Extreme Logging

[sawguy21]

We just watched an episode involving mule logging in Tennessee. Unbelievable to say the least. They needed four days to deliver three loads of ash to a veneer mill on an old GMC single axle that they badly over loaded. The truck mounted loader was a work of art.  :D :
Felling was something else. They did not use wedges and stood there while the tree dropped. The highlight was a hanger. He went uder the hanger to cut the second tree. When it didn't go down, he cut a third tree to drop across ithe first. When the whole issue collapsed the camera man got clipped by a butt. Fortunately nobody got seriously hurt.
The second stump was a mess of fibre pull.
Watching them deal with the scaler was funny. Is this typical of small scale logging operations in the area?

[timberfaller390]

Mules or a small cable skidder, single axle truck and a couple guys with chainsaws. That pretty much hits the nail on the head. I use wedges but alot of guys here don't. I use hard hats and chaps but alot of guys don't. I haul with a single axle truck. The hanger was an accident and without machinery to pull it down, dropping another across it is a good way to get it down. Do you think that maybe the camera man was standing somewhere he shouldn't have been? What exactly did you find funny about them dealing with the scaler other than they let the new guy kind do the talking.

[fishpharmer]

Sawguy after looking at your photo gallery I can see where you would find small scale logging unusual.  That may be unfair to say.  Could you describe a small scale logger in your region?

From your statements I would guess you don't have that type of small scale logging.

I see and know folks with similar setups to the TN fellas and what Timberfaller390 describes.  A few guys with saws  and a truck.  Never seen mules or horses around here.
Bigger outfits have a skidder.

I tried to find some horse or mule loggers six months ago.  I called forestry departments and logging associations.  Mule and horse logging is a dying vocation.  Got a couple deadend leads.  Stuff like "he did years ago".  I am glad to see some mule loggers are still out there.  I would think that today they are having a tough time with current log prices.  But I would venture to say they have very low overhead.

Alot of small loggers here in MS have a single axle truck with a cable loader winch boom on the truck.  I will try to post a pic of next one I see.

Not much experience in the scaler department, looks like typical southern folks trying to make a living to me. 

Regional differences.

[sawguy21]

I certainly apologize if I offended anyone. We do have small operations here, with the current markets they are likely more prevalent, but I doubt any would get away with the practices shown. The lack of regard for safety was amazing. The truck likely would have been towed to the scrapyard after being stopped by the commercial highway patrol. Those loads were scary.

[timberfaller390]

No offense taken.  ;) Just seems like alot of folks come down pretty hard on the small operators in this area because they have no desire to be "big time". The loads were a bit much for the truck but that is about normal here. The small guys can get away with alot more with the DOT than the big boys can cause #1 that's how most logging has been done in these parts for the last 75 years and #2 most of the DOT guys know that the small time operators are just trying to make a living with what they have. Most of the DOT guys that were born and raised here have a dad or grandpaw that logged on that scale. As for on the job safety there could be some changes for instantance I wear cork boots skull bucket chaps bugz eye goggles and chaps ANY time I run a saw, but alot of guys here just wear boots and a ball cap or a hard hat bought at the local box store. Georgia is not an OSHA state. There is alot of tradition here in these hills and aloit of times things are done because thats how grandpaw done it and folks don't know any other way.

[Quebecnewf]

i watched the same show last night. very interesting show. Driving those mules was a skill for sure. I can remember in this area  when they hauled their firewood and logs and anything else by dogteam.

Thank god for snowmobiles.










Here are a few pics I took today at my sawmill those mules would have a tough time in all this snom. Somewhere in all that snow is about 700 logs. They should melt out around July this year I figure.

Quebecnewf

[Jeff]

They oughta follow you around. You've posted some info and pictures over the years that I would want to watch were it to be filmed.  You could throw that end over end tree incident in there so people could gripe at it like they do the other shows.  :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGhfWrqLbEo

[Quebecnewf]

Yeah that tree felling incident was something else. We have been logging again all this winter but have had many delays with the weather. We have lots of snow. In the deep woods we have at least 4 ft of snow all over. We made up 300 logs cut so far this season. Slow going for sure and now I am starting to develop a bad back which is really pi*****ing me of. I have had this problem before many years back and it is no fun. The worst thing about it is even if you rest it it seems to make no difference.

We will start cutting firewood for my Dad tomorrow and after that I hope to get a few birch to saw and load the solar kiln for the coming summer.

Hope the cold holds for another 2 weeks.

Quebecnewf