Windfirming

[Gord]

We've been getting a few of these windfirming contracts lately, and as it's not a common thing outside the PNW I thought I would make a post about it. The job is to go along the edge of a logging cutblock and within a strip of specified width (usually 10-15m) thinning or topping each overstorey tree to reduce the likelihood of windthrow. It's not done everywhere, mostly along edges that are most likely to blow down or edges alongside streams or roadways. It's also commonly done with a saw on a helicopter longline, depending on the trees and location, the cost of climbers vs helicopters varies. In most places it's possible to pendulum from tree to tree with a grappling hook (aka claw), reducing the amount of vertical climbing. It's common to do 7 or 8 hundred vertical (up) feet a day. All climbing is done with spurs.

Some photos:

The middle ten or so trees have been 'firmed', some thinned some topped. The thinning is drastic and concentrated on the upper canopy. It's not for aesthetics! I measured the tree right of center 191'.

Excellent practice for new climbers...start them small. It is actually great experience for newer climbers, many locations have plenty of smaller trees.

Using a claw to transfer.

The grappling hook I use.

At this point the full weight of the climber is on the claw line and if your 'set' fails it's a very nasty swing back to the starting tree. It's often tempting to use a less than ideal set (or one you can't really see) but gravity's a poor sparring partner.

Some of the locations are worth a photo.

A video:

Windfirming with some snow

 

[unatool]

Cool post, Gord. Interseting that they do thinning with a helicopter!
I thin many Firs, often near new developments or recent clearing. It is an enjoyable task and I love to pause at the top and enjoy the view... have a cigarette.
I also like to log in my vertical feet per day... 600 may be my best day. Man, 7 or 8 hundred sounds rough!

 

[chewbacca]

Thanks for the interesting post. Haven't I seen that grappling hook (claw) used by the military? Also, "gravity's a poor sparring partner" - I'm stealing that one.

 

[southsoundtree]

Cool post Gord.

 

[DavidT]

Awesome pictures, especially the last one. You need to send that one for the cover of Sherrill.

 

[SuperK]

Yeah 10-4 Awesome pics. I know you have heard it before but where you work is just incredible.

 

[AspenArbo]

[ QUOTE ]
but gravity's a poor sparring partner.

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm going to hit the like button on this one too. Thanks for sharing!

 

[guymayor]

Great work--species and location etc. seem to justify the deviation from typical standards. 191'; sounds like fun!

How do you think the trees will look in 3-5 years?

 

[Frax]

You have the best job in the best place. What's it like to be you, Gord?

I can't find that little 'envy' graemlin....

 

[Gord]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the interesting post. Haven't I seen that grappling hook (claw) used by the military? Also, "gravity's a poor sparring partner" - I'm stealing that one.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that hook has been used by the US military, here's a link that mentions that.

http://ustacticalsupply.com/grabber.aspx


[ QUOTE ]
Great work--species and location etc. seem to justify the deviation from typical standards. 191'; sounds like fun!

How do you think the trees will look in 3-5 years?

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Guy, the trees I've seen that have been done 5 or so years prior looked alright, lots of epicormic growth.

This report (PDF) mentions a increased mortality rate several years after the treatment, although it's not much compared to controls. Edges and leave islands always have an increased mortality rate compared to surrounding forest due to soil disturbance and all the other factors that are present when neighbor trees are harvested.

One of the objectives in windfirming is preventing the domino blowdown effect, rather than just pruning individual trees for their own wellbeing. If the edge trees remain standing, they can't fall against others and begin a large swath of blowdown.

 

[YoungBuzzer]

Gord,

Looks like an awesome project and great pictures!

I'm sure people have already asked you this but were you on the TV series Heli-Loggers? Your pictures look just like an episode I saw on one of the episodes.

Looks like a great place to live, work and play!

-Tyler

 

[Gord]

Hey Tyler, nope not me on the show. Same line of business at times.

 

[cory]

Mighty cool vid, Gord!

The cover over your climb line- do you just use it when you are working close to the TIP, or will you keep it in place at the TIP when rapelling and working lower? Is it for anti sap on the rope? If you rapell down with it, how do you retrieve it, overhand knot?

What's the ring above your friction hitch for?

Those gloves look nice, what kind are they?

The sigh at the start of the climb was funny- sounded like "another day at the office..."

Lotta questions!!??!

 

[Gord]

Hey Cory
The cover on my climbing line is just for the sappy areas of the tree, usually the top 20 feet or so have sap blisters. The ring is just stitched to the end for retrieval, usually with a screwlink.

The gloves are some diving gloves with neoprene backs.

Ha! I didn't realize that sigh was there until I looked at it just now. The snow and wind I guess...