Hazard tree contract fallers

[Burnham]

I am in the middle of administering a roadside hazard tree removal contract these days. Don't know why, but the road maintenance coordinator didn't care for my answer when he asked how long it would take for me to fall 3500 trees along about 35 miles of high use FS roads on my Forest...so we wrote a contract, and I'm the on the ground guy, identifying and marking the hazard trees.

The two guys in these pictures are about my age...there's about 70 years of full time timber falling experience on that team. I really like spending time with them.

Thought y'all might enjoy a few pics.

 

[NeTree]

Always enjoy your pics. Bring 'em on!

 

[Burnham]

Here's another batch.

 

[Burnham]

Last ones, double teaming a big Doug.

 

[MasterBlaster]

What happens to the wood, B?

 

[squisher]

Cool pics Burnham. Looks like pretty nice ground, although I'm sure it ain't all like that.

 

[gf beranek]

The Pro's at work. Good ground, nice trees and not a whole lot of brush to battle. A real faller's dream.

Though I know out of 3500 trees to fall they are not all going to be as depicted in these photos. Bound to be a few outlaws in the bunch I'm sure.

 

[Burnham]

What happens to the wood, B?

Most of these trees are dead and many to some degree or another are rotten. We're taking them down because they pose a hazard to road traffic when they fall. If there is solid wood in them and they are not too far from the road and the ground isn't too steep, publics will likely apply for firewood permits and buck it up for heating fuel. If not that, it will just lay there and rot the rest of the way away.

 

[Burnham]

The Pro's at work. Good ground, nice trees and not a whole lot of brush to battle. A real faller's dream.

Though I know out of 3500 trees to fall they are not all going to be as depicted in these photos. Bound to be a few outlaws in the bunch I'm sure.

Oh yeah, Jerry. No doubt about it. For example, I didn't take pictures of the ugly one that morning...it was only 24" dbh, a dead, hollow piss fir with a weird large hook-shaped limb that cradled into a 48" dbh ponderosa pine. The pondo was a beauty, no way we were taking it...the piss fir hugged that big pine all hung up tight and was a b***ch to slab down.

Another one...HEAVY leaner towards the road, 36"dbh larch 170 feet if it was an inch. Richard swung that one about 40 degrees, laid it in the ditch...it was wonderful to watch. He bored vertically under and in line with the hinge on the side he swung it to...it held that side of the hinge amazingly well. He says it really allows that side of the hinge to flex better and so hold longer. New trick for me...always something to learn.

 

[Dave Shepard]

Thanks Burnham. I always enjoy your photo spreads. Looks like you were already dealing with some uprootage in the shots of the third tree.


Dave

 

[SkwerI]

Burnham, when you get time I'd like to see a picture or diagram of that vertical boring you were talking about. I can't picture it in my head, and the way I'm reading it just doesn't seem like it would work.

 

[cory]

Same here Squirrel.

Great pics, Burnham. I love pics of old timers falling old growth, ala the Stihl redwood poster with the 2 guys working on top of a stump.

 

[stehansen]

Thanks Burnham.

 

[Dave Shepard]

Same here Squirrel.

Great pics, Burnham. I love pics of old timers falling old growth, ala the Stihl redwood poster with the 2 guys working on top of a stump.

Would that be a 150' tall stump?


Dave

 

[MasterBlaster]

This?

 

[Paul B]

Awesome!

I know who has that 090 these days... Eh, Willie?

 

[sotc]

haha, i was thinking the same thing
seen those contracts burnham, either no road closures allowed or real short closures! heard of that boring technique but never seen anyone pull it off. id be curious to see it also

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Awesome job and pics Burnham ...I would also like to see a pic or diagram of that boring cut... Love it when ya can make em dance

 

[bergsteiger]

Good pics Burn

 

[Gord]

Good pics Burnham. I've always wondered, is it peer pressure that keeps you guys wearing those goofy hardhats or do you actually like them? North of the border you don't see them unless you're in a drilling rig...

 

[sotc]

keeps the rain from pouring down your neck. oh and they look normal to me

 

[MasterBlaster]

Full brim RAWKS!

 

[squisher]

Good pics Burnham. I've always wondered, is it peer pressure that keeps you guys wearing those goofy hardhats or do you actually like them? North of the border you don't see them unless you're in a drilling rig...

North of the border in BC? Lots of people wear the full brim on the coast up here. But not me, they look goofy.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Shirley! You jest!

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Full brim are the shiznit!