tree doesn't look that big, but it was.. The big limb over the house was out of reach from the 75' bucket in the driveway. I was planning on taking that limb out before dropping the tree, but once I realized I would need to move the bucket onto the lawn to reach it, which would have been a hassle, changed the plan. 90% of the other limbs were lowered out. Not only was big limb out of reach, it was also over a little maple which would have made rigging big pieces impossible... The guy who subbed the job to me paid a flat fee for putting the tree on the ground, and it was a low number for what the tree was worth. Had to take the top and right side out to clear the street and bucket truck, keeping her on the lawn. Parked the bucket so far forward to create a direction of pull that would compensate for the side lean. Would never have chanced parking the truck there except the weight was all leaning the opposite way. Trusted the driver without question as we've worked together for 25 years, and he's VERY GOOD at his end.
Drop zone was tighter than it looked as there was some object of value, maybe a bridge or service lines on stage right. Big oak stayed right in line with the notch the whole way. Had just dropped a similar tree a few weeks before, where I compensated for the side weight by adjusting the gun on a big oak and she stayed with the gun the whole way, so I used that experience to help here, deciding to gun the notch directly to the intended lay. Cone was the target. Fun to hit it like that... A little concern, uneasiness with the precarious nature of the fall, makes it that much more fun when it works out.. All you adrenaline junkies know exactly what that's all about. Stay safe ALL.
