skyline logging

ch47dpilot · May 5, 2012

Looking at clearing some 4-8" dia pines from a depresion on my property that I'd like to turn into a pond. The depresion is about 10' deep so dragging the cut trees is not practical. Have seen on TV how they use skylines to log on hill sides. Wonder if anyone has tried this on a DIY level. Was thinking I could put a cable between two trees and have a pulley on the cable. Run a second cable through the pulley. Then using a winch or hooking it to my tractor I could lift and then pull the trees up the bank. My only issue is how to only lift the trees 3-4ft of the ground before it starts to pull the tree/pulley in. My idea is to put a clevis on the end of the cable then as the cable is pulled in(tree lifted off ground) the clevis won't be able to go through the pulley and will then pull the pulley toward winch. Sounds easy to me other than the inital running of the skyline cable. Any other ideas I'd appreciate.

I'm also wondering how to remove the stumps. Won't be able to get a stump grinder down there so that's not an option. Have heard you can turn stumps into gunpowder and burn them:Gray Matter: Fire In The Hole | Popular Science. Anyone tried this? How effective/ how long to burn a 8'dia 24"tall stump?

greenthumb · May 5, 2012

This sounds like a project I might ask the question. Is your life insurance paid up.

V1Rotate · May 5, 2012

Seems to me a CH47 could lift them out no problem.

Stimw · May 5, 2012

I think by the time you do all that (and have you priced cable??) you would be better off just cutting a ramp and dragging them.

crazyal · May 5, 2012

Have you looked into having a logger do the work? I would cut the stumps off flush and leave them if they are going to be underwater if at all possible.

bcp · May 5, 2012

Get a cone or sled for the front end of the log and drag them out with a cable. If the logs are too heavy, cut them in half.

Bruce

creekbend · May 5, 2012

In your post, you stated that the depression is only ten foot in depth. How wide an area are you talking about? 1-5 acres possibly? I agree with the suggestion that bcp offered.Ten foot is not that deep if the area you are dealing with provides a sufficient angle. In regards to the stumps, if you are planning on stocking fish, the stumps would make excellent fish attractors. They would also offer a means of protection for the smaller fry to escape from the adult fish. Just a thought? Are you planning on providing some source of drainage for the pond?

ch47dpilot · May 5, 2012

There is a small area that is a a shallower angle I maybe able to drag them out with a winch. Planned to try and drag them first but I'm looking at other options if that doesn't work. As far as drainage the water that does flow into the depresion right now goes through a V cut then continues down a hill. Plan to dam up the V once the area is cleared and I can get some equipment down there. The Dam will be a whole different topic in the future. The "V" is about 8ft wide at the bottom, 10ft heigh and about 15-20ft wide at the top. Figure I can make a earthen dam but I'm clueless on were to start that.