Before and After: This fir tree fell across a power line during yesterdays storm. It blocked the road leading out to the main road. Liberty Utilities reconnected us last night and Bushwhackers cut up the tree this morning. Note the orange figure in the first photo. Thats one of the guys from Bushwhackers. They took down about ten dead trees this summer. The tree cutters shimmy up huge fir trees with cleats on their shoes and a lasso around the trunk that they progressively throw upwards. Below them on another rope is the chain saw. They use different techniques to take down trees. If the tree is close to a cabin or propane tank, they cut sections from the top down first and must ensure each section falls in the right direction. They can cut some trees with one fell swoop from the base of the trunk when it is located away from all structures. If the tree is adjacent to a power line, they place ropes around it and two men at the bottom hold onto the rope to make sure the tree falls away from the line. When these massive trees topple hit the ground shakes. Some of the really rotted trees sometimes split open. One year we saw that pink matter ran the length of the trees interior. That had once been our insulation. No wonder our cabin was always cold in winter. Watching the tree cutters do their work is as scary to see as high wire acts at the circus. Its an incredibly dangerous job, as Lou well knows. His grandfather was paralyzed from the waist down when a tree fell on him.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 19:13:34 +0000