Gonna be interesting. I have had these 'how to let it down easy' problems before but not like this. That is a willow, about 36" DBH, about 70'. Had to take two shots to show the problem, couldn't get it all in one pic.
The tree is apparently held up by two prop limbs, the big one coming toward the camera and the small one (hard to see) about halfway up inline with that tree sticking up in the background. It sticks out the other side.
That tree is up there. I can walk under it without ducking and thus can't cut anything except the two prop limbs and the butt while standing on the ground.
This shows what remains of the top of the tree. I brushed and cut back that far today.The tree sloping off to the upper right is well behind and not associated. Height is about 8' to the top of the stem - again can't reach it from the ground.
My first attack plan is to take a ladder with me next time (?tomorrow?) and cut rounds off that top end back to the crotch where the prop limb takes off. I figure that cutting a round at a time from a ladder is a bit safer than trying to cut the stem off in one or two parts, much less chance of one hitting the ladder. Even if one does hit the ladder i'll only be up a couple feet.
Next will come how to remove the big prop coming toward the camera. I want the log to roll this way due to access for loading - there is a small creek and boggy ground just this side of it and the shorter I have to roll the rounds the better.
I'm a bit leery of the process. I really don't like cutting from either side of that limb. I don't trust that small prop on the opposite side and I suspect the brush behind the log is helping hold it up. Thus cutting from the back side is out....hmmm...maybe not. Taking off a round at a time with that top already gone....log rolls away from me, nothing behind to hit me...I think that will be the method.
Cutting from the front side will have the log rolling toward me even cutting a round at a time off thus letting it down easy.
Another approach would be cutting rounds from the butt end but I don't see that changing things.
Harry K
The tree is apparently held up by two prop limbs, the big one coming toward the camera and the small one (hard to see) about halfway up inline with that tree sticking up in the background. It sticks out the other side.
That tree is up there. I can walk under it without ducking and thus can't cut anything except the two prop limbs and the butt while standing on the ground.
This shows what remains of the top of the tree. I brushed and cut back that far today.The tree sloping off to the upper right is well behind and not associated. Height is about 8' to the top of the stem - again can't reach it from the ground.
My first attack plan is to take a ladder with me next time (?tomorrow?) and cut rounds off that top end back to the crotch where the prop limb takes off. I figure that cutting a round at a time from a ladder is a bit safer than trying to cut the stem off in one or two parts, much less chance of one hitting the ladder. Even if one does hit the ladder i'll only be up a couple feet.
Next will come how to remove the big prop coming toward the camera. I want the log to roll this way due to access for loading - there is a small creek and boggy ground just this side of it and the shorter I have to roll the rounds the better.
I'm a bit leery of the process. I really don't like cutting from either side of that limb. I don't trust that small prop on the opposite side and I suspect the brush behind the log is helping hold it up. Thus cutting from the back side is out....hmmm...maybe not. Taking off a round at a time with that top already gone....log rolls away from me, nothing behind to hit me...I think that will be the method.
Cutting from the front side will have the log rolling toward me even cutting a round at a time off thus letting it down easy.
Another approach would be cutting rounds from the butt end but I don't see that changing things.
Harry K
