Big Dead oak in poision oak

davidwyby · Jun 9, 2025

This tree is the primary concern. Threatens the cabin. I used the fisheye lens due to lack of space, which distorted the lean.
It appears the whole tree leans left, but in reality each lead leans out from the center about equally. It’s big, several feet at the base. See ladder for scale. The codominant stems are not well joined. Maybe could be chained together and felled whole, but would need pulled out into good trees, and may all fall apart. I think the best would be to drop the stems individually, mostly going with their lean, but the two closest lean towards or over the cabin. I don’t know that I could get my lift in there with the steep ground or if it would be tall enough. So, looking at throwline and redirects with lots of rope.

I don’t know what to do with the Poison oak. Last I was up there I tried to stay out of bushes period and still got it on my arms, and of course spread. I wasn’t even working.

They had a sickle bar on a weed wacker, maybe they’ll get it cleared out.

chiselbit · Jun 10, 2025

Hey David, how long has it been dead? Has it degraded enough to use a throwline to break out some of the tips and shorten things up enough to miss the cabin? Or if it’s still strong enough to climb safely it looks like it wouldn’t be that hard to take some pieces that would allow you to fell the rest from the ground. We really need to get you climbing, you’re fit and athletically inclined, you’d probably pick it up pretty easily. When you’re up this way I could show you some basic techniques, it would give you a lot of different options for taking down trees.
As for the poison oak,, I think there is a thread on here about poison oak and poison ivy, lots of good advice but in essence avoid it as much as possible and then wash yourself thoroughly. Like you’re trying to wash off axel grease. Use lots of soap or tecnu or both, and a wash rag, then do it again. Hopefully the cabin people will clear it out for you but there will still be some left. I tried the manzanita tea last year and it seemed to help.

southsoundtree · Jun 10, 2025

Lots of scrubbing beyond washing, as said with a wash rag

Yes...tyvek or disposable clothes or both.

Alec A. · Jun 10, 2025

Mini skid or tractor with a root rake is what we do to clear a drop/work zone. Dry lather with Dawn and a cold rinse after work, don't delay.

davidwyby · Jun 11, 2025

I’m familiar with cleaning myself off, a lot
More interested in not having to

Flamethrower…

@chiselbit by the looks of it, more like throwline yank stuff out and not climb. I didn’t get any details, just a glance and snap a pic.

davidwyby · Jun 11, 2025

May not be a bad idea to chain it together at the base and choke/bull rope/pull 1/3 of the way up so that the back leaners balance out the front ones leaning towards the cabin.