Redwoods, redwoods, redwoods. Limb-locked second-growth: sucker clumps and co-dominant trees. Yeah, they can be a real puzzle for a timber faller.
Some foresters mark trees in the clumps and will tell you to cut only the marked trees. But those trees are limb-locked in others and will not fall out, even when the marked tree is cut completely off the stump. It's dangerous as hell to work on a strip with limb-locked, hung-up trees on the slope looming over you. The wind can work such trees loose at anytime. And believe me that happens.
Other foresters will mark a limb-locked tree in a clump or codom, and tell you (expect you) to cut whatever else is necessary to get the marked tree down safely. It's their strategy, so to speak, to thin the clumps.
OK, but when the whole damn clump is limb-locked what do you do? You fall the works, or you leave it. Walk away, go on to the next puzzle. Don't waste your time or risk you well-being over such a tree. It don't pay.
Remember, a human being can only do what a human being can do.
Having spent a career on the coast I've cut thousands of limb-lock scenarios. And one thing I learned is trying to do a good job (cut only the marked trees) doesn't pay. Sure, you can do it, but the company just doesn't pay enough (bushel) to take the time to do it. Go on to the next tree. Get what you can. Don't waste your time. You're there to make money without killing yourself in the interim.
It's a mind-set, Matt. When I started falling timber to make money (professional) I went broke fast. Working my butt off cutting 5 or 6 bushel a day. While all the other fallers were cutting 10 to 15 bushel a day. WTF? They kept telling me, "Jer, don't waste your time with those trees, cut short logs off the butt, and don't work the tops. Leave the crap for the landing man.
My friend Andy Dockham once told me, "Jer, timber falling is the only job I know where shitty work pays better." And it's the sad truth.
Another thing, (hot tip) in redwood sucker clumps a long handled axe is just about worthless, because so often there's no room behind the trees to swing a long handled axe, because the old-growth stump is in the way! If you try choke-up on the handle to drive a wedge hard... the head of the axe may accidentally glance off the old-growth stump, and in turn the handle will lever from your grip on it, and the bitter end hit you in the nuts or strike you in the teeth. A short handled axe, say 20 to 24 inches, works much better in the clumps. And besides, it saves on the nuts and dentist bills, too.
Luck, care, Matt.
. Alongside the 26 incher I used for 30 years or so before retiring. Still using them both. 
