[Rick Alger]

Back in the day around here at least there were two ways to harvest wood : stump cutting and yarding.

Stump cutting was more or less like cut-to-length. You would cut the wood to measure where it fell and pile it close to the stump which was generally next to a trail. It would be hauled to roadside or river later.

Yarding was more of a tree-length system. You would cut and limb the trees and pull them to a clearing and cut and pile them there with a lot of other stems. They would also be hauled later.

A stump cutter might use a twitch horse occasionally if it was available. A yarding crew required a twitch horse or a yarding team.

[Rick Alger]

I agree with Tim.

We could all do something similar to these reports with each of our jobs and pool the info – if some good soul had the time to collect the data.

Something like what Carl has mentioned about his forwarder job, but perhaps even more specific. Topics like: forest type, basal area, avg diameter, yeild/ac, slope, avg skid, # of crew members, # animals, type of technology, #days etc etc . Probably it should be reported anoymously. The point would be learning from trends over time, not showing off who cut the most wood.

It would also be a way to get beyond the anecdotal evidence that tends to stand as gospel re what technology works, what is a good day’s harvest in small wood, etc etc.

Jim Ostergaard, would this tie in to your Scandinavian cost calculator concept?

[Rick Alger]

I did some research on WC when Scott was trying to get a logger’s group started. I found that WC is indeed state governed and the rules do vary from state to state.

However over 35 states use a company called NCCI to establish categories and calculculate risk by category for each state.

Animal powered loggers are now in the same category as cable skidder crews in states that use NCCI.

I spoke with man from the NH Insurance Commission who in turn talked with NCCI about a special animal loggers category pooled across many states. NCCI is not opposed to this idea, but they need hard data regarding payrolls and accident claims.

This is where I stopped because interest in the logger’s group dried up. I am now trying to dig up the name of the man I talked to at the NH Ins. Com. in case anyone wants to pursue this.

[Rick Alger]

Hi Josh,

Hope your winter is going well. If you are working alone and still have the medical issues we talked about, I suggest you stay away from loading logs on bunks. Go with the arch. Make loop trails. Keep them open after every snowfall. Use a rope with a pulley high on a tree if need be to get the logs from the stump to the trail. Pick up logs here and there as you head out.

On a packed snow trail with an arch you can haul at least twice what you can ground skid on dirt, probably more.

Stay safe.

[Rick Alger]

For us in Coos County sugaring starts around mid March. Feels like it might start early this year.

I like your sawmill. Looks similar to our Lane. Was yours made in Barre VT?

[Rick Alger]

Most of the large woodland owners in Coos County require a certificate of insurance before they sign a contract. They require general liability, fairly high auto and often, worker’s comp. A person working with you on your contract has to be covered by a worker’s comp policy no matter what you call him. At least that is how it has been for me lately.

That doesn’t mean it will be this way in Andover. There is a set of guidelines for determining who is an independent contractor published by the NH DOL. It is worth a look.

I think coop projects are a great idea, and I would be the first to volunteer as teamster or chopper if there was something nearby. I’ve certainly done my share of it. But the challenge is that it’s 2011. If someone gets hurt badly – incapacitated – no matter what was agreed upon beforehand, it will wind up with insurance company lawyers, and ultimately the courts will decide who is or is not an independent contractor and who is or is not liable for the injury.

[Rick Alger]

Well done.This kind of quality presentation helps us all.

[Rick Alger]

Yes, excellent photos.

[Rick Alger]

I use a rope grab with a clevis to hook to.

[Rick Alger]

Three or four years ago during that rainy summer, I worked my horses on moist soils within sight of the Dead Diamond River. Three mechanized crews were working in the general vicinity but on higher and normally drier ground.

They were shut down by the forester for around two weeks because of erosion. I didn’t miss a day.

McEvoy wrote a good book, but he didn’t get the soil damage comparison right. I wonder if this misperception is what was behind the negativity in the UNH report on good forestry in the granite state.

[Rick Alger]

I’m surprised nobody answered, so I’ll toss out what I did when I started out. I had a stout saddle horse I decided to put to work. I got a well worn collar and matching hames for very little from my farrier. He helped me make sure they fit. I made rope tugs and braided in side chains from a skidder at the ends for heel chains. I made a new whiffle tree from a maple branch and some ancient hardware. The only thing I bought was a crupper and spider from Meader’s. This harness worked well for years until I got the team and a forecart and needed brichen.

[Rick Alger]

Thank you, George and Mitch. I scrapped an old set of ring chains about a year ago. Ugh.

[Rick Alger]

Hi Jared,
Welcome. You’ve come to the right place.

[Rick Alger]

Nice job.
Where were you able to get six inch rings?

[Rick Alger]

If you set a box on one bunk it should be okay. If you set it rigid across both bunks, it will fight against the scoot’s ability to slip and slide over the cradle knolls.

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