trail clearing technique and tools

[David in KY]

Nice work. How long will that boundary trail be?

It's about 1275 feet until it meets an established boundary/ fence.

 

[airbiscuit]

Is that your property? You're doing the hard part. I'd widen it later.

 

[David in KY]

Is that your property? You're doing the hard part. I'd widen it later.

Yes. We're going to fence this new boundary. Still trying to decide paths and trails. Will probably make a two track along the fence line. This side of the property is fairly steep and certainly has dense foliage. It's so quiet and peaceful out here. It is truly beautiful.

 

[airbiscuit]

Very nice.

 

[ArlyA]

I'm working to clear a new property boundary through heavy woods on 6 to 20% slopes. I'm impressed that the surveyors got into some of these spots to drive a stake.

I'm using a Topcon grade laser to follow the path. The stakes, some of which I didn't know were placed, all are falling dead-on to the path. You don't know they're there until you're within about 10-15 feet sometimes. I'm using a chainsaw and a large Echo trimmer with a steel, triple-blade head to cut the path. There is LOTS of surface rock around, and the steel trimmer head, though making regular contact with it, is holding up very well. It is incredible how well it cuts small trees and of course the thorns and brush.

Here are a few pictures.

View attachment 808168View attachment 808169View attachment 808170View attachment 808171

View attachment 808167

Looking at these pics, I'd suggest getting a pole saw. Not a telescoping type.

 

[2manyrocks]

I saw a local ad to sell a telescoping pole saw this week that literally said it was had been used once, but was too heavy.

 

[ArlyA]

I saw a local ad to sell a telescoping pole saw this week that literally said it was had been used once, but was too heavy.

Ya, I see lots of them FS on facebook.

 

[2manyrocks]

I second Arly's recommendation to get a pole saw. It's a very useful tool in its own right, but it also gets you further away from the brush when cutting than a chainsaw. That could be very valuable when clearing a dense area that probably has some rattlesnakes in it.

 

[ArlyA]

I'd go far beyond "useful tool"

 

[Rockbadchild]

I'd go far beyond "useful tool" View attachment 808203View attachment 808204View attachment 808206View attachment 808208

nah it remains simply a tool, useful in some area.
From all these pictures other then the one branch you cut up the tree it could all be done faster with a chainsaw...

 

[Hay Dude]

Rather than cut those trees in the middle, which can pinch the saw, we place short pieces under the tree perpendicular, drop tree on short pieces, then cut it up.
Also, the pole saws aren’t really designed for large logs. The tiny driveshafts in my Stihls Kombis are too light for large diameter logs.
Better off with a standard design chain saw.

 

[ArlyA]

I've been on our trails knocking ferns and weeds down since it rained here and they've been rejuvenated. Also wanted to see if whacker operations would bother me left hand. Good news is it doesn't, bad news since I'm working by myself, no photos were taken of any quality. We are planning to have a blazing crew over the weekend. The fellow will be loaning us his KUBOTA L3800 to mow with. He didn't know the model number but said it has 38hp so that's my guess..

 

[ArlyA]

Fern destruction today. I feel they are an evasive species.

 

[oldballs]

Good Posts Arly...as usual... "Thanks".

I do a fair amount of work with a Stihl handlebar brush cutter. My right hand goes numb routinely....sometimes it wakes me up at night with pain. But pain comes with old age and I just live with it and without any pill medicines either. Just keep on trucking. Right now the heat is the issue...been in the upper 90's recently with more to come.

Early mornings is my time to work outside.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[ArlyA]

Good Posts Arly...as usual... "Thanks".

I do a fair amount of work with a Stihl handlebar brush cutter. My right hand goes numb routinely....sometimes it wakes me up at night with pain. But pain comes with old age and I just live with it and without any pill medicines either. Just keep on trucking. Right now the heat is the issue...been in the upper 90's recently with more to come.

Early mornings is my time to work outside.

Cheers,
Mike

Sorry to hear that Mike. Have you been checked for carpel tunnel?

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Fern destruction today. I feel they are an evasive species.

They are so pretty though. Do they seem to be thicker around the trails because of more light available or less underbrush to keep them down?

I wouldn't expect there to be much less canopy along the trails, it looks like you like to keep it as natural as possible. But I bet there is more light just as a result of keeping the trails clear.

 

[ArlyA]

They are so pretty though. Do they seem to be thicker around the trails because of more light available or less underbrush to keep them down?

I wouldn't expect there to be much less canopy along the trails, it looks like you like to keep it as natural as possible. But I bet there is more light just as a result of keeping the trails clear.

If we didn't knock ferns back, you wouldn't be able to see your feet while hiking on the trail. Seems that they like low light, not full sun area's. Here in the northern hardwood forest, maples* dominate the forest floor so we have to run heavy strings to keep them from growing into a larger problem. Here is a photo of maple shoots.

*various varieties

 

[ArlyA]

More trail pics taken over the past few days.

Old and new blazes

 

[MossRoad]

Sorry in advance....

 

[Grumpycat]

I do a fair amount of work with a Stihl handlebar brush cutter. My right hand goes numb routinely....sometimes it wakes me up at night with pain. But pain comes with old age and I just live with it and without any pill medicines either.

Try wrapping your hand/wrist when using the brush cutter.

And, wear a wrist brace at night. I too will wake at night from carpel tunnel pains in my hands but sleeping with a simple loose "wrist brace" is all it takes to get through the night.