Logging in British Columbia

[Gypo Logger]

Hi There, did ya get ere' done yet?
Well Dennis told me of a logger you wanted to buy an 044 Arctic, and I just happened to have a nice new one that I sold to him.
Anyway, this sale payed off as he invited me to where he was falling timber on a mountain slope. He was cutting only beetle killed timber that was 125 ft. tall, mostly Fir, Pine and Spruce. It was totaly different than falling hardwoods, mainly because of all the dead timber that was laying on the forest floor and the trees so tight together making it somewhat dangerous. Dave and I droped about 60 trees while Bill the skidder operator drove the "Mountain Pig".
Here's a picture of Dave making an exit on an escape route.
John

 

[Gypo Logger]

Here's a picture of the Mountain Pig with a big drag of Doug Fir.
John

 

[Rotax Robert]

John where is your 088 with the 12 tooth sprocket? Keep on loggin

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi Robert, we used the 088 as a hood ornament on the Mountain Pig, as they seem to be a well matched pair.
It was 16 below this morning and we saw lots of fresh wolf tracks in the snow where they were chasing down deer.
Come back soon to clearwater the fun has just begun.
Pal,
John

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi There,here's a picture of Dave jump starting the mountain pig at 7am. yesterday at 16 below.
John

Good-Bye, Little Cabin

O dear little cabin, I've loved you so long,
And now I must bid you good-bye!
I've filled you with laughter, I've thrilled you with song,
And sometimes I've wished I could cry.
Your walls they have witnessed a weariful fight,
And rung to a won Waterloo:
But oh, in my triumph I'm dreary to-night --
Good-bye, little cabin, to you!

Your roof is bewhiskered, your floor is a-slant,
Your walls seem to sag and to swing;
I'm trying to find just your faults, but I can't --
You poor, tired, heart-broken old thing!
I've seen when you've been the best friend that I had,
Your light like a gem on the snow;
You're sort of a part of me -- Gee! but I'm sad;
I hate, little cabin, to go.

Below your cracked window red raspberries climb;
A hornet's nest hangs from a beam;
Your rafters are scribbled with adage and rhyme,
And dimmed with tobacco and dream.
"Each day has its laugh", and "Don't worry, just work".
Such mottoes reproachfully shine.
Old calendars dangle -- what memories lurk
About you, dear cabin of mine!

I hear the world-call and the clang of the fight;
I hear the hoarse cry of my kind;
Yet well do I know, as I quit you to-night,
It's Youth that I'm leaving behind.
And often I'll think of you, empty and black,
Moose antlers nailed over your door:
Oh, if I should perish my ghost will come back
To dwell in you, cabin, once more!

How cold, still and lonely, how weary you seem!
A last wistful look and I'll go.
Oh, will you remember the lad with his dream!
The lad that you comforted so.
The shadows enfold you, it's drawing to-night;
The evening star needles the sky:
And huh! but it's stinging and stabbing my sight --
God bless you, old cabin, good-bye!

From Rhymes of a Rolling Stone, published 1912, by R.W.Service

 

[Gypo Logger]

The Cabin.

 

[dbabcock]

John,
You're showing your "feeling","creative" side with that last pic.

 

[svrfsvp]

I was going to ask if the Mountain pig has air conditioning, but now I can ask the same question of the little cabin.

 

[WOLF_RIVER_MIKE]

fasinating pics gypo. are you gonna hang out in BC for awhile? I'm sure inquiring BC'ers want to know. (uh-oh, there goes the province)

 

[Rotax Robert]

Quit B.S. nnnnn the boys John...we all know its Greffards Saw Shop up north.....I know, I just left there, and may be back befor you leave....let me know your time schedual.

 

[Dennis]

Robert, you are welcome to join us anytime...but that George..I dont know..he is going to have to drink something other than that Cutty Sark...terrible terrible stuff....and you are going to have to take each one of your chewed snuff filled cans home with you as John tried drinking one for breakfast today...man was he ill!!

That little cabin happens to be my guest house, that is where Gyro sleeps....I told him my dog wouldnt share the couch...

 

[Keener]

Did Dave the logger say what the logs where being milled to?
On the island here that load would probably be firewood but in the interior the mills may be set up for that stuff.
I would be interested to find out if they can use the beetle killed wood as the bugs will emerge from the felled wood in the spring and start the infestation all over again.

 

[Dennis]

Hi Keener, those are very good questions. Dave could explain it better than I but he felled what he called trap tree for the bettles and left them for a year before skidding. He explained to me about red and grays. Reds were bug infested trees that still held their needles, although red from dying, while grays were totaly dead. I would say the stand we were in was infected visualy by 10%, but 70% were infected. Dave proved this by chiping away the bark on several trees with a hatchet to reveal the boring of the bugs under the bark.
How this fits into the picture for now and in the future I cant tell you. Several mills are set up for dry wood milling ,so as a result more volume can be trucked per load because it is lighter.
Because I am not a bioligist I dont think I have answered your question, but burning these trees will not stop the infestation.
John

 

[Keener]

So if they are milling they must be debarking and burning/grinding the cambium wood and bark to kill any larvae.
If B.C. sets up funding along with the Feds the interior will need far more logging shows than than you have now as the extent of the beetles from what I read is very widespread.
Now might be a good time for the establishment of Greffard Logging Inc. with John as woods boss or at least bullbucker if he doesn't like paperwork
Gyro's crew would consist of every unemployed logger in B.C. equipped with Walkerized 372XP's, just thinking about the sound of a few thousand saws all going at once,Oh Baby! I'm getting goose bumps.
The beetles would be done for in short order.

 

[StIhL MaGnUm]

How is the logging going in BC these day's??Been a long time since I talked to one of my buddies who log's in Toronto I should give him a call



Later Rob......

 

[logcutter429]

What kind of skidder was that, your callin it a mountain pig it ain't a mountain logger was it couldn't get a good view of it.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Ya it is a Mountain Logger, with a big loud Detroit. Not to many around, mostly in B.C. It will pull a huge drag. Equipment is a good investment and will make you lots of money if you look after it, and genarally you can sell it for what you payed for it used.
I really like my lil 540A JD, I watch it close and I couldnt be without it. I put a rebuild in it and it runs really nice.
Heres a picture I took last winter.
Gypo

 

[StIhL MaGnUm]

Gypo,

I see you never run chains on your 540.I agree with you on the Mountain Logger they can definetly pull a large hitch..So how is the logging up there anyway??

Later Rob...

 

[logcutter429]

They'er still alot of the 540s around here too, i know some people that puts the green pump motors in em , they save a bundle. Don't see many mountain loggers any more, used to be good for steep ground.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi Rob, like I said, ten gallons/yr., does the trick. Just coming clean for a moment, I only dump 300 trees a year. So if we are into math, one gallon a month is all I use if we include holidays.
Yes, I am a playboy logger, but I came across it honestly.
I love my kids, my Susie, my saws, my trees and my woodlot owners.
Rrrrrudy Valentino