Today....

Shadowscape said:
Not tree related but this is what I did today. Last race of the year and time to call it quits for winter. Was a tad cold with the air temp around 50 during the race. Water temps about the same. I'm the one in the blue life jacket. Terry on deck and Joel next to me are my teammates. We came in first, as always. Old man, my ass.
View attachment 90087
Click to expand...
It's just a number.
 
So today...and yesterday...I had the absolute pleasure of being in the presence of one of the biggest pieces of shit I've ever experienced. Over the course of two days this alt-right, Alex Jones wannabe customer spewed such absolutely trash from his face hole that it took a considerable amount of personal restraint not to shut it for him.

Topics covered included:

  • The elites using "the needle to inject us with poison" and keep us in line.
  • Claims that "the needle" has killed tens of millions worldwide and injured billions.
  • Multiple stories denigrating "the Jews"
  • "Jungle monkeys" invading Italy to destabilize the West.
  • The Liberal agenda to depopulated Canada through "the needle", being lenient on "druggies" so they overdose faster, and flooding the country with "shit skins, jungle monkeys, Chinks, and, of course, the Jews" to ensure white people can't work or live here anymore.
  • The elites getting ready to unleash the next wave of China flu so they can inject us with more poison.
  • His absolute love for Vladimir Putin and his desire to see Putin use his KGB skills to kill every other world leader in a cage match.
  • The "pussificaction" of the snowflake generation.
  • More talk about "the needle" and "the poison".
  • Did I mention the Jews?
  • Plus many MANY more anecdotes and assertions that I blocked out or have forgotten.
Hidsight being what it is I wish I had walked away from the job the minute he started up, but instead chose to try and have a chainsaw or chipper running as much as possible to drown out the hate.
 
Last edited:
Tomorrow's Project
Background: This Northern White Cedar has been leaning like this for at least 60 years, maybe more. It has begun to slowly, very slowly uproot. It is 113" in circumference, which is about 35" in diameter. It is 55' tall, or should I say, long.
The REA put in a powerline back in the 40s near it. In the 60s they changed to line over to a 46KV phase to phase. For some reason unbeknownst to the people who work at the REA currently, this tree was not removed when that line went in and they actually built the line underneath this tree. Why you ask? Who the hell knows. Maybe they were afraid to take it down... Anywho, about 20 feet from the top (end) the tree it is now laying on one of the lines. So they called me in to remove it.
Problems: Can't get a crane in there. Can't get a bucket truck in there. The swamps are dry, but the ground is not navigable for any type of motorized vehicles. The right-of-way has not been cleared for 20 years and even a track vehicle would have to have a team of tree fellers ahead cutting for several days, or a dozer brought in, which here in the far north is not a viable option for the time constraint given. I can't even get my 4-wheeler into this location. I have a friend who has a machine used to create Forest Service roads that grinds trees up as it moves along, but the machine is down for repairs. That is too bad as he could have made it in there with about five hours machine time.
And to top it off they will not be shutting down the line for this operation.
That leaves me on foot, one saw, hotsticks, and whatever equipment I can carry in a backpack to get this tree off the 46KV phase to phase line and taken down.
091623b.jpg

091623a.jpg
Photo curtesy of my neighbor, whom I talked into going for a hike this morning.
 
Last edited:
oldoakman said:
Hope you are charging the hell out of the REA.
Click to expand...
I work for them on a semi fixed rate per hour. Fluctuates by weather, time of day, energized lines, and equipment used. Only factor involved will be the energized lines. Beyond that, $130./hr from the time I leave home until I get back home with the additional $500. hot line fee. Est. to be in the neighborhood of $1,800. for the job. But you have to remember, there is no clean up, just get the tree down, and it stays where it falls.
Swamps are dry and hard, just too many trees and brush have grown up.
 
Last edited:
Boomslang said:
So those are the games they want to play. Here's what you do. Straight backcut. Let it rip the line down. Inform them the tree is taken care of and they have a line to restring.
Click to expand...
Can't blame them for not shutting down the line, it feeds the hospital about 20 miles from here, not to mention all of the residents and most businesses.
I'm afraid if I did that, that would be the marking of my permanent retirement.
Also, it would probably start a major forest fire as we are in extreme drought at the moment.
 
Last edited:
oldoakman said:
Be safe and very cautious.
Click to expand...
It will be an easy climb. I think I can just about walk up it with some caulking boots. OSHA and ANSI snobs won't want to watch my ascent. Be awkward lopping and rigging pieces off, but once clear of the lines the game is over, and then I can drop the stem.
Going to put a 36" bar on my 372 with a skip tooth for this project. I don't want to make more than one hike in and the 372 will be a little less weight to swing around up in the tree than the 592. Only about 3 pounds difference, but 3 pounds is a lot when contorted. Suppose to be an REA fellow that is going to show up to be compliant, but I am not going to hold my breath. I give it about 50/50 that I see him. I will have a radio with me at least and be checking in. Rules around this neck of the woods are sketchy at best.
 
Last edited:
That went easier than I had thought. 1:37pm and I am back home already. REA guy didn't show, as usual. Sucked trying to lanyard myself in while in a half crotch position, but I managed to make it work.
Even the 372 is getting difficult for me to handle while in a tree. :( Didn't have to do any rigging, just flipping clear.
Bore cut the stem which was hollow. 36" bar was a tad short, so I had to flip flop a few times. But all in all it went well and quick.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Kask Stihl NORTHEASTERN Arborists Wesspur TreeStuff.com Teufelberger Westminster X-Rigging Teufelberger
Back
Top Bottom