new rough cut trail to maple grove

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billb3

Minister of Fire
Dec 14, 2007
4,679
SE Mass
finally have a trail cut across a steep hill to get into the lower end of the property to get at some maple for 2014/5 or 2015/6
I need a trailer now

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Hey I like that a lot! I have a couple of trails through our woods for firewooding. And they serve as great fun trails to take the grandkids on as well! What model of JD are you sporting there?
 
Looks a bit tight and rough in spots but at least you can get through it.
 
There's a lifetime supply of pine, I just don't want to cut a whole bunch of it down all at once widening trails. I've got maple down from a storm a year ago I really want to get to before it rots on the ground and leaning.
The cut across the hill I did with the backhoe. Very rocky ground and it is a bit crude, but again, getting to the maple was priority.

Vid doesn't really show how steep it is.
 
Bill, it is difficult to show on a video or even a still picture the steepness of hills. Yet I got a sense of what it is like while watching your video. Well done.

As for the rotting of the wood, that which is leaning won't rot. It is only when it is touching ground where you need to worry a bit.
 
It's all swamp maple. (Red / soft )
Some of it is actually in a swamp (dry right now ) and the rest is in low land ( all the area that is flat in the vid is only about 2 feet above water level )
Might be the water proximity but it rots pretty quick.
Not the greatest of hardwoods but it is what I have.
 
Your place looks a lot like mine. I have a lot of Red Maple and it will not last one year if on the ground. If you have a box blade or some sort of attachment you could make a rack to hold the logs. It might be better than trying to deal with pulling a trailer through your tight trails.Heavy Load Feb 2013.jpg
 
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I've been keeping the backhoe on because I use it so often.
Sometimes just for weight.
IMG_0032.JPG

A rear rack is a good idea though .......
 
Your place looks a lot like mine. I have a lot of Red Maple and it will not last one year if on the ground. If you have a box blade or some sort of attachment you could make a rack to hold the logs. It might be better than trying to deal with pulling a trailer through your tight trails.

It probably depends on the type of ground and the climate but we have left that maple up to 2 years but that is maximum. By then it is showing big sign of starting to go punky. The nice part is that even after a year, the whole tree will be ready to burn! This is about the only one that I know which will dry completely without being cut to length and split first.
 
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