This weekend was the first opportunity to walk the woods since a big wind storm a week or so ago. There are several blow downs that need to be cleaned up but I ran across this one that looks to be a dangerous proposition. It's a white oak that is 21" DBH and the break is 16' up from the ground. It has fallen into another oak that is about 15"DBH. The smaller tree is pushed over to a ~45* angle and the root ball is heaved up. There's not much holding the broken end of the larger tree so I expect the situation to change before I can make it out here again. What would your strategy be?
Don't fret! Me an da boys be right over wit da half track! We's can try wenching it an iffn dat ain't workin' fo us, we"ll turn the quad on hit!
I would let it come down on its own, then deal with it after. There's to much potential for injury there for me. Only way I would mess with it at all is if I could rope the broken horizontal section and pull it down from a safe distance with the truck or tractor.
If I were to do it, I would pull it down with the tractor and chain, but maybe you don't have access to one. Maybe a hand winch and a chain or cable from a safe distance. By the look of it it may come down on its own in time.
First thing I would do would be to give Mother Nature a chance to do her thing. Many times that is all it takes so long as you don't have to take it down right away. Otherwise, cable, rope, come-a-long, tractor, winch or whatever could do the trick.
pull it down carefully sometimes tugging on the tangled tops rolls them out but sheesh that shattered base doesn't look like it is holding by much
Personally I couldn't leave that alone. It's the way I'm wired. It looks easy enough to get a rope around to pull it down and the thought of leaving a "trap" set for some curious kid's would bother me.
I took that picture when I lived in Belgium. The track was one of hundr9es of WWII vehicles in the 'Tanks In Town' annual celebration of the liberation of the town of Mons, Belgium. Google it and check it out. It's a blast, no pun intended! The building in the background with all the flags is the Mons town hall.
If it was on my property and I could take a closer look at it, I'd consider cutting it down from the base of the broken trunk and dropping it perpendicular to the broken top away from the camera in the first photo. Would always stay on the side of the trunk opposite the broken top and would have an escape route directly behind me. Also would need a clear path for it to fall so there are no slides or kickbacks. As others have mentioned, Mother Nature or pulling it with a rope should be the first options. What ever you do, make sure you get it on video so you can be a YouTube star!!,
Ain't that the truth! Whether your talking about trees, rocks, water, airplanes, satellites or people, gravity ALWAYS wins!
