Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Day the (Bleepin') Tree Wouldn't Come Down

The day had finally arrived. The Doug Fir standing by the front gate to our farm was dead. Really, really dead. I remember a few years ago when the wind was blowing or the snow load had been too much for it. The top broke off and it didn't fall to the ground like a good snow broke tree top should. It fell on the gate and the $400 gate opener, smashing both. Grrr.

So, it was time. Should've been a simple job. Our summer had been record breaking-ly dry and hot. The branches of the fir drooped sadly, as if it knew it's time was near.



The logging crew consisted of hubby Bruce, son Bryan and their supervisor "Blue". Add the Stihl and the 1949 Willy's and you've got a team.

So it would be simple. Bring the Willy's out, attach the metal cable from the winch to a stout rope and attach the rope to the tree. That way when Bryan cuts the tree the cable will tell the tree were it should fall. R-i-i-i-ght.



The felling of the Doug Fir (1-2-3) commenced. Bryan cut through the tree and stood back.



And waited. Bruce ramped up the winch on the Willy's and waited. And waited. The supervisor, "Blue" had remained in the truck, as all good supervisors do. He was consulted. He said something like, "Pant, pant, pant." The crew interpreted that to mean, "Haul on that sucker!" So they did.



The loud THWACK heard 'round the county wasn't from the tree. It wasn't from the neighbors siting in their rifles for hunting season. It was the (once referred to as) "stout" rope snapping. We were lucky no living being was close or we would've had more things to worry about than the bleepin' tree not coming down.



Oh, crap!



Time to kick in Plan B: attach the Willy's to another tree to hold it in place. Wrap a cable around the dead (as in weak, feeble) tree and pull it over. Geesh, the tree is practically cut off at the bottom. What could be the problem?

Hmmmm? Heads were scratched (some with a hand, another with a back foot) as theories were discussed.



With competent supervision and a hardworking crew (dog, man and machine alike) the mission was finally accomplished!





The tree can now do what a good dead tree should do --- warm someone's home this winter.

2 comments:

penni Wednesday, August 26, 2009 2:01:00 PM  

I cannot believe they let you stand there and take photos while they sweated and panted! Or were you far away with a long lens?

the7msn Wednesday, August 26, 2009 5:47:00 PM  

I take back everything I said in that email about a Ranger being more practical than the Willy's - I wrote it before I saw how cute the Willy's is.

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