Sometimes the plan goes out of the window due to weather, other draws on my time (such as the missus' hip op) and 'events'. In this case the high winds we've had. I'll post about some of the damage in the large wood later but, this oversized game of pick-up-sticks may amuse
These are all youngish ash. The largest is about 200mm diameter and they've been uprooted by a gust. Unfortunately, they are at the bottom of a 30 deg slope covered in bramble. I do nearly all this work on my own and, not only is it tiring, but I am constantly carrying out the 'what if?' safety assessments.
First task was to clear a route down and around the fallen trees with the bush-cutter. Not at all easy as the trailing bramble contrives to trip you at every step and throw you down the slope. This is no time to lock the bush-cutter throttle on; I need it to stop spinning if I fall!
Once a safe and clear access was cut I needed to cut and winch the trees up the slope. The trees were at right-angles to the direction I needed to winch and there was no clear path so I had to use a pulley to offset the direction - this meant doing each tree in two stages, and more walking up and down the greasy clay wet slope; by now it was like a toboggan run
The winch was secured to a large tree at the top of the slope and I brought the cut trees up one by one. The winch is too heavy to cart up and down the slope so that stays at the top and the pulley used to change direction as needed.
First one up! - notice the use of a tightening/choking chain. This device, if you've not used one, makes the job much quicker, easier, and safer. It also prevents your winch rope getting worn on the ground.
All up
Unfortunately, not quite the end of the job. I now had to move the winch part way down and above my access track above the slope to pull the trunks up to where I could cut them. Still, I no longer had to go up and down the greasy slope!
A good work out - who needs a gym.
These are all youngish ash. The largest is about 200mm diameter and they've been uprooted by a gust. Unfortunately, they are at the bottom of a 30 deg slope covered in bramble. I do nearly all this work on my own and, not only is it tiring, but I am constantly carrying out the 'what if?' safety assessments.
First task was to clear a route down and around the fallen trees with the bush-cutter. Not at all easy as the trailing bramble contrives to trip you at every step and throw you down the slope. This is no time to lock the bush-cutter throttle on; I need it to stop spinning if I fall!
Once a safe and clear access was cut I needed to cut and winch the trees up the slope. The trees were at right-angles to the direction I needed to winch and there was no clear path so I had to use a pulley to offset the direction - this meant doing each tree in two stages, and more walking up and down the greasy clay wet slope; by now it was like a toboggan run
The winch was secured to a large tree at the top of the slope and I brought the cut trees up one by one. The winch is too heavy to cart up and down the slope so that stays at the top and the pulley used to change direction as needed.
First one up!
- notice the use of a tightening/choking chain. This device, if you've not used one, makes the job much quicker, easier, and safer. It also prevents your winch rope getting worn on the ground.All up
Unfortunately, not quite the end of the job. I now had to move the winch part way down and above my access track above the slope to pull the trunks up to where I could cut them. Still, I no longer had to go up and down the greasy slope!
A good work out
- who needs a gym.
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