Split Spar (suprise!)

unatool · Mar 4, 2011

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how scary is that. it's like once you move your lanyard the piece splits off and crushes something. damn.

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It was actually really stable after it split, I lanyarded onto the back slab and chunked it down to just below the split (yes twice as many pieces, ha!) and was able to fell the last 15' or so feet. I tried pushing it apart where it initially split but it didn't want to go any further.

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Gord, attached is my Cottonwood split spar. The tree was almost exactly how you described your Maple. Slight lean, etc.
Funny thing with my experience was that I felt it coming. This tree made a f&*#king weird noise, one 16 inch chunk before it broke. I spend 20 minutes throwing a line into the neighboring tree, then swung back over to start chunking the log down again. Good thing, cause the tree blew up and came into my steel core lanyard. I had the lanyard very loose, so no harm.
P.S. - I have been told that guys have been pinned and cut thru a steel core lanyard, to keep their back from breaking! Hope I don't get to find out.

unatool · Mar 4, 2011

"I know hindsight is 20/20, but when there is a risk of this happening, do not use your side dee rings for positioning, use your central attachment point (I have two rings on my bridge). This will prevent being drawm in up against the spar."

-Tom

Above is a quote from Tom the Treeman....

thanks for the good advice,
Steve

Jamin_Mayer · Mar 8, 2011

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WOW!! Thanks for posting this.
I haven't seen or heard of this happening before. Glad it happened slowly.
Has anyone else had this happen?

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I have nowhere the vetran status as Norm. But, 2 occurances in a short period of time is crazy. It's got my attention.

Maybe it is a good reason to fall the remaining portion of a spar (if the site permits) instead of chunking it down.

Or, would it be better to send down 6' chunks at a time?

Or, should we take the time to simply put come-along straps all along the spar? Maybe every 4' apart...

I'm just putting stuff out there. But, this needs to be studied more.