I like working alone most of the time, with a few exceptions. When felling a large tree, I have someone watching, just in case... I also don't mind some helpers when stacking. I'm like the others when it comes to bucking, I want them close to 18" not all over the place, makes for trouble with my stacks if they are too short. Kind of Fanatical about certain stuff...
I've found the fastest way to achieve solitude is to loudly proclaim " I'm going out and split some firewood".
I don't mind some help, and my wife has gotten pretty decent at achieving the size/shape splits I prefer, but she can't stack worth a darn! I used to enjoy doing most of it myself, but with lower back issues always present, I holla for her regularly. I just go into my zone and get 'er done! She's in the background splitting, but I keep an ear out in case there's problems.
I've always enjoyed working alone. Sometimes my wife helps. While I'm bucking, she is loading the trailer. That is, after she finishes marking the logs at 16" then I just cut on the mark and know it is right. But even when she and I work together, it is still sort of the feeling of solitude. We are very close and almost always enjoy working together. Exception is stacking the wood. I do not allow her to do any stacking. She is terrible at it and although I'm not really fussy or particular, I can stack fairly neat and the stacks stay put. In over 50 years I've had to re-stack a small amount just one time. Still don't know why that one fell but still not a bad record.
I usually cut alone but do enjoy having my wife and kids helping. I like to teach them the value of hard work and be able to show the rewards when the cold weather is hear.
Really enjoy being in the woods alone. Breezes across the canopy sounds like the ocean sometimes. Quietest in the winter with deep powder snow.
I like cutting and splitting by myself most of the time. Oldest son comes once in awhile to help, which is OK. Going at your own pace is wonderful, not having to wait for someone or feel you are being pushed too hard.
I love it that so many if us mention C/S/S as meditation? One of my all time favorite quotes; Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water, after enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.
I really like being out in the woods by myself. I love any help I can get splitting and stacking, but that's usually just me too. Lately my son has taken to wanting to help get the wood (I run the chainsaw while he loads the truck) and he's even helped split and stack some. I like that too. Alone time is important and so is quality time with family.
I can cut and haul hundreds of tons of Hickory, Oak, Ash, Locust and Hedge in a pickup and never once put a ding in the top of my bed rails. It seems someone else can't manage to throw in two sticks. It's like bowhunting whitetails. It's me and them. Not really a social event.
I hear ya on the p/u bed getting dinged up... Not cool! And hey, welcome to "The Place" to be, Brush Ape!
Wow, I am opposite, when felling always got extra set of eyes on me. I enjoy when my brother comes up to help we get a lot more done as a team than me by myself. he will buck why I split and stack then switch. we do it the same way we're trained same way. Wife and daughter both help stack, I start bottom and ends they fill in when I notice 10 year old puts 1 in wrong stop show her what's wrong and what I would do differently. I also stack top cause I am taller and I like my wood deck stacked tall. Easier with my knees to reach pieces 7 foot up than bottom row!
