Falling trees against natural lean

[Four Paws]

Since we have been discussing wedges...

I am hoping to stimulate some discussion regarding falling trees against their lean. I have seen the pros use tree jacks to save big timber. I don't have that technology.

I am a firewooder with reasonable confidence falling trees. I came upon some decent 30"+ Douglas Firs along a fire road. The road is 25' above the base of the trees. The side hill is steep. If I stand on the downhill side, the uphill side is about 6'-8' higher. I have a marginal escape route.

I need to fall the trees uphill so I can put them up onto the road. 1 tree has a decently bad lean - it wants to go downhill at a 45 degree angle to the road. Another tree has a living tree leaning into it about 60' up - the living tree either grew crooked or blew into it at some point. It will probably prevent it from going downhill, however I will need to stand beneath the leaner as I fall the dead tree. Did I mention marginal escape route?

So, for the more experienced guys, any advice, encouragement, or discouragement?

If I am trying to wedge them over, I cannot leave much holding wood in the hinge.

Sorry, no pictures.

 

[Deets066]

It don't have to be a tree jack, I've used a porta power (similar) or I'm sure a bottle jack would work as well

 

[Deets066]

Pull cable would be my next thought, trees just don't like to fall uphill

 

[merc_man]

Sounds pretty risky. If your questioning how to take them down i wpuld just walk away. Know your limits.

 

[dall]

im thinking if the hill is steep enough once cut the tree would slide down the hill and possibly take you out

 

[Frank bierce]

Yes, do know your limits. A marginal escape route, and trying to fall against gravity= bad juju.

 

[Four Paws]

Thanks for the responses, guys. I do know my limits. There are 3 dead trees and the living leaner in a row. I am confident about falling one of them. The tree that has the live tree leaning into it is making me nervous only because the leaner. The final dead tree is the one with the unfavorable lean.

I might start with the easiest and then see how I am feeling. A load of firewood certainly isn't worth dying for.

 

[jacob j.]

Tie them off up high with a re-direct using a block hung out in front of where you want to drop them. Apply tension on the set-up using a come-along or rope grab.

 

[Frank bierce]

Thanks for the responses, guys. I do know my limits. There are 3 dead trees and the living leaner in a row. I am confident about falling one of them. The tree that has the live tree leaning into it is making me nervous only because the leaner. The final dead tree is the one with the unfavorable lean.

I might start with the easiest and then see how I am feeling. A load of firewood certainly isn't worth dying for.

Please be careful. I'm sure we would all like to see you posting at a later date!! Happy firewoodin!

 

[mdavlee]

Wedges will overcome a lot by themselves. Just takes patience and a lot of swinging. Side hill is probably safest or quartering up hill. That should give you a better escape route.

 

[Frank bierce]

Good answer here....are there other trees in the way, if you were to get a side hill lay, that would keep the tree from sailing down the hill? If so, you could probably help it sideways with a soft Dutchman....

 

[exSW]

That was pretty.

 

[Stump Shot]

While there are multiple different tricks to get the job done, most of them would require some experience. If you're not comfortable, nothing wrong with passing. Especially for some firewood, surely there are more out there that are easier. Maybe find a more experienced faller to take with you. Otherwise you are going to have to study things pretty hard and get it right, no do overs are possible.

 

[jake wells]

the direction they are leaning is the direction they are falling im not going to fell it the other way to much like work.

 

[stihl saws]

Tie them off up high with a re-direct using a block hung out in front of where you want to drop them. Apply tension on the set-up using a come-along or rope grab.

This is the best answer. Use a throw ball to set your top rope and pull it the way you want, carefully.

 

[MustangMike]

If the fall direction is critical, I like to rope em, and I like using a rope come along. The good rope is about 3X stronger than what HD sells, and rope will give a little stretch, which will help with the pull.

Always make sure it is tight before you start, no rope or cable will change the momentum once it is going the wrong way. The rope come along will allow you to build up good tension. Much safer to pull 180 degrees from a lean than 90 degrees. Good Luck, and be careful. Also, watch you don't pinch your bar.

 

[jakethesnake]

I don't like making them do the opposite Somtimes you can make them go sideways with just some wedge work and leaving a fairly thick hinge

 

[junkman]

On steep hills ,i have better luck laying them across the hill sideways than up the hill ,every situation is different though ,when i fall uphill they seem to want to slide down at me more ,after fell .buck into shorter lengths and yard the logs back up the hill ,a winch or a cable tied to a pickup or tractor makes a mini yarder if chain a block to a tree above ,i was advised about falling uphill from my stepdad ,he had his own logging company for 40 years ,if he tells me tricks i listen .Here are some samples of a hill i took some cedar from .it was fairly steep ,the pics do not show it all .

 

[junkman]

was able to pull this log up that hill with the 3000 lb skid loader and cable and a block

 

[sawmikaze]

Im gonna get a guy i used to work with text me the picture from summer of 2014 when we were on a job and he sent one uphill and it slid back down after it bounced and pinned his ankle against a stump...its a very discouraging picture.