Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[mountainguyed67]

That’s why pack mules were used! Perhaps @H-Ranch can provide logistical support with his wheelbarrow?

Philbert

The trail isn’t suitable for pack animals yet, there’s a bunch of sketchy spots still. Plus some of it isn’t tall enough yet, the standard for horses is ten feet high brush and tree removal. We’ve done some pole sawing, but there’s more. The retaining walls the crew built is part of what was needed to get horses in.

 

[James Miller]

Got into some tops back further in the woods yesterday. Mostly oak and hickory back there.
Pretty easy work but won't be easy to get to if I wait till things start growing again.
Hoping to get back today and get the rounds move out to the edge of the field so I can get the rest cut up.

 

[WoodAbuser]

Got into some tops back further in the woods yesterday. Mostly oak and hickory back there. View attachment 969535
Pretty easy work but won't be easy to get to if I wait till things start growing again.View attachment 969536
Hoping to get back today and get the rounds move out to the edge of the field so I can get the rest cut up.

Maybe H-Ranch will bring over his mighty wheel barrow and help you move it?

 

[H-Ranch]

That’s why pack mules were used! Perhaps @H-Ranch can provide logistical support with his wheelbarrow?

Philbert

I was making trails for the wheelbarrow in the spring of 2020 when I was cutting tops in my neighbor's woods. Nothing quite as hairy as those trails, but I did make a few spots that were only just wider than the tire so I had basically one shot to get through.

I have done a fair amount of Jeep trail maintenance, both organized events and on my own. I like the Swedish brush axe for overgrown trails. No wheelbarrows though.

 

[H-Ranch]

Maybe H-Ranch will bring over his mighty wheel barrow and help you move it?

It has moved a lot of wood, some even very similar to that!

 

[GrizG]

I have done a fair amount of Jeep trail maintenance, both organized events and on my own. I like the Swedish brush axe for overgrown trails. No wheelbarrows though.

I've used machetes, axes, bow saws, brush hooks, ditch bank blades, loppers, and pruning saws over the years. Now, due to the volume and sizes of the trees involved, it's mostly Stihl pro chainsaws and a Stihl pro pole saw. In the '70s maintaining trails for motorcycles and snowmobiles was mostly done with loppers and a bow saw. Same for when I started working on single track mountain bike trails in the early '80s. In more recent decades, keeping the public use rail trails open is a whole other level of maintenance...

 

[JustJeff]

"Some call it a sling blade, I call it a Kaiser blade. MmmHmm"

Sent from my CLT-L04 using Tapatalk

 

[mountainguyed67]

I like the Swedish brush axe for overgrown trails.

Hmmmm. There has been no mention of it from the experienced trail crew people, or anyone else. They like loppers and Silky saws (hand pruning saws).

 

[H-Ranch]

Hmmmm. There has been no mention of it from the experienced trail crew people, or anyone else. They like loppers and Silky saws (hand pruning saws).

View attachment 969632

I learned of them years ago when clearing a Jeep trail that had not been used/maintained in a few years. We literally found it it the woods, forgotten by some previous trail clearing activity. Even as rusty as it was, it quickly became everyone's favorite - way better than the loppers. I'll reserve judgement on the Silky, as we were probably using cheap (and dull!) homeowner versions of hand saws. But it was good enough that we all bought one when we got home. Your experience may vary.

 

[GrizG]

Hmmmm. There has been no mention of it from the experienced trail crew people, or anyone else. They like loppers and Silky saws (hand pruning saws).

I mentioned loppers and pruning saws generically... I have a folding Silky that I carry on my bicycle for quick removals of fallen trees. I use it to punch a hole through to keep the trail open and then go back with the chainsaws as needed.

 

[Brufab]

A little firewood potpourri as the snow melts and uncovers stuff I split earlier - birch, cherry, honey locust, pine, and maybe a couple more. It's almost like found money!
View attachment 969484View attachment 969485

The owb hitting the all you can eat buffet tonight

 

[Brufab]

A picture from a past scrounge off the main road at our lapeer property, all those wheelbarrow loads of h-ranch I had to contribute something thinking that's 1 load for him

 

[H-Ranch]

A picture from a past scrounge off the main road at our lapeer property

That's a nice sized trailer for the 3 wheeler - your own little motorized wheelbarrow.

I got another grab bag of mixed firewood tonight.

 

[Brufab]

Owb eating good tonite

 

[H-Ranch]

Owb eating good tonite

Ha! Some of it is, but mostly goes to the stacks. I've put up 5-6 cord from the 23 trailer load scrounge so far.

 

[old CB]

Hmmmm. There has been no mention of it from the experienced trail crew people, or anyone else. They like loppers and Silky saws (hand pruning saws).

View attachment 969632

Did somebody say Silky?

Just retired from 11 yrs of commercial work in the mountains, and if there's one tool I value above a lot of others it's the Silky blade at the end of my manual pole saw. That thing will gut you if you look at it funny. Sharpest thing you've ever had hold of.

I also own a Stihl manual pole saw (got a much longer reach) and that thing is a dog next to the Silky blade.

 

[CDElliott]

I'd check to see if you'd need a bigger hole for the grout than for the feathers and wedges. If so, that might put grout out of reach of battery powered hammer drills... and there is a lot more "stuff" to haul into the field and there is the big time difference before the fracture. Might be fun though!

In the good old days, you could probably get dynamite! ;<)

 

[GrizG]

In the good old days, you could probably get dynamite! ;<)

True... and today you can get tannerite or black powder... Likely frowned upon where that trail is being built.

 

[cantoo]

Was lazy in the bush on the weekend. Was cutting log lengths from a stacked up pile of tree length and got the saw stuck. Decided to just give it a little lift with the forks to loosen the saw. The saw slid out and was fine. As I was getting out of the tractor to retrieve it the damn log rolled, sure enough the saw beat it to the ground. 18" ash made short work of the orange cover, top handle and the chain brake handle. It was that nice looking log with the little chunk of bark off it right about the middle of the pile in the 2nd picture. That one is going right into the OWB. Good thing I keep a few spare saws around.

 

[mountainguyed67]

My wife and I went out to a horse ranch and cut wood today, I forgot to get any pictures. I’ll get a picture of the load tomorrow before I unload it.