When I took down one of our blue spruce, there seem to be a sweet spot of time for splitting. Splitting completely green was no good. Splitting after a couple weeks seemed to help. Once it is dry it becomes hard to split again. Also, like its been said before, splitting when cold helps too! Good Luck on your first year. It will get better.
So I wouldn't highjack the thread I started another. http://firewoodhoardersclub.com/forums/index.php?threads/grannys-island.6703/
Just a little to good to be firewood! The dates on the pictures are correct . But this one was firewood from the same cut block as the load above.
Snow , this picture was taken in Woss . Woss is in the middle of Northern Vancouver Island and is just a little colder than Port McNeill and does get snow . I will go hunt threw the picture archive and see if I can find a picture .
I'm not the only one who has mentioned that I can't get enough of your pics. Beautiful part of the world.