Forces on a hanger

[dmonn]

A dead ash tree broke about 10 feet off the ground in my woods (picture 01) and hung up near its top against another skinny dead ash tree (picture 03). The break is making noises even in a slight wind. I'm concerned because it's across a path my dogs use almost every time they head out the door. I'd like to take it down, but I'm not sure what the forces are near the base of the standing trunk. The standing trunk has a slight lean in the direction the top broke (10 degrees? Picture 02). Essentially the only thing holding it up is a few branches near the very top of the tree.

Because of the slight lean and where the top is hung, I can't tell if the base, when cut, would fall toward the top or want to kick back away from the top.

My first thought for removal is to rig the top just above the break. I would rig it to the adjacent ash up as high as the adjacent trunk looks strong enough to hold it (another 10 feet above the ground--20 feet off the ground total). I would pretension, lift, lower. I would put a rigging block near the base so I could redirect my pulling spot well away from the tree. I would start by just trying to lift the base of the broken part up off the break. If it didn't give way doing that, I could rig near the very top of the broken tree and try to pull it off the tree it was leaning on, and let it fall. I don't think that would damage anything of value--just some buckthorn. Option 2 seems easier, and would probably be my first choice.

Just curious about the current forces on the base of the remaining trunk. Opinions on whether it is toward the broken top or away from it? (I would also never think about climbing any of these dead ash).

 

[southsoundtree]

Yank it down!

That's sometimes called a bear trap.

You can facecut to fall opposite the top. Advanced felling, especially dead ash.

Yank it!

 

[dmonn]

I've done those before when it's a little more obvious that the bottom part wants to kick back opposite the top. Usually the hanging tree is more vertical. A little scary when the tree is big. Yanking this one down sure seems like the way to go. Thanks.

 

[chiselbit]

Sometimes you can drop another tree onto it and smash the whole shitiree down

 

[dmonn]

I yanked it down. It took a bit of rigging rope to do it, but I got it down. It was actually hung up pretty well. I used about 150 feet of rope to get a low enough pulling angle to kind of pick it up out of the union it was hung up on and let it drop. I like chiselbit's idea, too. But then I'd have two trees to cut up instead of just one. Right now my stack of firewood is growing way faster than I can use it, even giving a half cord at a time to family members.

 

[Brocky]

Another option is to install rope on hanger near break, notch and partial back cut trunk, pull both down from safe distance. If hanger looks like it may get stuck, tie the hanger to the trunk near break, weight of falling trunk will hopefully pull out the hanger.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

i might throwline some smaller trees to pull away to reduce support to target tree and keep small trees from damage as well.
.

 

[Tree-Taylor]

Pole saw pole saw pole saw! The storm damage secret weapon.

 

[Gorman]

Pole saw pole saw pole saw! The storm damage secret weapon.

Till it gets bound up.

 

[Brocky]

Then you bring out the one that got bent last time, but still works, somewhat.

 

[27RMT0N]

The worst is when you are trying to make that last, highest up pole-saw cut and it gets pinched, with the pole just barely within reach... It's pretty embarrassing when you are standing there with one pole-saw stuck, hanging over your head, while trying to free it with a second pole-saw.... Done that a few times over the years, usually the solution is to get a throwline on the piece you were trying to remove and pull it to open the kerf. Then hope the saw doesn't fall on your head.

 

[Tree-Taylor]

I guess I've been lucky, the only time I got mine stuck was actually last week. Operator error though, was rushing.

One of my favourite tricks is to release the strap on a bore cut from 10' away. It's not as exciting as making the cut at the stump but it's come in handy many times.

 

[dmonn]

One of my favourite tricks is to release the strap on a bore cut from 10' away. It's not as exciting as making the cut at the stump but it's come in handy many times.

Sometimes the obvious isn't so obvious. What a great idea to "reduce the excitement", especially if you're not sure which way things are going to go.