Bucking This Out of a Trail

[slowp]

I had to go to a meeting this afternoon. Since I usually leave meetings in a foul mood, I started out the day by heading up a road to see how far I could get. Found what I wanted, lots of stuff to cut out of the road. I wanted those endorphins to kick in so I'd be serene during the meeting. I made it up to see that last years slide did not reoccur on a haul road. But there was a maple that had slid down into the road. I studied it a bit and went to work on the far side, figuring that the root wad was likely to shift the other way. Cut two sections out, then went to the other side cuz I figured the danger of getting hit if it slid straight down was greater than the root wad shifting to the side. Oh, did I mention I cleared out every little branch that might trip me if I had to skedaddle out of the way? Cut on a lower part until the tree shifted a bit then finished up as much as I wanted to on an easier top where I could watch the rootwad while cutting. I will mention it to the road guy that he might want to go up and hook up to the rest of it with the backhoe. Endorphins kicked in, all was calm during meeting. Here's some pictures. Used my hat for scale. The blue on said hat is tree marking paint.
Note to self, remove moss and it is easier to see if cut is closing up or opening.

 

[techdave]

Hi Slowp I am with joesawyer. This kind of removal has always been our bread and butter as trailworkers. Last year I was off work, so I spent TONS of time removing old growth killed by the cedar fire in 2003 that finally fell over a FR or trail.

On smaller diameter and lesser slope I always do just liek Joesawyer said, offside, then compression side, then finish from the tension side.

If the log is big diameter or the endbind is steep, I make the same sequence of cuts but with a reverse salami, that is angled so the bottom of the cut is farther downhill. Allows the unsupported piece farther downhill to settle, otherwise the corner might get hung up.

As others said, watch for any funny unexpected bindings trying to happen as you go in.
No side bind from hidden rocks is there?

 

[techdave]

No power tools rule and red flag days

hi Airecon, the FS guy who runs the crew is responsible for the safety of the volunteers. I have not met many non WILDLAND FF and non timber fallers I would want to work with on asaw crew, unless the civilian got a lot of training first.

Our vols have to get certified each year, and the number is limited. Vols who show up alot and are hard workers get the slots to saw.

I am not for a moment saying you are like this at all, but lots of the public are not safe workers and lots of guys wont listen at all to instructions or safety talk.

The rule sucks sometimes, but I see why it exists.

As for weather stopping the work, if its red flag we cant saw period. It's another rule I hate sometimes, but even more than the qualified operators only rule, I get why it exists.