Pennsylvania man killed skidding log out of the woods

[Redgoatea]

This is why I don't skid whole trees out of the woods. It's worth my time and safety to cut them down to 12-15' and take them out piece by piece. I've knocked over a couple of alders just by bumping them (stupid shallow root trees) with the tractor or excavator I don't need whatever I'm dragging doing it as well.

 

[F1520]

Yeah, I prefer to buck log length stuff into 16" lengths where it falls and then haul it out in the front loader. Skidding drives dirt into the bark too, which dulls my saw chains quicker.

This one particular tree, which had been blown down by a bad storm, was laying through a thicket of thorny stuff and poison ivy, and it was going to be a real bear to get to if I wanted to buck it in place. I didn't skid it far, just thirty feet or so out into the open where I then cut it into rounds and hauled it away in the loader.

I will do this with even more care next time, if I skid at all.