Still Working The Burn

[2dogs]

The Basin Compex burned from late June till late July and required mop-up for several weeks after. I have posted some pics in the past as I have been working rehab and falling hazard trees. Here are some pics from yesterday.

First off, the previous Saturday the burn received and inch and a half of rain, most of that in about a 2 hour window. These pics show what was a rocky little creek. During the summer the water is 2' wide and a few inches deep. Now the creek looks like a paved road and there is not a rock visable. The sand is 3' deep and extends at least a mile. The culvert is 2' below the top of the sand.

This one was where another small creek met the main road.

Looking downstream where rocks were the main terrain feature before last Saturday.

 

[forestryworks]

am i seeing trash bags or some sort of vinyl in that last pic?

 

[2dogs]

A redwood with co-dominant trunks stood near the winter storage area for the fish ladder. The main 120' stem peeled off and fell across the road and left a very burned out stump and a chimney standing about 60' high. Cutting fire scarred trees like this always makes me nervous. I was able to get a rope up in the tree and hopefully cause it to fall in the direction I wanted. First I had to dice up the redwood on the ground and then clear around the base of the standing tree.

This is looking uphill, a 36" 660 for reference.

Looking inside the stump. Debris on the ground burned for as long as it held out. Some of the grey patches are just a bark rind. The stump is about 8' X 6', kind of oval shaped.

Another pic of the stump. I ripped the stump as high as I could reach standing on 12" high small stump.

Looking up inside the chimney.

The tree one large strip of wood and bark 8' or so long and another 3'. This was all the tree stood on. Here they are both faced off. About now I started to sweat.

I was working by myself so no pics of the tree falling but here is what is left.

 

[2dogs]

It took me about 3 hours from start to finish. Half of that was clearing around the tree so I had a clear path to run away bravely if the tree collapsed or fell the wrong way. Then there was the falling and then cutting it out of the road. Fortunately it fell right where I wanted it to and the backhoe can shove the pieces off to the side. I had been cutting a big fir into rounds all morning so I was tired when I started on this tree. I was whipped when it finally hit the ground.

I have a severe head leaner (3 1/2' fir) for next time and a 4' fir with a corkscrew top. It had a big conch until 3 momths ago when it fell off. The conch was on the side 90o from the direction of fall. I will bore the side of the tree before trying to fall it . It is near 180' tall by my gestimate. It can only fall in one direction, away from a brand new building, so I may need a bigger bull rope to insure it goes the right way.

 

[mtngun]

Thanks for posting the pics.

 

[Dok]

My hat's off to you! Whatever they pay you, it aint enough.
Dok

 

[Tzed250]

Thanks for taking the time to get the pictures and tell us about it all. Take care of yourself!!!

 

[LAH]

My hat's off to you! Whatever they pay you, it aint enough.
Dok

+1

 

[Jacob J.]

It took me about 3 hours from start to finish. Half of that was clearing around the tree so I had a clear path to run away bravely if the tree collapsed or fell the wrong way. Then there was the falling and then cutting it out of the road. Fortunately it fell right where I wanted it to and the backhoe can shove the pieces off to the side. I had been cutting a big fir into rounds all morning so I was tired when I started on this tree. I was whipped when it finally hit the ground.

Good work!

 

[slowp]

Your kind is becoming rare. Stay safe!

 

[RandyMac]

Those old snags are a kick to fall, you did good.

 

[Zodiac45]

Nice Pix Dogs,

Be safe out there.