Yesterday I made the mistake of underestimating how hard it would be to fill a truck with red oak by sledding it out about 150 yards on a swamp. Well, the day didn't start that way. I had mentally noted two downed "red oaks" about 50 yards off the road, but when I cut into them through the snow it was clear they were punky popple. I'm not sure what I was thinking! So I kept going another hundred yards down the bank of the swamp to a spot where there were three oaks down. I bucked up the smallest one, rolled the rounds down to the swamp as best I could, loaded the sled, and started dragging on snowshoes. I quickly realized that it was going to be a major job. This is about half of it. It was two below when I left the house, and it maybe got to five above while I was working. I was working in a sweatshirt and sweat from inside the helmet kept freezing in the face screen. This was a good spot for the past year, but I've picked over everything with good access. I'm looking forward now to taking a few weeks off until the snow melts and scouting for our 2022 cutting spot, and I'm going to put a priority on having good vehicle access. We both went home and slept well.
Thats A LOT of work! I have done the same getting some birch out of a swamp and know the sweat you spilled. You will truly appreciate that fire. I bet that Hamm's tasted good that night. From the Land of Sky Blue Waters.
Looks like quite the work out there. As I get older, the amount of effort I will put out to get wood has become less and less. The days of taking it much of any distance to get it loaded are pretty much behind me. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Hard earned wood for sure but it is enjoyable just to be out and about!! Sent from my SM-G930VL using Tapatalk
I can relate to scrounging in winter, but you've got me beat. I love the picture of your best friend looking at you, like you're nuts.
WESF Don't feel so bad about mistaking aspen for oak. I have done the same thing mistaking basswood for maple. But it was dead and down, not standing. And that's enough of a free ride for the dog.....put him to work!
That is a lot of hard work. I am now old enough to just remember those kind of days and to appreciate the fact I no longer have to do that!
Tapping trees our first couple years, i found my dad tapped some basswood, I drilled holes in dead maple...who are we to judge.
[QUOTE="yooperdave, post: 1347117, member: 1287" [/QUOTE] In his younger days, I skijored with him regularly. He even mostly stayed on the trail. These days, at 12, he's doing well just to enjoy the afternoon.
In his younger days, I skijored with him regularly. He even mostly stayed on the trail. These days, at 12, he's doing well just to enjoy the afternoon.[/QUOTE] Heck yeah, even dogs deserve a retirement!
Hard work for sure! Have done similar in my younger days, but thankfully now I have equipment. I'm very blessed to be able to gauge scores by how many cord I move in a day instead of rounds. You'll no doubt remember a beautiful day with your best friend when that wood's heating your home.
