The so called 'cedar swamp' on my camp land had been gleaned of cedar trees years ago. I've been felling and dragging out black ash trees for our cabin woodstove, using my truck, cables, and chains. This year I've purchased a rated 12,000 pound winch mounted on a hitch mount. Mounting a snatch block to a tree made easy work with the winch. Also purchased what is called a 'log skidding cone'. It keeps the butt end of the log from getting hung up on stumps, hills, trees, and ground debris. Does a real nice job. Rather cumbersome to carry it out into the watery swamp with one hand, while the other is using a ski pole for balance, but don't have to carry it back in! Just sharing here a couple of pics.


I know there are two more trees that I felled last year, when the swamp was bone dry, that still have to get hauled in. With water back in, I had a hard time getting to the downed trees this past week. Will wait for freeze up, or another hot, dry summer to get them last two in. Next fall I'll be checking out maple trees on the other end of my land. Lots of them, with no swamp to wade through. They'll keep the cabin nice and warm as the ash does.

Frank.

Splitting black ash on a cold day is fun work. You can split long ones!

Buddy has one of those cones. He loves it. Says that it prevents snags.

Winter cutting and hauling would save you wet feet. How long do you dry the ash for?

Would love to season my firewood for a full year. However, demand and supply rule the day. Always did a nice job splitting that black ash with my 3/4 ax. Loved to feel and hear the split. But now I use an hydraulic splitter. Much easier on the bone joints. Yup, that cone saved a lot of treks back into the swamp to free a tangled skid. Well worth the money.

Frank.

Hmmmm, never have heard of a skidding cone. I can see where it would help, if you were really dogging something with small equipment like a 4-wheeler or something light.

We've talked about it before, but most times if you have a chain wrapped around a log, the chain will offer more resistance, digging into the ground than the log or pole itself. In something small/light like a pickup, you'll feel it catching every rock or root that you cross.

I just searched "logging cone", looks like 11 pounds. Looks to me like it'd be easier to use a light rope or heavy cord and drag that rascal into where you need to go. Gotta pull your winch line in there anyway.

But dragging the thing behind, that would help you keep your balance, and leave that hand free in case you would happen to stumble and fall.

We don't heal up and mend like we did 20 or 30 years ago.

I'm fortunate to live in the forest. That cone wouldn't fit on most of the trees I cut.

Yeah, that cone keeps the tree skidding along real well. The cone weighs in at almost 15 lbs, and can fit over the end of a 20" log. Ain't got any trees that large except for a huge oak, that I'll only cut if it starts to look sick.

Frank.

Winter really cuts into growth times!

Well here's the results of my efforts. It ain't a lot of firewood, perhaps a strong face cord. Today's chain saws and log splitters make work much easier than the axe and two man bucking saws, no doubt about it. But, you still have to do the work. However, I love making wood!




Frankie Bunyan, log smith!

Nice pile of "satisfaction" you created there. Black ash has a unique smell, too. It smells when you cut it and when you burn it.

We're always concerned about accidently starting a wild fire with our camping life. Being in the middle of nowhere, it strikes home even more. Miles from civilization, your cabin/house and acreage is pretty much done for, hopefully not your life. That was my thoughts when I snapped this picture during my logging work at camp. Scary looking, right? But after a long day of on and off storms, this was how the sun went down, reflected on the clouds.

Fuel for thought, Frank.