Best way to retrieve this log

[andover farmer]

I'd cut the tree free of the base and put a choke cable on the but of the trunk and pull it w/ the draw bar w/ the tractor situated on the limb side on the top of the gully, until the trunk lays paralell w/ run of the gully. Then limb it and section-up the trunk. Don't limb it first because the limbs and branches will allow you to turn the tree with less drag, and will help the tree to float / roll down into the gully.

 

[Deerlope]

a good meduim weight team of horses would pull that out of there with no sweat.

 

[montejw]

Look closely at the root ball, can you tell which way it would fall if it was cut from the trunk? Most likely it would try and fall back where it was. If that looks right, start with a bottom cut, maybe 1/3 to 1/2 way through, then finish with top cut and the root ball should drop back into the hole it came from. Limb the rest and drag it out.

Keep in mind, this is what we did as loggers, but that's the way it's usually done. Be safe.

Monte

 

[SeymourBota]

A classic job for a winch of ample size!!!

 

[Youare]

A 3PH winch is the correct tool for the job, I have a Farmi winch on the rear of my Kubota. You probably want to cut the root ball from the stem first. Depending on the amount of roots left in the ground the stump will likely want to go back to where it was before the tree uprooted. It is difficult to tell without seeing it though.

I would make a slight undercut at the base of the tree, enough so that if the roots are trying to pull the tree back up you don't pinch the saw. You should be able to tell if the cut is trying to open or close as you cut into the stem. Then if it looks like the roots want to return to the place they uprooted from I would make a cut from the topside directily above the bottom cut. If I was really sure the stress on the stem was from the roots pulling it I would make a notch on the botttom side of the tree.

As you finish the cut from the top at some point before you reach the first cut from the bottom the roots will start to move back to horizontal and the tree will start to bend at the notch hindge point. Should the stress on the stem be in the opposite direction, the tree pulling the roots then you would reverse the whole operation and make the notch on the top side of the stem and finish the cut from the bottom up.

You can then limb the tree. A length of chain or cable may allow you to pull sections of the tree out of the gully. Cut the tree into the size pieces your tractor can handle. Sometimes a cable and a little imagination can do amasing things.

Becareful and have someone with you when you do this.

Randy

 

[tawilson]

It probably wouldn't to drive in a wedge as soon as you can. It's hard to tell which way it's going to move sometimes.

 

[flINTLOCK]

Would definitely get a plastic wedge in as soon as possible. You may want to have an extra saw bar around in case you get pinched. Have had to exchange bars more times than I care to admit.

 

[Kendall69]

I would try to attach a chain/sling to the top ( left of picture) run the chain/sling BACK to the root ball side, stay above the tree,( at a 45 degree angle) and pull the top of the tree backwards towards the right of the picture - so that forces the tree and root ball to roll down.
Have a heavy enough piece of equipment so that when it does start rolling down, it does not pull you with it.
I would not get below that thing to do anything, too unstable. Try and work above it at all times.