Nice effort, Star Gazer Glad you quit today before the lingering pain became worse. Maybe I've never limbed a tree, but why go up, then start limbimg? Just curious....
Simple answer, without climbing spikes, I would have no place to plant my feet. This way I can stand on the lower branches while I'm in the process of cutting the ones in front or above me. With my safety harness I will be attached to the tree in case of a slip, plus I'll have a rope placed further up in the tree which is also attached via heavy duty carabiner clip to the harness for the final descent to the ground. (think rappelling) In case of a fall, that would also slow my descent. Another reason for limbing on the way down rather than on the way up is this way I can cut into the shoulders going down, where if I did it going up, I would have to leave a bunch of nubs up to 12 inches in length for me to climb up the tree which would essentially make more work since they would have to be removed before I could buck the trunk/stem into 16 inch rounds. And as I descend, the safety should be able to slide over that's left of the shoulders without much of a problem.
I managed to pretty much finish up the ditch even through that last section was soggy muddy as in mud up past your ankles. But it's mostly done and I did leave a couple of piles of mud/dirt for when things dry out to re dress that area. I suppose I could have let it go for a while, but it was so close to actually being finished I had to at least try. So 6.5 hours later, and hardly able to move, here is what it looks like now. I know, I know, it's a ditch, your not going to see anything spectacular, but here it is anyway. The bad thing is, this area is expecting about 3 days worth of rain, so I guess I'll see how it holds up without any ground cover. Hopefully next week I can start on the pines!
And so you don't have to look back to the post where I showed the picture of the before of that spot, here is is again.
Thats some serious work you've performed Star Gazer, proving once again you are one baaaaaad lady !!! Well you know, bad in a good way..... my hat's off to ya. When I climb I hook another safety harness strap to my belt and dangle a small saw up behind me. That gives me two hands to climb with, once locked in place for making a cut I'll draw the saw up and have a go then repeat. Probably not exactly how the pros do it, but I'm no pro either. I trim the branches off from the bottom up, but only cut dead branches back to the tree. I'll leave 12 or 14"stubs of good branches as foot holds because I have no climbing spikes. I always partially undercut the branches so when cut from the top they just pop loose and fall. If you undercut too far, you'll pinch your saw. With no undercut, they have a tendency to break off except for the bottom portion that's left when they snap. Then the bottom portion wants to 'string' itself down and flop against the tree. Lots of guys have had their ladders knocked out from under them by not undercutting. Moot point here as I know you've no ladder in the picture. Once trimmed/topped whatever, the remaining trunk/stub is then dropped then trimmed the rest of the way on the ground. That's just the way and the why for me. BTW, nice pictures and a great post. Thanks for taking the time !!!! ....and by the looks of the dually tracks in the last 'before' pic, it looks like that ol' boy really likes to shave your markers....methinks he was distracted imagining lady godiva sitting on the rock and not her horse......
tractorman44, Me? Baaad? (to the bone) I just do what needs to be done. Some things are harder than others since I don't have full use of my legs or arms for that matter. That's also the reasoning behind my desire to be in top condition when I climb those trees. The reasoning for my methodology for these trees is basically the proximity to the road. While there is little traffic, there is some, so I would think getting things done and out of the way in case one of the trees might end up in the road would be best. Not having any 'stubs' to trim off is a better option since they could become embedded in the road adding to the difficulty of the removal from the roadway. I'll be using the bore back cut so that way I can check for any traffic, before pulling the trigger. I've thought about using the Humboldt or Conventional face cuts but I'm considering the Open Face since it offers more control to the ground. Don't worry, this isn't my first dance. That ditch, the final push, left me sore and stiff for most of the day, today. Those pictures don't really show all the work that was done. On the far end, just beyond that telephone box for this last section , I had to fill in a good sized area with good sized rocks, and then whatever I pulled from the other part of the ditch. I think I could be safe in saying it was at least 2 feet deep. This is where it drops into a drain pipe before crossing the road. Erosion had done a number on that spot. The first picture is where I had already started filling that area. The second is pretty much finished, both looking from the other direction. West to east rather than east to west. I would think the driver of that truck would have to have had a very vivid imagination if he saw me as Lady Godiva sitting on a rock. I did use his tracks to my advantage though. That was where I made sure the dip into the ditch was started. So basically I used him as the tool he aspired to be. (when life hands you lemons, make lemonade)
Hi there! Ain't I jest the most beaudious grrril you've ever seen? I even feel perdy all over! See mah nails!
...that's a nice one Star Gazer... I like it. And speaking of vivid imaginations....I've had you in mind as a look alike for Karen Christy just because the three of us are almost exactly the same age. She was Playmate of the year (or month) sometime in the early '70's..... I can tell this tree project ain't your first rodeo, so I'm not at all worried. You've the savvy to accomplish anything you set out to achieve, we can tell by the descriptives in your posts... The bumper sticker "AIN"T SKEERED" would be quite deserved and appropriate for an accomplished soul such as you. May I reiterate, great job on the ditch cleanout/reshaping/filling in the gullywash the whole shebang !! Methinks you need(ed) a tractor.......but then I think EVERYONE needs one or two.
I would love to have a tractor or two, maybe a BobCat or similar, but I don't have storage space right now. By the time I do get storage space, I will no longer have a need for one. Really, either would make short work of a lot of the things I'm doing. However, I wouldn't be in the shape I am today if I took the easy way. I have my doubts there are other ladies my age in the condition I'm in. Heck, I should probably be out there hobbling around with a walker or cane but I refuse to succumb to the ravages of time and the various injuries I've had over the years. Now I may not be model material, especially like Karen Christy, but I'm not the worlds ugliest dog either like those pictures I've posted. (go on google and type in worlds ugliest dog, or worlds ugliest granny and it will show up in both) Still, beauty is in the eye of the beholder! One day when I'm ready, and not before, I'll post a picture or three of myself. Until then, I guess y'all will have to use your minds eye and imagine what I may or may not look like. One thing I can say is I am not a raving beauty nor would I ever aspire to be one. "AIN'T SKEERED" A lot of the things I do scare me half to death. That might not stop me from doing whatever, and I might not even act or look scared, but inside I'm scared half to death. I don't know of any tree I've felled where I wasn't scared, but from the way I see it, fear is no excuse for not getting the job done! I don't have the luxury of having someone help me, so if I need something done, no matter how I feel about it, I do whatever is necessary, even if I'm SKEERED half to death.
Great response Star Gazer...!!! However, you're still staying in there right in between Lady Godiva and Karen Christy... or maybe a combination of a little bit of BOTH...
My lawn is messed up every year from the blow. Every marker or steel pole I put up (5 ft from the rode edge) he manages to sheer off or bend over. And he leave about 3 inch of winter gravel to be removed. Thing is, I can't do it anymore. I have to ask someone for help, or hire it done. I'm the last home in on this short road. I don't see any need for him plowing over to my hedge which is 13 feet from the road. At least this year it isn't so bad because we had so few storms. Plow damage is everywhere. The cement and tar curbing are all torn up. Only the granite curbing survives.
Star Gazer, get a post hole digger go down 4 feet put some rebar in it pour a concrete in sleeve post and a few cinder blocks plant some morning gloss in pots around them they will look pretty and next time somebody decides to slide into your property your work is protected and sheriff and insurance companies will need called.. my neighbor did that after town plow truck accidentally knocked his mail box down 4 times next time he hit it was the last..... according to annual report broke plow... front end etc etc.. make sure you are not in road ROW they will be more careful
I don't know what to tell you there. But get pictures. I have taken pictures of my place practically from day one. This way if there is an issue, there are pictures before and after. I might suggest you visit the Department of Transportation and lodge a complaint as well as present some of those pictures. Be sure to get the name of the person who took the complaint and follow up later plus let them know you will. (A video or even just a tape recording, covertly or not, is added leverage) I think in your case the squeaky wheel gets the grease. But most definitely, stand your ground!
I hope when you're doing that big job and with the climbing involved, you have someone below you in case you get in trouble and to spot cars for you. Be careful.
Well, I do have ten 20' sticks of rebar, and a post hole digger Right now though, I'm playing nice, and hopefully it will stay at that level.
