Today....

southsoundtree · Nov 11, 2021

Been hanging trees for the last two days.

Yesterday, after an APTA shot into a 140'+ fir covered in dead ivy, Wraptor ride, hanging some rings and 9/16" SB, and removing dead ivy and stubs, I set to managing this broken, ganoderma-decayed bigleaf maple.

The uppermost trunk was broken, resting on the break, the lower trunk of the same maple, and a crazy-spindly maple that was about 6" x70' coming across from the opposite direction.

Over the drain field.

southsoundtree · Nov 11, 2021

I hung the spindly trunk.

Lower trunk of the main tree was pole sawn.
Used the wood fiber-rigging method... wood fibers to hold the butt while settling into the rigging, before cutting the wood enough for failure into the butt-tie with a second rope (actually, used both ends to double-butt-tie with a trunk wrap).

Pole saw pointed at lower trunk. The other two trunks are stubs. I roped the butt from a crotch in the vertical stub (questionable).

Used the butt-tie rope for pulling the stub against the lean, away from the drain field.

27RMT0N · Nov 13, 2021

Ordered about 2 months ago, finally came today: Husqvarna 530 iPT5 battery telescoping pole saw. Just playing around at the shop and comparing it to my Stihl HT135 gas pole saw has been..... interesting and I've got more to say about it than I expected. Once I've got some hours on it, I'll give some impressions.

oldoakman · Nov 13, 2021

I want one bad.

Fivepoints · Nov 13, 2021

27RMT0N said:
Ordered about 2 months ago, finally came today: Husqvarna 530 iPT5 battery telescoping pole saw. Just playing around at the shop and comparing it to my Stihl HT135 gas pole saw has been interesting. Once I've got some hours on it, I'll give some impressions.

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We bought one and absolutely loved it. We bought a second one. Its really nice that they are slim enough to fit in the bucket truck bed toolboxes. I regularly use mine from in my bucket and sometimes climbing.

27RMT0N · Nov 13, 2021

And some red-ring-rot felling of doug firs. Certainly changes the hinge characteristics when felling midsize-to-large large trees.

The Green One · Nov 13, 2021

I witnessed for the first time a Competition in NJ called "Duel on the Delaware" Fantastic to see these skilled Athletes in action, and the Family setting as well.

JD3000 · Nov 15, 2021

27RMT0N said:
And some red-ring-rot felling of doug firs. Certainly changes the hinge characteristics when felling midsize-to-large large trees.

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Is there a specific fungus involved?

27RMT0N · Nov 16, 2021

JD3000 said:
Is there a specific fungus involved?

Yep, here is a quick info piece: " Pathogen—Red ring rot is a wood-decay disease of the inner wood of stems of living conifers. It is caused by the fungus Porodaedalea (Phellinus) pini. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5336983.pdf "

It's a very slow process, taking decades to really weaken a tree, mostly it just ruins timber value. I've seen old-growth with full canopies there were 80% rotten in the middle, and had that core rot extending into every single limb, yet the tree still stands.... until it doesn't that is. It's the root-rot we have to worry about a lot more here.

And this happened today. I was supposed to work but called it off, lucky too because the road I was going to be down literally washed out and I'd have wound up with both my trucks and my chipper stuck on the wrong side for who knows how long. Record rains, roads washed out, low areas flooded, landslides, whole areas cut off from vehicle access, the works. Various pictures from other locals:

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evo · Nov 18, 2021

oh daum, We certainly were wet, but nothing like that kind of wet. but we got some wind and a few snapped power poles. Tree failures in all the usual root rot pockets, a good solid storm but not one to write home about... On the north end (65 mile long island) got hit harder, tide was fairly high on a nearly full moon when the big winds hit so some coastal storm surge drift wood house boxing matches...

JD3000 · Nov 18, 2021

27RMT0N said:
Yep, here is a quick info piece: " Pathogen—Red ring rot is a wood-decay disease of the inner wood of stems of living conifers. It is caused by the fungus Porodaedalea (Phellinus) pini. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5336983.pdf "

It's a very slow process, taking decades to really weaken a tree, mostly it just ruins timber value. I've seen old-growth with full canopies there were 80% rotten in the middle, and had that core rot extending into every single limb, yet the tree still stands.... until it doesn't that is. It's the root-rot we have to worry about a lot more here.

And this happened today. I was supposed to work but called it off, lucky too because the road I was going to be down literally washed out and I'd have wound up with both my trucks and my chipper stuck on the wrong side for who knows how long. Record rains, roads washed out, low areas flooded, landslides, whole areas cut off from vehicle access, the works. Various pictures from other locals:

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Thanks, I'm familiar with the old name for the genus

wisconsintreeguy · Nov 19, 2021

oldoakman · Nov 19, 2021

Elm tree with a woodie.

27RMT0N · Nov 20, 2021

More sketchy firs. Love that 200T, and taking big tops.

Reach · Nov 20, 2021

27RMT0N said:
More sketchy firs. Love that 200T, and taking big tops.

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You sure do love to climb those overgrown toothpicks! I am amazed at the heights you west coast guys get on something so skinny!

27RMT0N · Nov 20, 2021

Reach said:
You sure do love to climb those overgrown toothpicks! I am amazed at the heights you west coast guys get on something so skinny!

Overgrown toothpicks are half of what makes up our forest! (TL DR: clear-cuts back in the day resulted in the forest growing back all at once, meaning close together trees competing for light, resulting in tall skinny trees). These ones were 'big', I'll climb 150' trees to 3" DBH when needed, pretty normal stuff and perfectly safe on healthy trees.

Reach · Nov 20, 2021

27RMT0N said:
Overgrown toothpicks are half of what makes up our forest! (TL DR: clear-cuts back in the day resulted in the forest growing back all at once, meaning close together trees competing for light, resulting in tall skinny trees). These ones were 'big', I'll climb 150' trees to 3" DBH when needed, pretty normal stuff and perfectly safe on healthy trees.

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If sure looks like it! Around here, the aftermath of the clear cuts leave us with 120’ Tuliptrees, or “Poplars” to the average guy, but they’re 3’ across down low and don’t really taper much until they branch out 80’ up. Climb on 3” wood in one of those and you’ll snap it right off, they’re too brittle. Your noodles are stronger I’m sure, but that’s too much of a ride for me to take a top off. I’ve done 3” wood 40’ up and that’s more than plenty for me. I’ll stick to big solid wood.