This trail that I really enjoy hiking is littered with large logs blocking the trail, gets so bad near the top of the mountain that it's pretty much bushwacking.
It seems like the forest service hasn't done any major maintenance on this trail in years, so I thought it'd be a fun activity if a friend and I set apart a few weekends this summer towards clearing it.
I've never done anything like this and have no real experience cutting wood other than dead branches for a fire. What equipment would you recommend that I use? Also is it even legal for me to do this? This is on national forest land so I don't want to get fined for "disturbing natural resources without a permit" or whatever regulations they've got.
The biggest challenge are these large ponderosa pines, from the research I've done so far I think I'd be good using a gas chainsaw with an 18 or 20 inch bar. I am open to using something like crosscuts or an axe too. Any suggestions?
>This is on national forest land so I don't want to get fined
Pretty sure you can work with your local FS office and get sanctioned to maintain the trail. Some of our local FS trails are cleared by trail rding clubs and mt bikers etc...
cutting trees like that can be challenging if you're new to using a chainsaw. Trees like that are under a lot of tension and can end up pinching the chain and stopping the saw, sometimes becoming stuck. Probably good to get some experience with that sort of process in a safer environment before you go out in the woods in the middle of nowhere and do it. I've cut up a couple big trees that are lying like that and sometimes you have to get creative with a jack or hoist or something to get the tree positioned so that when you cut it, the cut opens up rather than pinches closed. Like on your pic i would maybe go and make a cut right where its resting on the left side of the road, then get a jack or something and lift it up a bit so you can cut off manageable sized chunks.
also try to be above board like said
Thanks for the advice, I've sent out an email to the ranger district that oversees that part of the forest, hopefully I hear back from them soon.
Since there are a few really large trees on this, some of them in positions that would cause tension or pinching, I guess I shouldn't try going at them without training. I'll also contact a few of the other forests and parks near my area and see if they've got volunteer crews going out anytime soon.
Do they look like they fell naturally? Dropping trees onto a path is a common way to signal the use of the trail is discouraged.
If you have limited saw experience you are at a much higher risk of harm trying to clear out trees felled by nature. It isn't just cutting it in the middle and going from there. Do you have a plan for the literal tons of waste material?
Contact the Forest Service, ask about volunteer trail crews. Learn from one of them, then get to work.
>Tree care professional who brings his Katanaboy camping so I can gather firewood and trim low hanging dead limbs at the same time.
bunch of slack jawed homosexuals in here. just get your chainsaw and clear em aside, not rocket science. dweebs
I would but I'm gay and the store here won't sell chainsaws to gays.
right bunch of karen cucks need pewmission from big israelite govt to make trail wat a shithole muh "free" country lol
Love those trees. They deter homosexuals and make normies angry.
This
What's your problem OP, Just go over/under it
Some of these trees are pretty difficult to traverse because of their size and the steep terrain and it's not just as simple as going over or under it, I often have to go off trail to find a good spot to cross it and if there's still snow on the ground it's a pain in the ass.
Bro just be more confident
shut the frick up
Just whack around the blowdown fatty
nu-out post
Have you considered not being fat?
I find the blowdowns fun
They deter homosexuals on ATVs and dirt bikes from shitting up the place too, same with queefs in their Wranglers.
Using a chainsaw is not that hard in and of itself, but that task you're trying to do is one of the most dangerous use cases for a chainsaw and idiots get hurt all the time. Trees fallen at weird angles can pinch the saw blade or kick off in random directions unexpectedly. One of the most common ways to get hurt is when you're cutting a log under tension, it lets go and the end of the log swings up suddenly with a shit ton of force. I'm being kind of a hypocrite here but if you're a novice doing that stuff you should have the whole homosexual PPE outfit. Kevlar chainsaw chaps, hard hat with face screen, steel toe boots, all that shit. Also--bring wedges, a sledgehammer, pulp hooks and rope and shit to free the saw if you do get it bound up. Get an older Stihl saw if you can, all the new saws and all the other brands are shitty.
>t. Mainegay with some amount of chainsaw experience
just use a proper stance. if you angle your body and head away from the chainsaw, then there is minimal risk of it bumping up and hitting you. hopefully your chainsaw also has the bump guard on top that stops the blade if it gets knocked up
Dewalt makes a 60v cordless chainsaw that I've had good success with. I can get about 45 minutes of constant cutting from one charge. Three batteries makes for a day of cutting and trimming. Most of your time is moving heavy wood. It's quiet too, so no one would know you were out there cutting wood. It's not cheap, but easier to maintain than a gas chainsaw.
> I can only walk innawoods in a straight away with no obstacles whatsoever
bring tree fungus with you
like some already rotting tree pieces
and infect the dead trees
then they'll soften up and you can just break them with your feet
linear shaped charge
Contact the park. I manage 14 miles of trails in Florida. The moment I get a report of a blocked trail, I close it and go out with saws and back up. We are all chain saw certified. Trees can kill. I've almost been hit several times by a problem tree. A lot of times I cheat by using a saw zaw, just so I don't need to wait for back up, but I have my radio, and I know it's stupid. The problem here is that the mosquitoes are so bad that I lose my patience and mind. If you call it in they will buck it down and haul it out. They have to. It's called duty of care. They are liable.
You could write a compelling PrepHole novel because of your writing style.
Buy a Katanaboy hand saw and watch YT vids on how to read binds when cutting trees.
I clear trails and use a Milwaki Hackzal with 2 12 inch diablo rough cut lumber blades, you can see it in the pic. When you do it enough times you get pretty good at it. I'm on foot and go for miles so I'm not carrying a chainsaw and gas
Trees that size, on those slopes are dangerous af.
There’s a reason forestry crews around the world are going mechanised.
Safety wise, you might as well go cave diving.
I don’t work in a forestry crew, but I spend enough time on site to know it’s nothing to dabble in without training.
Oops pic
Just one of the crews I’ve worked with.
You want to walk in here with a chainsaw?
I could spend all night looking up mundane reasons for forestry deaths.
You want a tree cut down, call an expert or get expert training.