A woman down the road from us had a crew come to clear her lot a couple years back and left her a huge mess. They were paid to take everything and grind the stumps. They took all the hardwood and left 16 logs in a pile on the front lawn and in the back is an incredible scene of cross piled match sticks, all from 12-24” DBH. It’s a nightmare and I can’t understand why, but it’s mine for the taking. All hemlock. I’ll try to get a couple shots of the back tomorrow. This afternoon between showers I got about 1/3 of the easy stuff home in 8-10’ logs. It’s at the stage where the bark is starting to come off pretty easy but seems solid. Should be good shoulder season wood and enough to last me for years if I can get it all. BTW I’m open to suggestions on how to take the broken beech down safely that you can easily see. I’m thinking of notching the side away from the trunk then pulling it down. What say you?
Throw a rope over the top of the Beech near the branches. Tie to truck and give it a little yank. It’ll come right down. You can fell them sideways. Best be lightening fast on your feet if you decide to tempt fate like that often.
Thanks for the great suggestions guys! I agree going to the right would be better. The tractors involved either way. I don’t plan to be close when it comes down. I’ve already pushed against the right side about 6’ up just to see how solid it is so I have a little feel for how deep of a notch to cut. I didn’t get the pictures I wanted today, but I did get the rest of the wood from the pile of logs in front, and I measured a conservative 3.375 cord in this pile. The little trailer you can see a little of brought it home 4-5 logs at a time. It’s only rated for 1600 lbs and it earned it’s keep today.
Great get, Maina! I like hemlock, even better that it's been drying for awhile. More than 3 cords, and still more to get? You must be feeling pretty good these days!
Yep like it has been suggested I would notch it on the side make a small back cut leaving enough holding wood and then pull it over. There is plenty of room there and the weight of the broken trunk is not going to affect it as much as if you cut it from front to back. You obviously have a tractor like Brad said so there you go.
Thanks Midwinter. The tractor really makes us look good lol. My cutting partner will be 70 in a few days and his knees are shot and I have to baby my back and neck so you learn to adapt and get it done. We make a good team and that’s worth a lot. A couple log tongs and some chain lifted those logs in and out of the trailer like nothing. I feel grateful and very blessed to have the tools to work with else we wouldn’t be doing it at all. We both enjoy it too much to stop and we pay the price but it’s the best way I know to keep myself active and productive and in a Zen state of mind all at once. A few hours here and there can accomplish a lot if everything goes well. So we play when we both feel up to it and stop when we’re tired. Safety first always.
And you've got the summer to turn it into firewood stacks. Will your cutting partner take some too? I know what you mean about firewood work being the perfect food for our mind and and body. The free heat is a bonus!
I’m already looking forward to sitting on my bucket in front of the splitter, and I tried to this morning but it started raining as I was getting ready. My friends burns about a cord at his camp every summer and that’s it. He just loves running a chainsaw.
Pictures of the mess... Worst part is it’s in a gully about 6’ deep that you can’t see in the pictures. I’ll probably use pulleys since I don’t have a winch. It’s always worked before. Just need to get them cut into smaller sections.
