Windfall Whips and Widowmakers, the Hazard's of Working in the Woods.

[Howsitgoineh]

See, I have never heard that one called anything. Must be a regional difference!

I've seen it called a 3-step cut when referring to removing limbs, as well as a mis-match
Whatever you call it, it is the correct way to prune a limb without stripping bark.

Also when done vertically, it is a manner of cutting sections down off a spar. The climber can make the 2 cuts, safely store the saw, and then push the chunk down in the desired direction

 

[kenmbz]

My neighbor across the street.
Got to be about 20 hangers in this picture, although many hard to see.
Almost no place to stand where you wouldn't have something dangerous overhead.

 

[AT sawyer]

My neighbor across the street.
Got to be about 20 hangers in this picture, although many hard to see.
Almost no place to stand where you wouldn't have something dangerous overhead........

Storm damage, especially from a tornado leaves a lot of broken and twisted crowns in the canopy. I got into one of those in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area doing a post-tornado logout on a wilderness trail. Axes and crosscuts only.

 

[woodfarmer]

Who wants this one?
Big old Ash, in a page wire fence. Widow makers, broken limb.