Best way to retrieve this log

[marimus]

We had a bad storm go through and know down alot of trees. We cut logs out of most everything that was good, as we'll use it one day.

Problem I have is a couple real nice looking trees that came down across a small gully. I've attached a (pretty crappy) drawing of the situation. The trees are hardwoods (spotted gum) around 18" diameter, so there is alot of weight here.

How can i safely retrieve these? I am nervous cutting away the rootball, and I don't think my tractor will move the tree as a whole, given the situation its in.

 

[Egon]

Would it be possible to move the root ball with the tractor and shove the whole tree into the gully? Then cut to length and retrieve.

Or can the whole tree be pulled around so it sits on the root side of the gully?

 

[tawilson]

I think I'd start by trimming away and clearing at the top of the tree. Some of the limbs may be under a lot of pressure. Once you get it cleaned up and lightened it may not look so intimidating. When I get into a project and I'm not sure how I want to do it, I start by doing what I can and sometimes the rest just falls in place. One good thing about it being attached to the root ball is there is less chance of it rolling.

 

[Soundguy]

what about limbing it, then dragging it from the top of the tree so that it lays in the ditch long ways, . then use a timber jack to raise the top ( smaller end ) and start sectioning it into logs that will be easilly handled by your tractor.

Will take more time.. but will be way safer..

Soundguy

 

[InlineDieselFan]

36 feet of main trunk and 18 inches in diameter, that will be really heavy.

ARe you able to get down into the gully with the tractor and wrap a choker cable around the trunk then chain the cable to the choker (for some margin of safety). Then pull the tree down into the gully.

That tree will be under a lot of tension and it is a easily get hurt situation.

If you can get it into the gulley the tension would be removed and then you could certainly drag it out of the gulley assuming that there was a way into the gulley.

Other than that find someone who is really good with cutting trees because this is a good time to find people that truly know what they are doing.

steve

 

[N80]

I agree with Soundguy. Start by limbing it up. This takes away a lot of weight and sometimes a lot of torque too. Once limbed, try to assess how movable the whole thing is and then proceed accordingly, possibly by pulling the top around with a rope or chain so that it falls into the gulley and no longer behaving like a bridge.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Evenin Marimus,
Im in agreement with the others that state you should limb it first. If you can get down in the gulley with the tractor, I would use a long length of line to get it to the bottom of the gulley.

I have 100 ft of 1" dia hemp line that I use for that type of situation, your far enough away so no chance of getting injured no matter what the tree does !

 

[Birdhunter1]

You could just go buy a bigger tractor and pull the thing out.

 

[marimus]

You could just go buy a bigger tractor and pull the thing out.

I was afraid of it acting like a catapult if I pull it from either end, and the far end drops into the gully

I can't remember if there is a way to get down into the gully, so I will have to go back and check it out this weekend.

I'll let you guys know how it goes.

 

[turnkey4099]

Yes, limb it out and get rid of anything on the far bank that you can. Be aware that trees with rootball still partially in the gound can and do stand back up when enough top weight is removed. Usually is a slow movement but...There is also a report around where a kid was playing in the hole while daddy was cutting. Tree stood back up.

I have cut trees in that position but not with rootball problem but I was makine firewood so could block it a bit at a time. Takes some experience at reading just where the tension is in a situation.

Harry K