Power Line Work

I posted in another thread about the large Ash Tree I had taken down. These are a few pictures from the power line where all the wood is being left behind. They are cutting miles of trees along the sides of the power lines. I can get to some of it with my Bobcat. The terrain around here is really steep, so I think I am just going to take the easy stuff, but it seems a shame to just make firewood when there are some giant Oaks and Cherry down. The Beech is a now brainer for firewood, I guess the Ash could go either way.

Seems like a couple guys do the work and many are taking breaks.


Some of the trees I plan on harvesting:

This is looking across the power line. Believe it or not that Oak tree is a good 36 inches in diameter.

Another view, and you can see in the distance how it just keeps going:

One more view.

This guy is about 70 feet up and just cut off a large limb. He is calling down for a larger saw so he can trim the branch down to the knuckle so it will hopefully live (it is a white oak).

PapaDave said:

Whose land is it?

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I actually own half of the power line. I have never seen anyone but hunters or kids down here, so I am sure no one else is getting any wood. The land is so steep it will be a challenge for me to get a lot of the wood. I still had years worth of work left cleaning up gypsy moth killed Oaks from 20 years ago. Then the Ash are dying, Oak Wilt, Power line cleanup.

curtis said:

Thats where a cable skidder would come in handy!

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Maybe I could hook one up to the electrical towers.

Got Wood said:

You wont have time for Golf facing all that work!

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Gotta make some time. The wood will wait for me. I am also putting in a food plot now for the deer. All the downed trees should make some good bedding areas.

Backwoods Savage said:

It is a shame but probably most of that wood will just lay there and rot.

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You are right BS, just by walking the power lines you can see how this has been happening for decades. I have noticed the White Oaks really seem to hang in there for a very long time without rotting. I was finally given permission to put in a trail so I could get to a section of the power line that I could not get to because of a creek. I was planning on cutting up the old wood, but now I might as well get the green wood first. I have plenty seasoned. I still have close to 20 cords so I guess I am going to have to sell some and give a lot away.

Knots said:

Where I lived in CT they did this, although the trees were not as big. However, the crews cut everything to length and STACKED it! There were stacks up and down the sides of the power lines. Hickory, oak, black walnut, black birch, and maple. None of the people whose land backed on the power lines burned wood, so it just sat there. I lay awake at night thinking of ways to get it out.

Well, a guy I went to high school with father's place backed up on it, and he burns, but there was no good access. Anyway, in the winter time with his bucket loader and me grunting a wheel barrow, we were able to get some of it. The rest is still stacked out there, rotting away. It still bothers me.

Now I live in Maine, and the crew went through near my house while the snow was on the ground. Neat rig they have. Lots of people burn around here, so I was only able to get some, but it's nice.

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That is something they took the time to cut it to length. I went on a walk yesterday and could barely move in places because the trees were waist high. There is some really good stuff, most of it is on my property and I will find a way to get 50 percent of it. Cutting the ash today, did 3 tank fulls and probably got 1 of the 6 trunks cut.