon pier the trucks would drive out on. It was a nice place to shrimp in the evenings.