I have never seen one over 12" diameter in over 40 years near the rocky mountains. Learn something new every day!
Nice work Woodchuck! I use to think Aspen wasn't even worth cutting, but now I really like to have some in my stacks to light fires and use in the AM to get the heat up quick or to burn coals down.... When dry, nothing gets a fire going quicker (and burns shorter) than a good soft wood like Aspen. I see your in SE Ohio? Here's an Big tooth Aspen stack I started in November.... See Emma hiding behind the stack? Here's a few of the rounds before I split them... I have quite a few that are bigger than 12" diameter...
I plan to go after what I think are some good sized BTAs at my SIL's place, this spring. Might be Poplar. I'll know better if they leaf out before I get over there, since I'll put up pics to have all the experts here help identify.
I have a lot of Aspen in the woods that I am going to thin out to let the Oaks grow. They are great for fall and spring weather when you want a quick fire. This one was pretty typical...about 18"butt and 50' tall and about all water. Its funny how light it is when dry.
I feel the same way. Thin them out and let the oaks fill out.. Mother Nature has taken a few out for me lately. They seem to break halfway up during a good blow. Mine are a bit taller, but your absolutely right, they are full of water, but dry out quickly. I bet I only have a couple dozen or so...
I hear you.. When I'm bucking them up it makes me feel like I have hot rod chainsaw, since they cut twice as fast as a typical hardwood...
And one thing to think about when cutting that stuff is that new shoots will grow from the roots and the roots can run quite a distance from the tree. It is really good for wildlife too.
Nice Sunday afternoon score, nice tractor as well, I need to get another boom pole, I had one that somehow disappeared