Got My 'Class B' Certification This Weekend

[Philbert]

A few photos from the training . . .

Philbert

 

[game04]

I also recently got my USFS class B certification back in March. I found out about the class thru the Ozark Trail Association while doing volunteer trail building work. I was really impressed with the class and learned a lot. It was taught by two Forest Service guys that obviously has a lot of experience. The class was all day on Saturday and Sunday... Saturday in the classroom and Sunday we trained in the field. We even covered tree felling and each got to fell one. We did not get to cover crosscut though.

 

[madhatte]

We have a "C" instructor coming around at the end of May. He'll be here for prescribed burns, mostly, as he's a TNC guy, but he's also super-experienced. We're hoping to get our permanent staff "C" certified, as we end up with a lot of gnarly snags on range fires, and while they may not be giant, a lot of them are pretty complex. I'd rather cut a green stem, even on fire, than a rotten snag, any day.

 

[Philbert]

Re-Certification Tomorrow!

Hope it doesn't rain!

Hard to believe that it has been 2 years. The classes are coordinated between some of our state volunteer trail maintenance groups and one of our national forest offices. Always can learn something.

Philbert

 

[Philbert]

Beautiful day. About 30 people showed up - mostly volunteers who need certification to work on trail maintenance projects.

Philbert

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

Hope it doesn't rain!

Hard to believe that it has been 2 years. The classes are coordinated between some of our state volunteer trail maintenance groups and one of our national forest offices. Always can learn something.

Philbert

What did you learn this time?

 

[Erock]

I used to work on the type 6 engine out of Marais

 

[Philbert]

What did you learn this time?

Reinforced some stuff. Got some training ideas. Learned that they won't allow me to take my 40 volt battery powered saw into the BWCAW.

Learned about using a 'hanging wedge' - a steel wedge (or axe head) driven perpendicular to the kerf when cross cutting, to keep the cut-off section of the log from rolling and pinching a blade as it is cut free on a slope.

Learned about offsetting an up-cut slightly when meeting a down-cut to reduce the chance of a blade getting pinched (provides a little more clearance).

The cross cut saw guys are much more focused on not getting their saws pinched than chainsaw guys are, so some of their angled cutting and wedging practices are pretty interesting.

Philbert

 

[zogger]

Reinforced some stuff. Got some training ideas. Learned that they won't allow me to take my 40 volt battery powered saw into the BWCAW.

Learned about using a 'hanging wedge' - a steel wedge (or axe head) driven perpendicular to the kerf when cross cutting, to keep the cut-off section of the log from rolling and pinching a blade as it is cut free on a slope.

Learned about offsetting an up-cut slightly when meeting a down-cut to reduce the chance of a blade getting pinched (provides a little more clearance).

The cross cut saw guys are much more focused on not getting their saws pinched than chainsaw guys are, so some of their angled cutting and wedging practices are pretty interesting.

Philbert

hey, cool tips on that wedging deal! Never heard of that one.

What's up with "not allowing" a battery saw??

 

[Philbert]

What's up with "not allowing" a battery saw??

Wilderness area - no power tools allowed (except for fire work). They only allow trail crews to use cross cut saws (see photo about 10 posts up), axes, etc. Thought I would ask about the battery saw as it is not as loud as a gas saw and doesn't emit any fumes.

Philbert

 

[jwillett]

I got my cert. last year, even though I have been running a saw all my life I did learn a few things. I want to get my felling cert. but I can't take 4 days off of work for this. Our instructor was great, he to cut for a living and ended up working for the FS.

Jim

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

hey, cool tips on that wedging deal! Never heard of that one.

What's up with "not allowing" a battery saw??

Wilderness area - no power tools allowed (except for fire work). They only allow trail crews to use cross cut saws (see photo about 10 posts up), axes, etc. Thought I would ask about the battery saw as it is not as loud as a gas saw and doesn't emit any fumes.

Philbert

I think that 'law' was created before battery chainsaws.

I wonder if the law needs a bit of tweaking? I'm fairly sure the law was created for the noisy equipment. It's kind of like still having laws on the books about cleaning up after your horse in St. Paul! Philbert.....do you still have to do that? LoL!

OH...OP....nice summery of what you learned!

 

[Philbert]

I'm fairly sure the law was created for the noisy equipment.

I don't think so. They don't even let you use portage wheels with your canoe! But the wilderness rules are a topic for a different thread.

Philbert

 

[slowp]

I'm not sure whether I got into the recert or not this year. I will find out soon. I'm taking a class on sawing with others. I hope they don't mind an occasional cuss word. Sometimes such words pop out when the Barbie Saw does something unexpected.

I'm kind of afraid to run a crosscut. I worry that I'll get it pinched, or hit something to dull it.

There are different interpretations of the wilderness law. The Park Service, which runs Mt. Rainier and the Olympic National Parks allow their crews to use chainsaws in the wilderness. The Forest Service does not.
With all the snow we've gotten, and with crews not being hired, it takes quite a while to get the wilderness trails cleared with hand tools. I think there should be a designated Chainsaw Week In The Wilderness. If people don't like the noise, they can hike during the rest of the season.