Well Scotty I went into the Air Force when I was 18 and ended up in communications. One of the things I had to learn was to climb a telephone pole with a set of gaffs. I never had any bad experiences with it myself but when I got to my permanent duty station me and another guy had to climb up a pole. Well you know those poles get pretty chewed up from previous climbers and this other person was about 12 foot up and gaffed out and of course the first thing he did was to hug the pole. He put a big ole splinter right through his right bicep. Nasty business with the creosote and all. I know that tree gaffs have a longer spike on them to get through the bark but I cannot imagine doing that work for a living. That is some tough stuff.
Thanks to campinspecter hard work in c/s/s her wood and hauling down to the basement, my Mom at 91 is still burning wood. campinspecter just has to split the blocks smaller so she can handle them.
I'm 46, but beat my body up pretty good playing sports when I was younger.... I will hand split the easy stuff ( for me any pine or poplar ) but anything like oak goes through the splitter..... I hope I can still swing an axe in 30 years like some of you fellas. There is a neighbor about 1/2 mile away that is in his 80's.... still works for a tree service, css his own wood, walks a couple miles with his wife after work.... inspirational
