ECHO DCS - 5000 / Felling My First Tree

 

Song:  Che vuole questa musica stasera

Artist:  Peppino Gagliardi

I got up this morning just itching to start on an outdoor project.

It had snowed some the day before so I had decided to go food shopping yesterday...

and do some more dehydrating for an indoor project day.

So...

as the weather was holding out on this day...

I identified the tree for my first felling.

I had chosen this tree as it was too near the deck...

and although it wasn't a problem yet...

it would be in the years to come.

And so...

as the trunk was only about 5" in diameter...

and as this would be good practice for me...

as I would be tackling much larger trees in the future

(I have to buy tree climbing equipment first...

as some are more than 30 feet tall)...

and just felling one could damage nearby Aspen trees...

 I will have to climb the tree using leg spikes and a utility belt 

to carry my chainsaw...

and with a safety loop I would secure around the tree as I climbed.

I would be cutting the branches as I ascended...

until I got high enough to cut from the top...

and then make succeeding cuts as I descended.

I need to do this on select trees on my property to ensure

proper tree spacing for fire and disease prevention...

and to also ensure the pine trees do not crowd the Aspen trees.

After identifying my first tree...

I began charging the chainsaw battery.

I then took up the chainsaw to my recliner so I could assemble it in comfort.

Just as a woman loves her kitchen utensils...

a man loves his tools.

This is my tool box for my inside projects.

I have a few other tools for the inside...

but this is my main tool box.

I kept an eye on the weather as I assembled the chainsaw.

It was an easy task.

I just had to ensure the correct direction of the cutting edges on the chain 

before I ran the chain in the groove and began tightening it.

I just lightly adjusted the chain tension so it would stay in place as I installed the face plate.

I love that this chainsaw came with a chain tightener tool right on the bottom.

It is very useful for retightening the chain in the field

(I had to do it once as I was cutting the tree up as it is a new chain).

After assembling the chainsaw and ensuring the chain was under proper tension...

I decided to eat a little something for breakfast.

I had some of my homemade yogurt with added blueberries...

and I had two avocados.

I love Hass avocados.

With just a second to run a knife around the avocado...

and then pulling it apart and lifting out the seed...

the avocado shell serves as a self contained bowl to eat the creamy center with just a spoon.

I ordered a multi level fruit holder

so I may buy different levels of ripeness of avocados

and categorize them so I may always have some ripe ones to eat.

I will buy some almost every time I go shopping.

I also buy rotisserie chicken whenever I go shopping...

usually one for Bandi to eat...

and one for me...

so we may have some over several days of eating.

This one was for Bandi.

It usually lasts for four feedings for her.

After eating...

I filled the chainsaw with bar oil.

I then put in the charged battery.

I put on my chainsaw safety pants...

and other equipment...

and the bottom cloth is the log carrier.

I will just load up the cut logs and haul them up to near the street.

I will then stack the cut wood into neat piles...

which several times in summer...

will be chipped for free.

That is why I must start the cutting during winter.

This way I will have many months to cut and stack wood

before the chipping starts

(I can put out up to 6" diameter wood for chipping...

in 5x5x5 foot piles).

For larger diameter trees...

I will have to use my wedge and axe to split the rounds I will make...

so they are no larger than 6" in diameter.

The chainsaw safety pants have a pocket perfect for carrying my IPhone.

I had initially made a Humboldt Face Cut so I could control

the direction of the falling tree.

I then made the back cut...

...for a perfect fall.

I have a steel wedge for larger trees...

but as this one was small...

just the cuts were enough.

This chainsaw is so perfect for my needs.

It cuts through the wood just as fast...

or faster than an equivalent sized gas powered one

(as tested on YouTube).

It is also so much quieter...

so much so that I don't need ear plugs to operate it

(Even though I am partially deaf...

I can still tell if something is too loud...

at least I think so  :)

The chainsaw cut through the trunk in a matter of a few seconds

(I am talking 3 - 4 seconds fast).

I am so satisfied with this chainsaw...

it handles timber like a boss.

I am thinking of taking out this pine tree next...

as it is crowding some Aspens.

Conversely...

this small Aspen is crowding the established pine tree...

and so...

as the Aspen sprouts from a common root system through shoots...

after cutting down this small Aspen...

it will stimulate new growth nearer the other Aspens...

instead of being too near the pine trees.

Just as I had finished cutting up the fallen tree into transportably sized lengths...

it began to snow.

And so...

I will just leave the hauling and stacking of the wood for another day.

I set aside an area for my logging equipment in the garage.

I placed the chainsaw on a plastic bag...

as the oil from the chain will eventually drip.

I will use the axe and root cutter on the small saplings

which are growing too near other trees or near my house.

The large steel wedge will be used on much larger trees to ensure 

they fall in the desired direction.

---------

Although this was the first time I had ever operated a chainsaw...

or had cut down a tree...

the principle is very simple.

I had also done a lot of research on YouTube from professional loggers.

This is not to say I am super knowledgeable...

but I know enough for my purposes.

During my tree climbing endeavors...

I will have leg spikes...

and a climbing belt...

and I will employ what most professionals don't use

(as it slows down the process)...

a Deadman's Slipknot on a separate line from the climbing loop.

It will also be looped around the tree trunk and attached to my padded utility belt...

and it will have a relatively short lead.

It will prevent me from falling more than a few feet...

even in the event I am knocked unconscious from smacking my head

against the tree trunk if my climbing spikes aren't planted deeply enough

in the tree trunk and I slip and start falling.

I already know that I will slip at times while climbing up tall trees.

That is why I shall have a separate safety line which will automatically catch me.

I will end up with a scraped up face...

perhaps necessitating a few stitches...

but it is far preferable to possibly falling to my death  :)

How do I know I will slip while climbing?

Because I know me.

While I am very careful in my planning...

and while I exercise caution in almost everything...

I also know that I am in a perpetual battle with my impulsiveness.

If I get excited by doing things I used to love doing as a child...

my inner child will take over at the most inopportune moments.

I am a guy...

we sometimes do incredibly stupid and risky things just to break up boredom...

we will sometimes give in to the urging of our inner child...

it is simply what we do.

And so...

why I must plan for the almost inevitable unnecessarily risky maneuvers I may do

en lieu of a slow but safe way...

just because :)