So would all you enablers talk me out of it…. please! CAUTION, This is probably gonna get long winded. So so some of you may recall a while back, maybe three or four years already, there was a pretty good fire in the local forest. eventually, an outfit from Oregon came in and did a bunch of logging of the cedars and pine trees. But they did not take the logs. They just racked them up into huge piles right alongside the roads to make easy access for grapple trucks. A semi local fellow got the bid or contract or something and hauled off an awful lot of them. He has sold some, but still has a heck of a mountain in the little town just outside the forest entrance. There are still some other large piles inside the forest that supposedly belong to the mule deer foundation, but I’m not sure what their final use is. And there are still some other piles of maybe lesser quality logs left. Well the wood hoarder in me can’t bear to watch these piles of logs going to waste. So I finally got ahold of the head ranger of the forest to see what the status of these piles is. He told me that all the piles on the 4-H road need to go and he wants them gone. GOOD TO HEAR. He said that I would need to get a firewood permit. Also said he didn’t care if I cut them up in place or hauled them out in logs. Haul them out in logs ??? So I asked if I could use my tracked skid steer to load them. His reply was “I want them gone”! Typically the forest is very touchy about off road activities with motor vehicles, so this was great news. I inquired about the amount I could get, and he thought a $20 permit allowed for the taking of 4 cords. I asked him who or how that cords would be monitored. Again the response was basically “ they need to go, I want them gone”. ( more good news ) So I think I have a couple helpers lined up for memorial weekend and we’re going to try and hit it pretty hard with my dump truck and dump trailer and skid steer. I’ve purchased 2 permits which technically will allow 8 cords, ( but who is counting? Apparently nobody) About now I’m wishing I had a processor, or that there was one available to rent within a reasonable distance. But the real problem or project that I need talked out of, is the insane notion that I need to build a small log cabin in my backyard. Always wanted to build one just because…. Many of these logs have a lot of taper especially the cedar ones. I’m thinking if I tried to build a cabin it might be easiest to get a “entry level” sawmill and mill 2 sides of each log so they stack better and fit tighter. Leaving the sides more live edge. I’d most likely use the butt and pass method. I’m in need of an out building for all my “stuff” something like a pole building in the neighborhood of 30 x 40 minimum is what I need for that. But this would be more like a 12x14 or some such to bring the contents of my reloading shed to my house and not the rental house property. Or perhaps a cabin to fettle and display my Coleman collection in. For the price of one of the portable buildings that have become so popular, I could easily buy a sawmill and build the cabin. Possibly sell some other lumber type stuff. My two biggest obstacles to the whole concept is the wife, and time available to do it. How long will the logs keep/last? I could go on and on about this, but let’s hear your thoughts.? And if you’re inclined to volunteer to help I guess that would be ok too.
As die hard hoarders its ALWAYS hard to say no to free (or very close to it) wood. I can relate as I have ideas about stuff to build with logs or milled lumber. Sounds like you've already answered your own question though. Do you have room to sticker stack them and cover? Can any of the cedar go towards your native American customer or was he rather specific about his needs? If I was closer I'd volunteer in a heartbeat. Always fun making firewood with others who share the same passion.
Hey, its not like I don't have my own project that is way bigger than anything I have any business fooling with! I told my boss I would take all the EAB killed ash trees that I fished out of the creek some weeks back...and there is a pile of them! Dozens n dozens...I just can't let that much Ash go to the termites... I've hauled 3 truckloads home so far...not even a noticeable dent in the pile yet
A TRUE hoarder wouldve had it all home by now! JBYB Dave. It's a lot harder the way we do it with buck and load rather than haul logs home.
Much of the rest of it I'm gonna try to get my brother to let me use his skid steer/grapple, and dump trailer. Been helping him split wood...kinda grease the wheels a lil
When you say one of your two biggest obstacles is your wife, what do you mean by that? Would this Richard Proenneke-esque cabin build cost you your marriage, or will this all-consuming undertaking be forgiven if you give her a section of it for a she shed?
It’s way easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Not often to have good opportunities for cheap log piles. You know all of us are pulling for you to take advantage of this opportunity. I would hire a self loading log truck and really take advantage. Then you get a processor to get rid of what the cabin doesnt use.
Just do it already and stop hemming and hawing. A real hoarder finds a way. You have “way beyond permission” to do whatever you need to “get them gone”. Now GIT!
I have space available at work for piling logs and to sticker the lumber. But this means more handling and transport. Not a deal breaker, just inefficient. But this don’t figure to turn into a commercial operation other than selling some of the wood. I talked with my native friend about the cedar, and that is indeed a market for some of the wood. and the FHC corporate helicopter minimizes distance and travel time
Richard Proenneke is exactly the inspiration behind this day-dream since it has become obvious that I’ll never get the chance to do it in Alaska. Not gonna be big enough to share ( and thats by design)
Unfortunately the 'copter is in the shop for an update to the inflight load moment indicator...seems someone overloaded it The current state of the FHC forum (glitches) is preventing the update/patch from loading properly
The only self loading log truck I have ever seen anywhere within a 300 mile radius is the one that was used to haul all the other logs out of the forest. And I doubt that he would be available for rent or hire because I’m sure he would rather sell me his logs. Apparently he is having trouble getting rid of them in any large scale. ( apparently he is the type of guy that has grand plans, and makes a good start but never successfully finishes anything)
I hope it gets sorted out soon. If’n the helicopter is as glitchy as the forum is currently, ain’t no way I’m gonna schedule a flight and get on board
Tell the truth about the FHC helicopter. It was grounded for safety reason because it was as slow as the forum!
