Atv -- Log Arch -- Great week at the camp

I just spent a week at the camp with Dad and My uncle. I had a great time, ran 2.5 gal of mix through the saw.

I've mentioned in a few other posts that we use ATV's with arches.... Well I thought I would post a few pics of how we get things out of the bush.





We wrap a chain around the logs (double wrap is better) use the winch to pull up the log, hook the chain to the arch (hook welded to frame at apex of 45). This transfers the pull into the chain vs the winch line. Also gets your pull vector low meaning larger loads are possible.

nice set up!

Rowan,
That is a nice set up you have there. What is the max dia and length you can pull with that type set up?

More pics -- felling

Boike.... we can get up to 22" but pulling a log that diameter limits how much length you can pull. We take Sugar Maple, Oak, Beech, Ironwood, Ash, and some birch. So weight plays a factor. The area is very hilly.





Here's a classic example of what we take..... basically trees that the top has been knocked out of or is dead. We leave anything that is live and well.



This one should have been a saw log, might have even made veneer... 16" at the stump, 15" 30 ft up at the break, small heart. But we don't have equipment to move logs and thus, it will be easy splitting.

Uncle Wayne and the 044

This red oak was toast.... a bit off the trail but well worth the effort.

I had to let the 044 with 18" b/c cut it... with 16", making the wedge would have been a pain. Dad and Uncle Wayne were good about my CAD they let me do 90% of the felling/bucking. They spent most of the week skidding.... I did get a few pics of them in action though.







There's a bunch more pics what should I post; Burl shots, my idea of big timber (nice hardwood stand pics), more skidding, more shots of the trees standing prior to being removed?

Great pics

I've been wondering how one of those set ups would work. Looks like just the ticket if the ground isn't too steep.

Actually they work well on steep terrain, they are stable if you keep the log low, but pulling the logs up steep hills is a challenge as you can lose traction.

The first pic is about as big as you want to go if you've got big hills to get up. There's very little impact to the forest with the ATV - Arch set up, comparatively speaking of course.

Yep. Post them pics up!

Beech blow down

Here's a Beech that blew down......

MORE PICS!MORE PICS!

Burls

Here's some shots of burls..... I have an Ironwood Burl that I'm not sure what to do with now.... And a new maple burl/scar for the wife's garden (from pic 3).

The pics in your other thread from the same week?

Bucking

Bucking shots....







That's it for now........ Gotta take care of a few items on the "Honey do" list...... I'll put some more shots up in the afternoon.

Cheers

Nice, looks like you guys had a great time.

Rowan said:

Bucking shots....

That's it for now........ Gotta take care of a few items on the "Honey do" list...... I'll put some more shots up in the afternoon.

Cheers

Click to expand...

Eye wear is crucial for safe chainsaw operation, your dad needs to wear it or he'll wind up with corneal erosion like myself!

Wow the size of those knots are huge!
I bet you could some fantastic looking bowl or dish out of those knots.

P.s. Where is your ear and eye protection?
Us younger, newer guys (me) see you felling tree's like that and think it's alright to do the same. Hehe, i actually will never be caught operating a saw without eye protection again. Just yesterday I was bucking and caught a massive chip of wood right in my left eye. It made me fall to the ground instantly. Just scratched it luckily.

More pics nice hardwoods

Agreed PPE is important, I spoke with Dad about it multiple times over the week. They actually had about a 30% copliance with my requests.

As for me, I know.... my hearing protection is needing of an upgrade (currently using plugs). I did have eyewear on the entire time I was cutting. Clear one when cloudy (felling pics), tinted when bright (bucking ironwood pic). I didn't have my ear plugs in during the bucking as it was a set up timer shot and it was one thing I didn't think of in the hurry of trying to set up a shot of me bucking hit the button and start sawing. Anyhow, I agree whole heartedly. Even discussed horrer stories with Dad and Uncle.... it'll take some time, they've been not using it for many years.

Anyhow on with the show.

PS: Bore_pig...... yes same week.


It's hard to tell diameter from a distance so I put myself in a few pics for refference.

I'm about 6' tall, I'm half of the distance between the tree behind me and the camera. I'd guess the stem was about 60 - 70 feet from the camera.






From a distance......


Against the stem.



These Sugars and Red Oak were about 40 - 80 ft away.... I'm guessing 20 -28 base diameter.

Big hardwood and animals

Red Oak about 45 - 55 ft off of the trail.



I'm about half way between the camera and stem.


This maple is a true testament..... hold on, things will be what they'll be, there'll be good times and bad, never give up.


Deer from the front window.



Partridge (ruffled grouse sp?).... kinda like where's waldo (LOL).

Woodpile







Looking forward to next year already.

Man, those are some sweet pics and truly represent my idea of a great week!

Thanks again for posting those up.

getting excited for this years trip...

I leave on Friday for this years week of cutting....

Can't wait!