Cooler weather is much better. It's nice to have all that wood on your own property but, it doesn't just fall into piles ready to burn, you still have to get it out of there, process it into dry stove wood. People that don't burn wood, don't realize what it takes.
I sometimes get people inquiring about "camp fire wood". Here is some that I salvaged from this white oak. This is wood I will give away free when asked. I am blessed as far as firewood is concerned. There is far more available than I can process. I have given away two nice loads of some shoulder wood this year already because I needed it out of my way. One load whole logs, other some poplar rounds. If my friends need wood, I invite them to come and cut some and I will help them.
I have been clearing out a small area in preparation for a build site. Lots of Tulip Poplar. I don't have anything against poplar, but have better stuff available. I have a couple buddies who are always behind on their wood. Warned both parties that the wood was very green when they took it. I just needed it out of the way and didn't want to go to waste. If no one would have taken, those trees would have went over the hill in the brush and stump pile. Does that make me a wood snob? If I had the time, I'd have likely processed and stacked it...just too many irons in the fire to deal with it right now, as per usual.
That's what was gonna happen without some takers on that wood. I'm not one to waste, but sometimes you just have to prioritize things. Been busy with job, personal life and of course the woods and trails. I suppose it's a good thing that I mostly enjoy the land & all the chores that come with it. I even snuck in a quickie with the saw last night. Just wanted to get a whiff of some 2 cycle mix burning off, so I cut up these elms and a couple pecker pole ash trees at other pile where the oak rounds are. The ash comes from the same area as the poplar I gave away.
Nice haul! I have lots of poplar just rotting. There's no way I'm spending time on it when I don't have time for hardwood that's doing the same.
I cut and burn the popular; it is good for the fall and spring when not so cold and save the good stuff for winter. I am interested in the skidding; I have Dad's old 8N to use.
I only have so much time I can dedicate to CSS, so I usually pick the best and easiest to get to wood that is down. I have left oaks lying in the woods if the logistics of getting to them are difficult. I have lots of access trails, but in places the terrain is just too much. Distance from processing area is also a factor. 20+ minute round trips from the furthest areas.
I have nothing against the Tulip trees, just better stuff to be had. Walnut is my primary shoulder wood, if any. With my current setup, it needs to be cold outside to light the fire.
Messing around with camera this past weekend. Made a short video bucking these white oaks. Camera is a Sony Action cam using a handlebar mount on the wrap handle. Where I had to stop for the day. Made another video felling a dead elm but it did not go well. Memory card purged of that fiasco.
Yeah, realized after that most of what you get to see is bark up close and personal! I am out of sticky mounts right now to put on my hard hat. I did one before, but mounted on top of wrap instead of on the side and it turned out a bit better.
