Last week I was out doing a few chores and one of our August Monsoon storms blew into town. I had some free time so I decided to drive West, out of town, and toward the storm. By the time I reached the foothills of the Spring Mountains, the rain had all but stopped, but most of the usually dry washes were raging rivers. I found a nice little pull off from which I could walk down and watch the water, trees, and rocks, whoosh by me. In this parking area people had dumped some landscape waste and garbage. The usual palm fronds, some clothing, and a bunch of bundled tree limbs. This was my first Nevada scrounge. Its not every day that one comes upon burnable wood laying around here in the Mojave Desert. I backed the truck up and loaded up. I know pretty this is pretty lame, by Woodhoardersclub standards, but it will make for some cozy nights around the chimenea and camp fires.
Today I processed my scrounge. I have read about using a chop saw for firewood and never thought I'd find myself doing such a thing, but worked out quite nicely. I got a full wheelbarrow out of this. Probaly a winters worth of chimenea and camp fires. Yes, I miss doing real firewood. I still have my saw and tools and I'll travel if anybody is a day's drive from Vegas and has some wood to cut.
Check out local truss building or pallet makers in your area. Lots of times they have trimmings and scraps they are happy to have taken away. Lots of times they have sitting near the street for easy access.
I think that's a great way to get wood for your chimenea and camp fires. Any excuse to get out in the dingweeds. Sure beats a trip to the convenience store for some over priced plastic wrapped stuff!
The process is the same as if you were in a colder climate. Search,gather,cut/split and stack. That is a great score to get a winters worth in one outing. Now you have to work on a three year plan. Love the scenery,thanks for sharing the pictures.
It works, but be careful (especially since yours is a slide chop saw) as some limbs relax when cutting and can bind the blade, causing the potential for the saw head to lunge forward.... towards you
The best thing about scrounging out here is that with triple digit temps and single digit humidity, wood seasons pretty fast. I'll bet I could cut stack and split Red oak out here in January and burn it cleanly in December.....if only there were some Red Oak out here. We like to burn outside on the cool nights. The gas fireplace just doesn't do it for me. There are about 20-30 nights a year that I really miss the old Fireview. But, I havn't chopped ice off my car since some time in early 2016.
That has to be a lot different than putting up the red oaks that you used to cut. And btw, Woodstock is having their open house in early October. We're not certain we'll be able to go but if you and your lovely bride was to show up, you can bet we would!
I don’t think we will be attending this year. To much going on out here right now. Always good to hear from you Dennis.
