Northern Virginia Recon

[AT sawyer]

Drove around some today on still unplowed roads. I have never seen so many toppled, broken and uprooted pine trees. Trees on houses, decks, sidewalks, hanging over power lines, etc. For the tree services this will be $nowzilla. Most deciduous trees shrugged it off but the heavy wet snow was killer for coniferous types. Dulles Airport, just north of my house measured 32" of the white stuff.

 

[rydnruff]

Same here in southern MD.

 

[treemandan]

Well, with the 30 plus inches we just got here I am glad there are no emergencies with trees. Our snow was powder, it didn't stick and fell right through the canopies. Not heavy enough to cause damage on confiers by accumulation, there was 2 feet on top of my mailbox.
I would think the only way to operate storm damage in deep fresh, unplowed snow is to go light ( leave the big truck and chipper) and just try to get stuff chopped up and on the ground.

 

[mtfallsmikey]

Drove around some today on still unplowed roads. I have never seen so many toppled, broken and uprooted pine trees. Trees on houses, decks, sidewalks, hanging over power lines, etc. For the tree services this will be $nowzilla. Most deciduous trees shrugged it off but the heavy wet snow was killer for coniferous types. Dulles Airport, just north of my house measured 32" of the white stuff.

I made it to Reston this morning from Mt. Falls, Rt. 7 was terrible, Greenway was pretty much dry. Total we got was 36".......Paw Paw W.Va., about 30 mi. mnorth of me got 40+".

 

[canopyboy]

We had 24" of heavy, wet snow here. Took out some small pines and holly trees. Road was blocked with some pines too. But nothing that big, and you can only honestly charge so much for a 12" pine (compared to a 30" oak). Not sure how much work I'll get out of it, hopefully at least some.

Finally got dug out after 15 hours on the tractor yesterday (and Saturday). Wife says I need to go into the plow business next year if for no other reason than our neighborhood road would be kept clear. I'm sure if I get a plow we won't see significant snow again for a couple years. But the guys who have 'em now are sure working their butts off.

 

[gwiley]

Finally got dug out after 15 hours on the tractor yesterday (and Saturday). Wife says I need to go into the plow business next year if for no other reason than our neighborhood road would be kept clear. I'm sure if I get a plow we won't see significant snow again for a couple years. But the guys who have 'em now are sure working their butts off.

I started doing this for our HOA this year

The Bobcat that I bought last year happened to come with a plow - I remember thinking "whatever, can't imagine needing that very often"....I have made hundreds of dollars just keeping the one road in our HOA clear.

I think that the key to making money in plowing is to land used equipment after the season. New plows and related gear is really expensive - my rule is that if I have to borrow money to buy it then I can't have it. My plan is to make enough money with the older stuff that it pays for the newer stuff which will help me make more money faster...

 

[mtfallsmikey]

I started doing this for our HOA this year

The Bobcat that I bought last year happened to come with a plow - I remember thinking "whatever, can't imagine needing that very often"....I have made hundreds of dollars just keeping the one road in our HOA clear.

I think that the key to making money in plowing is to land used equipment after the season. New plows and related gear is really expensive - my rule is that if I have to borrow money to buy it then I can't have it. My plan is to make enough money with the older stuff that it pays for the newer stuff which will help me make more money faster...

I'll agree with buying the used equipment...plows are fairly cheap...
Good to hear from you again canopyboy! Glad to see you're staying out of trouble!

 

[AT sawyer]

You guys ever supplement your tree and plow business with "pullin' folks out of the ditch" business? Sure were lots of cars in the median strips today. Seems like dangerous work with all the other motorists flying by.

 

[TreeWhitelock]

yeah the Eastern Shore of Md got nailed with snow. 2-3 foot almost. plus what was still here from last week! Really havent seen an abundance of trees down but yeah the conifers just couldn take it.

 

[canopyboy]

You guys ever supplement your tree and plow business with "pullin' folks out of the ditch" business? Sure were lots of cars in the median strips today. Seems like dangerous work with all the other motorists flying by.

I do that for fun sometimes. If I put a plow on the truck I'll probably be too busy. But now my middle daughter jumps in the truck with me and we go driving out into the storm just for fun. And that usually involves pulling a bunch of folks out of the median. Never thought about charging for it. Just seems like a good deed that needed doing.

 

[treeslayer]

I do that for fun sometimes. If I put a plow on the truck I'll probably be too busy. But now my middle daughter jumps in the truck with me and we go driving out into the storm just for fun. And that usually involves pulling a bunch of folks out of the median. Never thought about charging for it. Just seems like a good deed that needed doing.

Sounds like RT 7 around Leesburg.

 

[mtfallsmikey]

Sounds like RT 7 around Leesburg.

Yeah man!...there were still some cheesy spots between Purcellville/Leesburg this morning, but a great improvement from yesterday...

 

[treeslayer]

Looks like this storm might produce some quantity of work, guess I'll fly back and crank up Leesburg Tree Service again. I've got some good contacts there still, and a lot of name recognition in Loudoun, only take an ad in the paper to get moving if the work is there.

I'll need some help though.

Todd, you owe me a beer or 2.......

 

[treeclimber101]

We got 2 ft. sat. didn't see one broken branch , but this is the first time in three days that I've been outta the loader and thats only because it broke , so this little double banger gonna pay my bills for lost tree work ...

 

[MNTAINGAL23]

Let's see pictures!!!

 

[treeclimber101]

Let's see pictures!!!

Of the snow or of me???