I was back at my sister-in-laws this morning. I dropped another standing dead oak tree, only to have it get hug up in the canopy. I cut another 3 foot piece off the bottom, but it wouldn't shake loose. I tried rolling it a few times - no luck. So, the tree it was hung up on, was already identified to come down. I cut it..it started to fall, and you guessed it - it also hung up in the canopy. I nibbled away at one side of the hinge, and using the peavey/cant, I managed to roll it off the stump, which I had cut to be about 2feet high. I did manage to get it off the stump. When it dropped that couple of feet, both trees fell to the ground in a very satisfying whump! I proceeded to cut the felled trees into rounds. Noticed some other dead oak laying on the ground. Cut into it, and found the core still very solid. It's now on the pile for CSS. I'm guessing when I'm done, I'll have in excess of 2 cords, easily. Although, the more time I spend in the area, the more standing dead oaks I'm seeing. Some of that larger stuff, will need to split on-site, before hauling away. Looks like it'll be time for wedgin' and sledgin'. I loaded up and hauled back home what is seen at the back of my minivan. Between frost in the ground, heavy rains overnight, and temps in the low 40's, the ground started to mud up as I was walking on it. So, I ceased "Operation Red Oak" for the day. I need to stay on the good side of y sister-in-law. The ground should firm up over the next few days, and I'm hoping my buddy and his F250 are available over the weekendto get over there and haul back bigger loads.
"So, the tree it was hung up on, was already identified to come down. I cut it..." Now there is one thing I won't do... But it appears you came out okay with it.
Yeah.... I was hesitant in cutting it. I suppose another option I could have tried, was to use a come-along pulling on the butt end of the initially hung up tree. I was dealing with trees 60-75 foot tall. I had clear exit paths in multiple directions. Very little brush in the area. Something to think longer about, should it happen again. I do understand the concerns with felling a tree, with another tree snagged in it. The risk in this case seemed to me anyways, was minimal. Thanks for the food for thought!
I did that and almost got whacked with the chain I was using. What happened with me was: I got this bright idea to get this dead oak that a hurricane pushed over and lodge in a tree. I cut the tree loose from the trunk. I figured I could use my come-along to pull the tree down. I hooked a 16 foot logging chain to the base and used another chain around a live tree nearby and yes, I managed to eventually pull the tree down. I knew that I did not want to be anywhere near the base of the tree because it could kick up. It worked. However, I noticed my logging chain was missing; I found it behind where I was knelling working the come-along. When the base of the tree kicked up, it threw that 16 foot logging chain in a parabolic arc that landed behind me. If it had come down on top of my head, I probably would be dead now. I guess I need to be a bit more careful; I really did not expect the chain to go flying off in the air like it did.
Hmmm... Should I ever be in that situation again, I'll have to make sure both ends of the come-along are securely wrapped. One end around the butt end, the other secured to the anchor. If the butt end doesn't inch along, then it would be time for a different option. I can see where if the butt doesn't move, then tension is building and that's not a good thing. Thanks for sharing the experience.
I'm glad your okay, this guy didn't make it doing the same thing. It's not worth trying, just don't do it!
And, of course, think about what might happen if the chain or cable of the come-a-long were to break. These are some of the dangers when doing this sort of thing. And most come-a-longs are not that strong....so people tend to put a pipe on the handle so they can pull more. Some use tow straps which are not as strong. Some think they have a log chain but what is that? What size is the chain? What grade? Has the chain been repaired? Is the cable fraying?
1 1/2" 120' bull rope tied off to the tow hook or hitch on the truck is my preferred method. Should that not be an option, a 4" wide tow strap looped on the butt end of the log & a heavy come a long are the next option. I've also seen some rope pullers that work like the come a long, but are built to use bull rope. I'm not the safety nazi, but I've seen enough stuff go wrong to be very careful. Helmet & Chaps are my last line of defense should common sense & dumb luck both fail. Please be careful! No tree is worth permanent injury, death, or even an E R copay.
Nice load, and glad you got it with no harm to life or property! Nice to have the wood on family land so you're not under pressure to remove asap.
Thanks all for the good thoughts and options. I'm at the stage of a couple more details, 6" at the base. Then hauling cross town. My buddy and his truck are available this coming weekend. So, I need to cut what's on the ground into manageable rounds, and split as appropriate. Sent from my XT1030 using Tapatalk
That's that perfect size of logs to handle easily. Sweet! And glad you weren't injured getting them down. Those rounds should split real nice for you too.
Snags are like old hags. Dead when u drop em, hung up til u *uck em. With a b of course.. Hate snags.. safer way is to not cut em if there aint a clear felling direction. I learned that the hard way. Or climb up to the top and pole dance on it itle break eventually.
