Whoo Hoo!!! I got to go wood cutting - Part two

campinspecter has been going out fairly regular lately to get firewood for Mom. Sunday morning, we went out and harvested a load of western red cedar for our own place.

First the views first thing in the morning. Sun coming up.





First log was a bit shattered and not that great.







The supervisors were out for a while but the bugs were getting to them.





Second log was much better quality.

 

The smell in the back of the truck while I was loading was awesome.
The third log was a great one as well.


Full load of awesome smelling firewood.



Can't forget a picture of the splitter.



Starting to load everything else in to go home.



Yes, for those eagle eyed folks who love saws, campinspecter got a late Father's Day present. the little Stihl. His Homelite saw was getting rather old. I have been trying to load a picture of the two saws side by side and I keep getting a security error.

Wherever he goes, they follow.


Went to look at the view now the sun was higher and to have our apple snack.


Time to head home.

 

That saw picture is not going to load.

Western red cedar was highly used by the First Nations people on the west coast in this area. From birth to death, cedar was part of their lives. The whole log would be carved into a canoe or used as center poles for a long house. Planks were split from the logs to use as roofing and wall siding. They also made bendwood boxes from the planks. It splits quite easily. The bark was harvested and used for many things.

Once the bark was stripped from the living tree (only a small strip from each tree), it was then separated into the outer bark and inner bark. The outer bark was used for making rope and fishing nets while the inner bark was used for baskets, rain proof hats and capes, ceremonial regalia etc. The long root like branches (withes) were used for making heavy duty rope and burden baskets to carry heavy loads. Even the roots were used.

Outside bark


Inside bark



A few years ago, we harvested some bark and I tried my hand at basket making. I have a lot to learn about cedar bark working. I hope someday to take some classes from people who know what they are doing.

 

Thanks for sharing. Looks like an awesome day!

 

There is an awesome book on the uses of cedar by the First Nations people. Cedar by Hilary Stewart.

 

Nice!

 

After fishing a couple years ago in Telegraph cove area, my dad and I stopped at the museum in Vancouver, can't remember the name sorry but it was a large museum that focused on the Native American backgrounds as well as natural history. They displayed the basket making and also the making of cedar boxes for family possessions and purposes of Potlatch. Cedar is Downright amazing for this area, it has however caught a stigma as anyone traveling with it may get a ticket or be fined and questioned about it. In Washington its popular for carving but often cut illegally. I was transporting a load of fresh cut myself and the smell was indeed the more lovely thing at the time. Almost overwhelming as the tree was a behemoth, but owner wanted it cut as the roots are shallow. Susceptible to blow down you know.
Glad you 4 enjoy getting out for some of the fun and knowing the wood will be heating someone elses home as well! Nice pictures of cutting and stacked wood!! Long cuts, Im sure curious about the stove this stuff will be going into.

 

Old post but I think you will get the idea of what we are burning in.

Jetstreams - Out With The Old And In With The New.

 

" First log was a bit shattered and not that great. "

I need to find me some of there pre-split wood.

Nice pics, as always. Thanks!!

 

To me that shattered looks like it has already been split by nature. What could be better than that?

 

beautiful scenery! Its amazing how much wood gets left behind by the logging operations, makes me wish I had some close to me!

 

Not even sure what to say. Woodwidow and campinspecter you live in beautiful country. Very jealous!

 

We went out firewood gathering again and this time I got to do some splitting as the rounds weren't that big.

First log was a Douglas fir. Just my size to pack rounds from.



This log made a row and a half in the back of the truck. We are cutting firewood for Mom so the blocks are 16" - not the 22" for us.



The next one was a hemlock. Wetter and heavier. Will be nice to burn in two years.



The rest of the logs waiting to be processed. Four are fir and one is hemlock.


Another hemlock log

I get to do the splitting. Hard to split and take pictures so this is all you get.

The master doing the splitting.

campinspecter posted a picture of his woodsplitter sawbuck in his thread Pictures - It Did Happen! so I thought I would too.

 

Another one of the sawbuck. Fir log being processed.



Truck loaded and ready to go.




Supervisors didn't like the sprinkling of rain but when we went to look at the view, they came along.



Yes, I took pictures of the view. You can see the blue sky starting to appear in the west.

 

Some great pictures and some good narration. Thanks I enjoyed that.

 

Nice sawbuck!