I got out to the wood lot today. Traction was an issue on the ATV, so I'll probably use the chains on the original rear tires next time. 50 mph gusts from the south brought 49 degree temps. As the afternoon went on, and the cold front arrived, it quickly got colder, especially as the sun went over the hill. I did a lot of cutting today. I burned tanks of gas on the stihl. I stacked in the woods where I could do when the ground firms up I can haul better. I had to watch for falling branches, but I scanned the areas advice where I would be cutting and everything looked kosher, and it was. This looks promising.... Trust me, it wasn't. That was my last attempt to haul today, and I couldn't get up the slope, so that load is on the side of the trail. Beech is heavy stuff. Maybe I should have just taken a half load to tamp the snow down? Eh, I was fine with cutting today. Sorry no deep snow trail pics as I was happy to keep moving and I didn't want to stop to take pics. The mega widowmaker finally fell, looks like it did during one of the two big snow storm we had last weekend. That load is part of the top of the beech widowmaker that hung up from a natural break last fall. Here's the uprooted in spring basswood that I got the trunk all bucked today. It's pretty big, clean and straight. that's my size 12. The 16" bar wasn't enough to get through on one side. Here's a pic of some of the work, and future work. The trunk of the beech once was a widowmaker, is to the left of the stack of rounds on the left. There's 3 more beech that need to come down in that pic, beyond the remaining trunk I have to drop. There's a lot of BTUs in that pic. Here's a nice tall, well it was tall, cherry that fell last year. I did a test cut. It's all solid. It actually is nearly all off the ground, so it can wait until maybe next time. Another dead elm. This one's pretty tall. Notice all the bark just blew off of it today? Some sheets of bark are stuck in other yes branches. I also walked around and cut up and stacked many branches and small dead trees at the bases of trees. All in all, I cut up at least 2 trailer loads full, which would be 1.3 cords or so. There's a lot more cords in the woods. I just have to keep on cutting.
I had a lot of pics in shadows and sun, but y'all get the drift. I know everyone likes pics, so I'll oblige with more as I get out to cut and process. I'll be taking the day of from cutting tomorrow, but I'll be out at least next Monday as well, if not before that. The great thing is that my right leg that's been a bit of an issue was not even sore, and still isn't, hours later. Me watching a lot of football and resting/healing up definitely helped in that regard.
I upgraded to bigger and better tires this fall, but the extra inch of rolling diameter ( 25's vs 24's) won't allow me to fit chains on the rear tires. So I'll put the old wheels on in back, with chains. I figured I'd try with just better tires. Not quite. I can steer at least though on the snow vs the bald old front tires.
Ask around I'll bet there's someone that will give you a set, a friend gave me a set from a car he sold, I cut them down to fit... Rest up my friend there will always be wood, or at least pace yourself.
The newer bigger tires just don't have clearance to use the set of chains for the rear tires. There's brackets by the footrest that are about 3/4" away. I'll try putting the chains between the lugs, in the valleys per say, and then they will probably work. Or, just put the old 24" tires on, with the chains as I had the old tires chained up last winter. I think yesterday's conditions were just wrong to haul. That was about 3.5 hrs, of actual time. I think my actual wood use will be 3 cords per season. The plan is to be ahead 2 years beyond 2017-18 this winter, and I'll cut up until memorial day. I could easily be more than 3 years ahead by then. Now that the farmers have harvested the crops, I can fell a huge dead elm in the fence row/ property line. I just have to plan it out because that window to harvest trees like that is this winter. Thinking to myself about this just gave me a plan to get the basswood and the downed cherry out easier. My wife gave me a hand towed Ice fishing style sled that can fit 2 of big rounds in it each, and tow them down hill to the trail, or the field, where the big sled and quad can haul them out to split. That big elm though on the edge of the farmers field will need a bigger saw though.... Either I get one, or borrow my buddy's 460.
Nice pictures Horkn Looks like your snow was about the same as ours. The warmth may have stayed longer here and we got way up to 56 for about 1/2 hour before falling. This morning there are only patches of snow so that should make it better for getting wood out of the spots that aren't muddy. It is not supposed to thaw today but not cold enough to put much frost in the ground. Looks like overall it will be another warm week with temps in the 30's. Glad that big widow maker finally came down.
Great pics and good looking work there my friend. We set the all-time high temp record here yesterday at 73*-down to freezing tonight, snow forcasted for Thur-Fri and 65 on Sat??? I'm envious but guess I shouldnt complain, I keep the Fireview going anyway-As much as I'm ready to get busy, its looking like Jan-Feb before I'm not playing in a mud hole...Nice to see you getting it done
Lookin good Horkn......I sort of have to work around harvest time as well so most of the cutting is done late fall and winter. Of course that is when I enjoy it anyway, may try to get out this weekend. I have my eye on some ash and sugar maple.
I think I'm heading back out Thursday, then Saturday, and again Monday. You know, off a day or so then back at it, then rest, then cut again... I've got time off, I might as well back some wood for the future.
Here's today's work I did. Temps were great for working outside. 29 and pretty much no wind. Big difference from the other day with sustained 40 mph winds and 50+ mph gusts. Here's the downed cherry. I cut it all up and hauled all but about 8 rounds up to the top of the land. That yellow stihl pro RS chain really like throws the chips. Here's the basswood. I took the main trunk up about 20 ft or so. I used the smaller asked my wife got me for Christmas to get the rounds down hill to get the ATV with the big tow sled . That small sled is pretty handy. I hauled most of the basswood and cherry up to the top of the woods, about 75 ft from the road, so I can split that even if hauling isn't possible. And here is the pile. As you can see, I ran out of daylight. I'll be back out on Monday.
