Big dead fir

[RC0]

We were supposed to bring this dead fir down to about 50ft, which would make it’d be forever out of falling distance of the recreational zipline course on the site. It was also agreed that we’d chunk it down in sections not long enough to hit the zipline should one fall a stray.

 

We set up a 5:1 way down in the gorge and redirected it up to the trail where it’d be easier and safer to manage. Took a lot of setting up and messing about, and seems as we didn’t get to the job until 4:15 pm....it was actually about 6:00 before I started to climb the tree.

 

Spurring up a long-time-dead Douglas fir like that can be quite treacherous, as huge sections of bark can come loose and hit you like an avalanche. Its thick and heavy as hell....I know a few guys/fallers have been killed when cutting at the bottom.

 

Anyway, I got up there with the best of intentions....clear what remained of the limbs and stubs, free the grandfir that’s be resting on it for years.... but it got really bad (rotten) over the last 40ft....the whole thing stood about about 130. Too risky a job to start cutting up there, as nice an idea that it was to leave a big wildlife tree. I got down and we tipped it from the bottom. Used the same rigging system we’d intended for the chunks. Lost about 10 ft of the pull-line but it was 9:00 now and time to get out of there.

 

Some photos, and you can always count on Scotts shaky hands to mess up the money shot. Having said that it was pretty dramatic when it went. Some embedding to do. Thanks

[David Humphries]

What's the marker tape for Reg?

 

How was the natural light (in terms of working)?

the flash makes it look like it was real dark in there.

 

 

 

Some great images in that set (as per the norm)

 

 

The 'book' will be legendary

 

 

 

 

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[Pete Mctree]

Those firs look really dusty trees to cut - the bark no doubt. Nice job Reg - did it have enough fibre strength to hold a decent hinge?

[Mark Bolam]

Nice work Reg, looked a real ring-twitcher.

Horrible shirt....

[Stubby]

Again Reg . The man !

[Mozza]

Nice one Reg, looks dodgy as mate.

[dexta]

Great pictures. Big olde tree

[RC0]

Thanks alot.

 

David, I tried to cover a bees nest, but it didn't work, just made more mad. They were able to get out after, but none too happy and understandably so.

 

The sky above was still bright enough for so late, but it was dark down below.

 

The holding wood at the bottom was good Pete, just higher up where it got bad. The dust that comes off from shaving the bark is pretty horrific....so fine its like working through smoke. Cant be good for you.

 

A tough tree to get up on spurs alone Mark, especially with stubs and spikes everywhere, snagging the lanyard all the way....but the bark was really the issue, for each time you spur it sounds like a drum, because its detached from the wood throughout and is basically supporting itself. Not very reassuring. See the attached pic where just one roll and a skid completely stripped it bare. Thanks again.

[Ian Flatters]

2nd picture down is awesome Reg.

[timtree81]

Reg great work as always , you have one heck of a colour , must be sunny all day every day