Logger Lingo

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i'm no left coaster but this is my interpretation

gypo: a freelance timber worker, possibly self employed, or an outcast??

cat side: a strip that was or will be worked with cats(dozers) catskinners are the cat operators

shovel side: i would say that would be a strip that was worked by a yarder??
 
Gypo: Small, independent logging outfit or independent logger. What we mostly have in this area now.

Cat side: What SILogger said.

Shovel side: Shovel logging area. The loader is often called a shovel and can be used to walk out and work logs from out in the unit back to the landing.
It can be easier on the ground than a skidder and requires less people. I heard it all winter, from a gypo logger, working in a unit with a COURT ORDER that no ground based (skidder, cat, shovel, horse) logging was to be done,
"Can I shovel log it? There's enough snow. Nobody would know." If I could sing, I'd have the What Part Of No Don't You Understand song memorized by now. Some loaders/shovels are designed for longer reach so they can reach farther and cause less ground compaction/disturbance. I'd say they can't work on steep ground but it is amazing where I've seen operators shovel log and ....they got shut down for it too. :cry:

Yarder side: Yarder logging area. Also called line machines. Most of the logging around here is yarder because of our wet weather.
 
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We hoe chuck alot of sensitive ground, especially on snow. When we started hoe chucking on the coast (esp. in the second growth) the grapple yarder crews got prety crabby as the tracked loaders started to rob their ground. We will hoe chuck up to 50% slopes and can reach abit steeper if the fallers tip the trees down hill (grab the tops and slide down hill). Alot of the hoe chuck is done in conjunction with a grapple skidder around here. Most of the guys hoe chucking here use larger hydraulic loaders (Madill 1800 - 3800 series loaders) like slowp mentioned they have the reach - some use a heal and grapple - others just a grapple. If they're not loading in the landing then they can be out in the block chucking. Some pics below show hoe chucking and cable yarding (w/grapple).
 
A wealth of info. Thanks a bunch guys.
Now besides the obvious, what is the difference in uphill verse downhill? Does that have to do with where the landing is?
Also... Gypo is that gi-po?
 
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A wealth of info. Thanks a bunch guys.
Now besides the obvious, what is the difference in uphill verse downhill? Does that have to do with where the landing is?
Also... Gypo is that gi-po?

Uphill yarding is dragging the logs from below the landing uphill to the landing. Logs will stay in line when getting pulled uphill. Gear can be packed downhill by the rigging crew and then when that road (area reached from a setting) is yarded, the blocks and wire can be yarded up. Less scarring of leave trees, more control. We like this.
Downhill yarding, is dragging the logs and trying to keep them in control coming down to the yarder landing. More dangerous, slower but we do a lot of it in my local area because it cuts down on road building. Ideally you want a hill with a flattish bottom where the yarder sits so the logs can be slowed down using the terrain if things get out of hand. Otherwise, if something goes bad, the logs can slam into the yarder and shovel and chaser. All the blocks and haywire have to be packed uphill by the rigging crew and everything is very heavy. Haywire is a small about a quarter inch steel line that is used to pull up the skyline through the blocks because it can be packed and comes in shorter sections to make it packable. The sections are fastened together. "They're stringing out the haywire." The haywire is strung out, run through the block(s) and then attached to the skyline. Then the yarder spools in the haywire and that pulls the larger skyline into place. So, packing all this stuff uphill can be a real pain, literally.

Cat, skidder, skidding is the opposite, downhill good, uphill bad.

Gypo is pronounce Gyp as in Gypsy and po as in we have no money so we are po'.

Here's a couple of pictures showing a landing set up for downhill, and a hooktender starting to "pack steel" or haywire up the hill. He's got it on his right shoulder. Notice the duck tape.
A boring color. :(
 
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Thanks much Slowp!
I feel as if I'm in school again... The little differences are pretty interesting.
Do you always carry a camera with you?
BLAAHH to the boring colors... I flash hot pink laces on my winter calks:clap:
 
Thanks much Slowp!
I feel as if I'm in school again... The little differences are pretty interesting.
Do you always carry a camera with you?
BLAAHH to the boring colors... I flash hot pink laces on my winter calks:clap:

I do pack my little camera when the weather is not too nasty. I've been getting a good collection of photos so when somebody asks what will it look like, or what will happen, or claims the world as we know it will come to a violent end if we cut a tree, I can download and print a picture and show what goes on. Works great with people that won't get out on the ground but know what goes on because they read about it somewhere. :)
 
Here is a couple of pictures taken of the shovel side. Notice that the Spar pole is also set up on this side as well. Makes it easier for the shovel operator to pick logs and sort them in "short stacks" prior to being loaded on the trucks.

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Gary
 
'Side,' at least in Southern Oregon, is used as a generic name for a complete logging setup. The following (imagined) conversation might illustrate:

"How many sides is Hanson running these days?"

"He's got a yarder side and two cat sides."

Meaning that he is running two ground skidding operations and one high-lead.

Gyppo is also used here for owner-operator log truck drivers.
 
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Can't say I've ever heard of a "Super Snorkel"...

The term "shovel" as it was explained to me, comes from back in the day when steam shovels were converted to loaders for logging operations. The loggers just kept referring to them as "shovels".

I guess the proper term would be "grapples".

I can't remember if that particular loggin' outfit was usin' a Skagit or not for the the yarder/spar pole. There is 4 Skagit yarders sittin' about 40 miles from my house just rottin' to the ground. They aren't used as much anymore. :cry:

Gary
 
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Can't say I've ever heard of a "Super Snorkel"...

The term "shovel" as it was explained to me, comes from back in the day when steam shovels were converted to loaders for logging operations. The loggers just kept referring to them as "shovels".

I guess the proper term would be "grapples".

I can't remember if that particular loggin' outfir was usin' a Skagit or not for the the yarder/spar pole. There is 4 Skagit yarders sittin' about 40 miles from my house just rottin' to the ground. They aren't used as much anymore. :cry:

Gary


well go buy one and start logging!!!:hmm3grin2orange: :cheers:
 

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