I repent of my sins!

[slowp]

Great pictures. The offer of help still stands but it looks like you already have
a darn good crew.

Same here. Is that a picture of the firehose belay? We used to do that on slash burns. But that was a long time ago. For those who are new to the world of burning/mopup, it is VERY important to make sure the hose is still connected to a hefty pump or engine.

Mopup: yet another job nobody wants to do. Good for you all!

 

[2dogs]

Here a few pics from yesterday. I have not called for any help yet because I can only work on Saturdays right now. The river job will be done in a week or two and then maybe off to another site with the yarder. My boss is not the great communicator so half the time I don't know what we are doing from day to day. When I know I will let you all know.

We started by removing several trees from the river including this redwood. I took another scout and his older sister with us. He fell in the river first thing in the morning. "Large woody debris" is very controversial in Collyfornia but rather than ask permission from the fish cops we are going to yank all the trees right above the dam.

We were using the camp's JD backhoe but it burst a hydraulic hose on the outrigger. Cody is a good operator.

I am going to snag this piece of old growth. Tight grain!

This tree was flagged for removal but I think it will be OK. If not the removal will be a huge task.

This Douglass fir measured out at 167' on the ground and was a mild head leaner. It had a large fungus on it that fell off a few months ago and near the ground the trunk showed rot. I bored the tree ON ONE SIDE, the bad side and I figured the whole tree was like that. Wrong! I should have bored both sides because 75% of the diameter was unaffected by the fungus/rot. I put in the horizontal cut with the 394 like a hot knife through butter. When I went to put in the sloping cut I hit a nail and dulled the chain. The 394 has a 42" bar that just reached through tree but now I switched to the 660 with a 36" bar. Not much difference I know but I had to change my battle plan. You can see a very wide hinge that broke early due to the rot. The fibers pulled on the good side while the rot just broke. The tree fell within 3' of where I wanted to fall so no big deal there. When I left the trunk as the tree was falling I got tangled up in some burned wire I did not see before and fell on my face 8' from the stump. Duh! I bucked 6 nice 16' logs for milling and Cody cut the rest at 16" for firewood.

The rest of the day was business as usual. More firs and tan oaks fell to the saw. More to follow in 2 weeks. This Friday I head to the Sierras to fall the first of 200 trees that need to come down.

 

[kennertree]

Nice pics 2dogs!

 

[wldhoss]

Basin Complex Fire

I spent 10 days on that fire as a equipment manager in the fire camp at the state park. Interesting country. I drooled over some of the big trees that burned or were damaged by fire. They sure would look good on my mill. The "Hills Ranch", Hills Bros. coffee, was an interesting story. Got to tour the light house while there. We camped at the Navel Base while there. Its a abandoned cold war sub listening base,protecting the bay. Had a chance to drive many of those back roads, Coast Rd.

Thanks for the Pics.

 

[2dogs]

I spent 10 days on that fire as a equipment manager in the fire camp at the state park. Interesting country. I drooled over some of the big trees that burned or were damaged by fire. They sure would look good on my mill. The "Hills Ranch", Hills Bros. coffee, was an interesting story. Got to tour the light house while there. We camped at the Navel Base while there. Its a abandoned cold war sub listening base,protecting the bay. Had a chance to drive many of those back roads, Coast Rd.

Thanks for the Pics.

My wife's great grandmother was born on the Molera ranch. Her maiden name was Romero. My wife's g-mother was a docent at the Big Sur lighthouse for years. Which Navy installation did you stay at?

Hey and thanks for your service on the Basin Complex!

 

[joesawer]

Nice pics,good looking crew, and good work. Thanks for posting them.

 

[wldhoss]

Basin Fire

We stayed at the abandoned Navel station across from the lighthouse. Camped out in the grass, buildings were off limits because of asbestos and mold in the buildings. Our equipment inspections and weed wash station was set up there. We weed wash all vehicles coming and leaving the fire to prevent the spread of noxious weeds and sudden oak decease. Met the security guy for the Hill Ranch, with the truck with 20 antennas and all the high tech radar and listening devices, all to keep people off his property. Said to own 8 miles of coast line.
Didn't your grandmother marry the lighthouse station keeper. I remember hearing some such story.
Last day I was there I worked with the rehab group. Met the local forester that determines what trees are considered dangerous or not. Like our cedars the red woods can loose alot of wood and still be structurally safe.
Got to see a stihl 090 with a 72" bar.
After our caterers left we ate up at the Big Sur Inn. Nice!
We demobbed because the fire was all on the East side.
Later

 

[danimal66]

nice

nice pics boss man , good family pic workin hard .......rad!::greenchainsaw: you must have a cold one after all that work, looks warm