pete_hickey
08-28-2006, 11:27 AM
The crew was lead by a French Canadian kid, whose name was unpronounceable by the Americans, so they simply called him JR. The crew consisted of Tom, Laurie, Pat, Mike, Julie, Wanda, and an old guy called, "Pa". Our goal: six bars.
At 7:30AM, the crew headed out from the Putnam Pond campground, carrying shovels, rakes and implements of destruction, to head toward the work site, which was about a mile or so from the campground. We had to wait at a rock for Brett in a boat, but we waited at the wrong rock. It seems that there was more than one rock in that forest.
Bret led us a bit further, and showed us an area that needed a few bars, then he headed back to the boat. As soon as Brett was gone, some of the crew started stripping, and some started cutting, to relocate some blowdown, which was longing for relocation where it could have closer ties with its mother, the earth.
Once we had these water bars in place, we headed into the woods, to find the tree which had been marked by the DEC for harvesting. We looked around the thick forest, and found an opening. We decided that we would want the tree to fall that way. Each member of the crew took turns cutting a wedge out so that the tree would fall in that direction. Several escape routes were cleared, then the back cut was started. With an inch remaining, the tree made a loud crack. Everyone stood back. A few seconds later, another crack, then it started slowly falling. Although it started slowly, its speed quickly increased.
"It does make a sound!" Shouted Mike, in answer to the age old question.
The crew quickly went to work stripping and limbing the fallen spruce. The crew worked well together. Some were digging, others stripped, still others carried logs. We were able to build two water-bars at a time. By mid afternoon, we were finished with the bars. And that's impressive.
How many times have you finished 6 bars by mid afternoon, and were still standing.... and then saying, "Lets go back for a beer"
Some pictures here: http://newmud.comm.uottawa.ca/~pete/trailwork2006/aug26/index.html
At 7:30AM, the crew headed out from the Putnam Pond campground, carrying shovels, rakes and implements of destruction, to head toward the work site, which was about a mile or so from the campground. We had to wait at a rock for Brett in a boat, but we waited at the wrong rock. It seems that there was more than one rock in that forest.
Bret led us a bit further, and showed us an area that needed a few bars, then he headed back to the boat. As soon as Brett was gone, some of the crew started stripping, and some started cutting, to relocate some blowdown, which was longing for relocation where it could have closer ties with its mother, the earth.
Once we had these water bars in place, we headed into the woods, to find the tree which had been marked by the DEC for harvesting. We looked around the thick forest, and found an opening. We decided that we would want the tree to fall that way. Each member of the crew took turns cutting a wedge out so that the tree would fall in that direction. Several escape routes were cleared, then the back cut was started. With an inch remaining, the tree made a loud crack. Everyone stood back. A few seconds later, another crack, then it started slowly falling. Although it started slowly, its speed quickly increased.
"It does make a sound!" Shouted Mike, in answer to the age old question.
The crew quickly went to work stripping and limbing the fallen spruce. The crew worked well together. Some were digging, others stripped, still others carried logs. We were able to build two water-bars at a time. By mid afternoon, we were finished with the bars. And that's impressive.
How many times have you finished 6 bars by mid afternoon, and were still standing.... and then saying, "Lets go back for a beer"
Some pictures here: http://newmud.comm.uottawa.ca/~pete/trailwork2006/aug26/index.html