Anybody out there logging solo?

[TexasTimbers]

How many of you go out into the bush and go it alone?

How many that do, have had a "close call"? It wouldn't have mattered if anyone had been there its just that I would have went missing and around 7:00 my wife would've know sumptin was wrong since dark thirty happasn before six and I didn't tell anyone where I was going to go log, or that I even was going to go do it at all.

I found out late yesterday that it isn't going to rain until tomorrow, unlike they had originally forecast. That changed my plans. I hooked up to my gooseneck, loaded my skidsteer, and about 2:30 and off I went. I got to the site about 3:15. Not much day left in the big scheme of things. I went to unlock my toolbox to grab my saw. Figured I'd take one saw in and travel light. I couldn't find my key. In my haste I had left it on the chainsaw bench at the shop. I didn want to waste a trip, and I knew I could buy a replacement lock mechanisn at Tractor Supply so I broke into my toolbox. It did take about 5 minutes those things are stout.

Should have taken that as a warning but not to be detered I persevered. I flopped the ramps down, drove the skid off loaded it with a saw/oil/gas threw on some chaps (or izat shaps?), hooked the skidding tongs on and off into the wild yonder I go to snatch some walnut and honey locust I knew was residing deep into this tract I occassionally work.

I was making a new path for the skid steer as I had only walked in this far before. I would walk ahead a hundred feet or so and determine my best path for skidding the logs back, and finally scouted the cluster of walnuts and 2 nice honey locust (one standing dead but nice and solid still) I had made a mental note of in the fall. Now this doesn't sound like much but I was already a little tired from the previous activities of the day, and here i was all pumped up and adrenalized scurrying through thicket trying to beat sundown, and it's like going in for the kill sort of. Hate to sound that way but I have not been logging long enough for it to no longer be loads of fun and exciting.

I dropped 2 walnuts in quick order, limbed and bucked to 9' lengths and left one a 20' to add to my long-length flooring pile already set aside to air dry just in case I need al little more for the house. I studied and figured I could drop that honey locust without crossing one of the segmented walnuts laying there before I would have to skid the sawlogs out and drop some more. I'm guessing this was around 4:30. The shadows were getting long to still be dropping but things were going smooth and I was making real good time. The envrionment is thick with trees of many species and sizes. Lots of vines growing all over too, and it is usualy necessary, almost always, to clear an escape path or two from the tree. I had been doing this and running even when i thought it "unecessary" once when there was no overhead hazard visible. One of the walnuts just simply had no limbs from neighboring trees that were a potential fall hazard but I egressed anyway as I ALWAYS do.

After I skidded that group of sawlogs to the trailer, not taking time to get some water from the truck even though I was thirsty I went back in, full throttle (I never do that) in a hurry, and dropped two more walnuts, the other honey locust, and vowed that would be the last for the day. I knew I was pushing it as to daylight by the time I got all the logs and skid steer loaded, chained and boomed, and finally got a drink of water because I was parched (was in a hurry remember there not even any time to throw a bottle of water in the skid cab right?), tired, and getting cold because in my haste I had not thrown a jacket in the truck. It was draped right over the ring of keys having the toolbox key on it, on the chainsaw bench, as I later discovered. That's why I didn't notice it.

Bucked and skidded the logs out and when I was dragging the last locust sawlog out that's when I saw it. A box elder that was too big to pass up. I made a note of where it was, got the locust to the pile by the trailer, and proceed to load the logs onto the trailer. Went quite quick but still the sun was nearly down by this time and twilight was about all that was left. I figured I had at least 15 minutes before I could not see well enough to drive through the bush anymore without driving blind.

"Let's see . . . 5 minutes in . . . . 5 minutes out. Gives me 5 minutes to core sample, drop it if it's solid, and drag the entire 30ish foot log out and load it like it is. One end at a time......." Well I figured I could save time by not core sampling so I headed into the bush with strike-mission focus. Got the area, left the skid app 75' away, grabbed the saw, looked around, no overhead dangers I could see (vision was at a premium though), pulled the cord and layed right into the leaner (ALL of the box elders seem to be leaners) with a notch cut, plunge cut, looked around once more and made the back cut. Heard that nice CRACK, killed the saw, backpedaled about five feet and just stood there. Don't ask me why I was even thinking, I just stood there. "I wasn't even thinking" sums it up.

After the fall, I was about to step forward, saw still in hand, and detach the main log from the split of branches when my whole world exploded right in front of me. Smash!!! Crack!!! More that a smash crackle pop whatever that rice crispies thing was. It sure is suprising how a rotten tree can shake the ground when it falls alkmost in your lap. you actually feel a rush of wind when it goes by your face . . . . less than two feet away!

I have no idea how this tree fell. It was rotten enough to fall obviously but it was still so significant that I know it shook the ground. I have had some close calls in life but I truly nearly wet my pants. My knees went to shaking and I got kind of sick to my stomach. that has never happened before. I havenearly gotten killed before doing stupid things when I was younger and never missed a beat. But this was so close that if even there had been a part of a rotten branch left on the exact wrong part of the tree where I was standing it would have got me. The tree itself nearly did.

I turned to the skid steer and left the scene. I can only surmise that I didn't egress because I was tired and lazy and not thnking. I can also only guess that perhaps a vine was attachted to that tree, which, I'm guessing was 40' away maybe 30, and when the box elder fell it was enough to drag the ? ? ? with it. It was a large tree, still had some bark on it so maybe the base was more rotten than the rest of it but I didn't study it very long.

I posted this knowing you old timers can't belive how stupid I was, but if one "newbie" finds himself logging anytime in the future, and knows deep down he's getting in too much of a hurry, maybe he will remember my close call, and stop dead in his tracks and call it quits for the day, before he gets stopped dead in his tracks because he didn't.

[Cedarman]

I log a lot solo.  Since I know I am by myself, I do not get in a hurry. I take a break once in a while to just enjoy the woods. Might even take a walk to check out the other side of the hill or plan a skid road.  When working tired, but not too tired, I know to pay even more attention to my surroundings. Make sure to look for springpoles etc.

I can't remember any real close calls.  But I do remember a black locust about 18" dia with the butt whizzing off the stump and sliding down hill about 15'. I always go 45 degrees away from the cut and move as far as I can get.  That one made a believer out of me to never move straight back from the tree.

I have been thumped on the helmet with a small limb or two that came out of nowhere to get my attention. I did fill my chainsaw sprocket full of kevlar threads when cutting small cedars at 2' high just to kill them on a clearing project when I got out of sync and lifted my knee at the wrong time.  Love them chaps  (SHAPS)
Someone knows where I am logging and I call home at first opportunity when leaving the woods.

Dead limbs and dead trees are not called widow makers for nothing.

Kevjay, glad you are fine.  Make yourself a set of safety rules that you follow religiously.  There's that old saying, "The hurrier I go, the behinder I get"

[Faron]

Kevjay, That's a good reminder for us all.  Just glad it didn't get you.  Several years ago a neighboring farmer was killed when the 40 foot or so log he was skidding with a small tractor levered a standing live tree and rootwadded it.  It hit him and knocked him off the tractor, which then spun him under the wheel and kicked him out the back.  He didn't have a chance.  This also occured just about dark, and I think he really couldn't see what was happening behind him

[sawguy21]

Glad you are ok. I have gotten in trouble from being in a hurry too but never came THAT close

[Blue Duck]

I log primarily by myself. I skid and load with a John Deere 4430 (big tractor).  Often if I need trees to fall a certain way and be dead on accurate to miss others I'll make my make my notch to create the hingwood, then I'll raise the loader forks up about ten feet and put plenty of pressure on the tree.  Then when I forward cut it the tree is already headed in that direction.  My most recent close call came a couple months ago when I was using this technique on a big virgina pine.  I had the notch a little to deep and I go halfway through my forward cut and the tree snapped right there at the cut.  Just POPPED and sat back down on the stump, resting in the forks of the tractor and against the branches of a little pine infront and to one side of it.  Now here's the delimma.  If I back up it leans back toward me killing the tractor and possibly me.  If I push forward the branches it's resting on become the fulcrom and the bottom moves forward, again crushing me and the tractor.  My what a little pickle we've gotten ourselfs in  :-\   .  Now the breeze starts getting up just a little.  

To shorten this up I rounded up all the chain I could find and tied it to the cut pine and stretched it out, under the tractor, to the tree behind me and tied off.  I eased the tractor forward with only half of my tail in the seat and when the tree started headding in the right directoin I body slammed it.  That was a good time to shut the tractor off and sit down for a cigarette to calm my shaking hands.  

[Bill in U.P.]

I've log alone also. Even though I've been cutting trees for 20 years and probably up in the 100's of trees I don't consider myself a logger (maybe very experienced homeowner). This being the case I remember to be extra careful and try to work cutting trees a max of 6hrs. including limbing,skidding and bucking. I've had the widow makers come down like spears after the trees been down a few seconds. Things like that and your experience stick in my mind while cutting. We really don't have vines up here but intertwined branches could do the same thing. One other thing I'll be aware of.

[MDP]

I would imagine that most of us have logged alone more than a few times,I know I have, and yeah we all know we're not supposed to, but hey boys will be boys won't we.
I would guess that if you would have gotten further away from the stump it still would've been a close call. Any time an extra tree falls especially one that wasn't in the plan, makes for a serious adrenalin episode, and a good story/lesson for us all. Thanks for sharing your story Kevjay, and glad you're still intact.


Mark

[Dan_Shade]

Glad you're ok, kevjay.  it's good to get scared sometimes.

Ghost River Timber CO., pushing a tree over with a tractor or loader can be risky business, the problem is often you are pushing below the center of gravity, which can make the tree flip over the wrong way, especially if you end up with a holding wood problem.  wedges and ropes high in the trees are much safer.  Be careful out there

[Cedarman]

For trees that just gotta hafta go in a certain direction, I put a winch line and put tension on the line.  Notch and make certain I've got hinge wood.  Then using the winch line which is played out a lot longer than tree is tall, pull it to me.  I can even pull at an angle if I have enough hinge wood.  Also, I have used lots of chain and a come along.  I tie off as high in the tree as practical.

Trees hung in other trees have the nasty habit of flinging branches back in the direction the tree fell from.

[leweee]

kevjay....glad to hear you survived that flogging incident. ;D

           Flogging : logging while fatigued, tired ,dehydrated or sick.

        Yes I log alone. Dig it or don't, It's more dangerous with people standing around
that aren't aware of the hazards.When logging with a partner always stay Two tree lenghtes away from each other while cutting.Most chainsaw accidents happen late in the day. Living alone, I always leave a note on the kitchen table with date ,time & location of where I plan to be cutting. Neighbors watch out for me and I confirm when I'm home safe.(cellphone reception is unreliable in this area)
Have had my fair share of close calls....Spring poles, rotten limbs falling(Vines attached to other trees in the canopy you didn't notice) trees that hangup in other trees....just to name a few. :
Being an older person (past my Prime & Know it) not spry & limber like I useta be,I have rules I try to stick to now.
      1) Pace yourself.(Tough concept for the younger generation)
      2)no Flogging
      3) stay hydrated (causes less brain fog in critical decisions)
       4) know when to call it a day(kind of a repeat of #1)
I do my Felling early in the day.....Bucking and Skidding in the afternoon.

Play safe out there and have Fun  8)

[Onthesauk]

Thanks for the report kevjay and glad you're OK. 

I log alone 99% of the time and have never had a problem.  But I've got a lot of trees down or partially down from our last big snowstorm and found myself in a rush, late in the day, trying to get just a little bit more done.  Good reminder that it's just not worth it!

[beenthere]

Big tractor or not, I don't put equipment in the line of fire when falling trees. The trees outweigh the equipment (let alone don't match the cost of replacement), and add a dimension to falling that doesn't need to be 'in the way'. Just my opinion, but falling with proper notching, back cuts, and wedges will do the job (with maybe a pull-line long enough to keep equipment out of the falling circle can help the safety zone).

Can't run away from a piece of equipment that needs to be removed or saved from a possible demolition derby. IMO. 

[Paul_H]

Fallers here are reqired to have work with a partner or have a "babysitter" within earshot.Even so,most fallers now will have radios and check in regularly with each other.If someone doesn't check in,their partner will stop work and go looking in their quarter till they have visual or vocal contact.
It may seem to be overkill but it saves lives.My dad's two brothers were falling partners from the early 1950's until July 13 1993. They were falling small clearcut patches,separated by blocks of timber but were far enough away that they had no contact with each other so a babysitter was hired to check up on them.
Around 9:30 am the babysitter heard my uncle's emergency whistle that hangs from his suspenders,and ran to his quarter.He found my uncle up against a stump alive but with a badly broken back  from a snag.We were all alerted and after 3 hours or more,he was airlifted out with a helicopter.
Even though he was found right away and was kept covered in blankets and jackets,he became extremely cold and had clenched teeth.I'd hate to think what would have happened if he wasn't found til 9pm.  :-\
He was 58 years old,and recovered eventually but couldn't return falling because of his injuries.
Another local case involved two other fallers,brothers both in their late 60's now.One brother somehow suffered a serious cut to his abdomen with the chain that required the other brother to stuff his guts back in for him and carry him on his back up to the road,in the truck and to the clinic(small town,no hospital then)
He wouldn't have made it by himself.

Don't leave yourself a grisly sight for a family member to find and haunt them for the rest of their lives.Work with a partner or have a proper check in procedure in place.

[Ron Scott]

Good Advice! At least always let someone know where you are working, leave a map of the location with your access route and have scheduled check in times with a responsible party if you are working alone. Also be especially careful if you are doing muli-tasks alone, such as falling, skidding, loading/decking, etc etc.

I checked a logging job a few years ago. As I walked in I heard the cable skidder running, but didn't see anyone around. As I walked towards the unmanned skidder, I heard someone moaning in pain and then saw a body under the skidder.

As I thought the worst, the fallers upper body was exposed, but one thigh was under the rear tire of the skidder. He was in severe pain and asked me to move the skidder off his leg which I slowly did. It was obvious that his leg was broken. I gave what first aid that I could and called the mill for an ambulance and waited with the faller until it arrived and the paramedics took him out of the woods to the ambulance.

The situation was: The faller's partner and skidder operator did not show up for work that day, so he falling trees and cable skdding tree length by himself. He was hooking trees on a slope for skidding when the skidder brake let loose and rolled backwards. As he tried to jump out of the way the rolling skidder knocked him down and ran over over his leg and pinning him under it.

Needless to say, that it would have been a long painful day for him if I hadn't been checking the job early that day. The mill also lost a very productive faller for some time and I had a scare that I won't forget.

[Larry]

Another solo logger...and I worry about getting hurt or worse.

So how do we make it safer...I will throw out few ideas and maybe some of you can add to the list?

•    All safety gear
  
•    Blood stopper stuffed in my helmet
  
•    Cell phone
  
•    Take a break when I get tired and never rush
  
•    Tractor running and pointing in the right direction for a hasty exit
  
•    Boss knows where I'm at and what time I should be home
  

I have learned over the years if I make a mistake like hanging a tree, the very first thing to do is sit down, rest, and clearly think out the best course of action.

[submarinesailor]

Hey Larry,

Could you define what you mean by "Blood stopper".  Something new on the market or a clean towel?  If it's something new, do you have a link or source?

Bruce

[KGNC]

Sometimes it doesn't matter if your by yourself or not. Last spring I was felling a couple of nice size oaks for my dad. We had both trees on the ground with no problem, I was standing by a decent sized hemlock that was just behind the oaks. Apparently there was an dead oak limb laying in the hemlock. All of a sudden I was knock to my knees when the limb came down and caught me on the shoulder. Put a good scare into me.
When accidents happen I try to consider what I should be doing different. I really don't know anything that I could have done to prevent this (except stay at home)  Logging can be dangerous.

[Reddog]

Do a google search and they pop up.

Cederroth Blood Stopper Description:
The bloodstopper is a highly effective dressing for controlling a large open wound in a major trauma call. The highly absorbent dressing is attached to an elastic gauze wrap for easy, conforming application. The fanfold design allows the product to store compactly while in use expands to a generous 118" in length. Individually packaged sterile.

[Bro. Noble]

That ain't what John Steinbeck was promoting as 'blood stopper' in his book 'Grapes of Wrath'   Any 'literaries' out there? ;D

[Ed_K]

 It doesn't have to be late or dark. A month ago I was cutting sawlogs, had a double b/birch sawlog and cordwood trees growing next to each other. I cut the sawlog moving out of the way till things settled. Hooked my tape to the butt and went down the log marking bucking cuts and limbing. Was out 30' when I got hit, the top of the cordwood tree had a double top and half of it came down. I got both shoulders bruised and my pride shot. Figure the cordwood tree was being supported by the sawlog tree. If I had been closer to the butt the 9" top would have done it.
Things to do,
Wait a little longer,maybe take a break before limbing.

Always look up after cutting a tree, I've had branches come at me in a triangle from a top of another bouncing it.

Have emergency info taped inside your hardhat.

I have a cell phone + a whistle on me, landowners informed to come or call for help if they hear the whistle.

I have a info board in the office to write down where I am(especially when you change jobs or locations)

If pulling a tree I climb up on the roof and get the cable as high as I can, then use a pulley to achieve an angled pull.

Try to be safe always.

[Jeff]

Larry might be referring to the cheaper version that I know some fellers carry. They are purchased in the womans section of the grocery store. A packaged Kotex pad and a roll of elastic ace bandage in a ziploc bag. You can keep it tucked up in your hardhat.

[thecfarm]

Everybody has had close calls,driving a car,working in the woods,and more.Things happens and hind sight is 20/20.Seems like my pitfall is when I don't double check myself.Every time I don't something will happen it seems.I always try to look around or up twice when I'm in the woods.You just never know what might happen.

[scsmith42]

Kevin, that's quite a message.  Looks like the Man upstairs was watching out for you though.  Thanks for sharing - I know that it will reinforce my efforts to be careful.

Scott

[Faron]

You wiil remember a near miss like that for a long time , and be safer for it.  Mine came in July of 96.  I was a volunteer firefighter then, and that morning had done a particularly gruesome extracation at the scene of a head-on crash of two semis.  First tree after I got back was a 18 in  red oak that needed to be cut into a pile of tops.  It had to go over a spring loaded elm about 5 in in dia.  I figured rather than cut the loaded elm, I could just cut the oak on it, and it would go ahead and mash it down and break it off.  Cut it, and stepped back at an angle to see if it was going the right way.  Perhaps my mind wasn't fully on my work, but events proved I didn't get far enough back.  The oak got on that elm on the way down, and began to whip and roll.  It shot back about 10 feet, and slid or rolled 10 feet sideways, slapping me up against another tree.  This thing pinned me by the shoulders to the tree, still rolling, and vibrating from the whipping.  It almost felt like being squeezed by some kind of animal.  I felt and heard popping in my chest and shoulders.  Figured it was way past time to vacate the area. ;)  Yanked my shoulders out, and the thing whipped a little higher, and pinned my head against the tree.   Got my head out, and made tracks for the skidder trail.  In the meantime, the tree butt landed on the saw I had dropped in the excitement.  Fell to my knees on the trail, blood dripping from my face.  My brother in law and two nephews had watched the fiasco, and came running.  I was sure the left side of my face had to be in bad shape, and asked them how bad is it.  Couldn't believe it when they said it didn't look too bad.  I  told them they weren't seeing it from MY point of view. :D  The results: Trip to the ER, Skinned up face, skinned up shoulder, cracked collarbone, chainsaw DOA, slightly smarter logger.  Only slightly smarter because instead of staying out of the woods, I thought I could carry equipment and help my dad cut while I healed. One afternoon it came up a quick shower, and as I came out on the trail, I fell on my back, and the impact broke that collarbone in two.  Spent the next 6 weeks wearing a figure 8 brace.  :( If you haven't had that experience, it is pretty uncomfortable.  I don't cut now unless I can keep my mind where it belongs, and try to be behind the nearest tree while the tree is falling if I can.   

[submarinesailor]

Faron,

I hate the figure 8 braces.  Had them on twice for the same collar bone.  Both times they were for bicycle wrecks.  Did I tell you I hate figure 8s.

Bruce