Moving In

We have a small six acre spot on the hillside that is concerning. The trees in this area are at the other side of the ridge from the tangle mess of damage that Mike and I are in the process of cleaning up.

This area is at the edge of the neighbor’s clear cut. The trees in this spot did not sustain the damaging winds that the other section received because it is slightly below the ridge line on the lee side of the hill. The clear cut did however expose these trees to the other elements and they show the damage of sunburn and moisture loss.

The growth on the tops of the trees has changed dramatically since the clear cut and we have been monitoring the tops as we drive the lower fields. The treetops show a distinct thinning of needles and the leaders are practically non-existent.

This section of ground is very steep with pole length timber and it is more that Mike and I can safely handle, so we called in our amazing loggers (Weller Timber Corp) to give us a hand with this operation. Most of the equipment will be staged at the bottom of the hillside where it is relatively flat. The trees will be dropped and hauled out of the woods tree length so they can be evaluated  for the best value cuts.

The equipment kept rolling in over the next two days. Second to arrive was the fire suppression trailer with a 1000 gallon water supply along with enough hose and water pressure to attack and extinguish a fire. This trailer can be hooked to the bulldozer, skidder or feller/buncher and moved into the woods anywhere in the logging project if a fire were to break out.

Before any work could start, inspections by the Forestry had to be performed. The hauler, loggers, equipment and river crossings all had to be scrutinized before the official beginning of the project. Engines, mufflers, and water pressure tests took the most time for the inspection process but we are now certified and the loggers are ready to begin.