I had 2 large pines near my house, that leaned towards my house, and of course the usual winds blow them towards my house as well.
Well we got hit hard by the pine beetle, and those 2 trees died, so if left too long, they were going to fall over.
Now I have fallen a fair amount of trees, and am usually fairly acurate at putting them where I want them to go.
So I strongly considered dropping them myself. Oneday I went out there and studdied them, got out my saw, sharpened it, fuled it up, got my axe and wedges ready.
Then at the last moment I chickened out. In the back of my head was the little voice saying if this time something goes wrong, its going to be a really bad day.
So I got in my truck and drove over to the home of an old logger in town.
We have no professional tre service companies here, its just too small a town.
But we have many old loggers, and most are either good, or died in the bush.
Harold is retired, has been for about 7 or 8 years now.
I went and talked to him, said could you come drop them for me.
Or if not, at the least give me some tips from your 40 years of being a faller in the bush.
He said ya, no problem at all, glad to help a neighbour out.
I said great, no need to bring anything, i have all you need.
He said okay then, going to have lunch with the wife, be over later today.
Well I go home, take care of some stuff, clean the garage etc.
And here comes old Harold, pulls up in his old truck.
Harold does not talk a lot, and he is fairly deaf, so you more yell at him, than talk to him.
He says what trees you want down?
I say this one here, and this one over here, they are about 30 or so feet apart.
Where do ya want them he asks?
Anywhere not on the house or garage I say.
No he says, go mark me an X where ya want them exactly.
So i walk out a ways and mark 2 X's on the ground with my boot heel.
Good enough he says, looks my saw over some, and fires it up.
Makes his notch, goes into the back cut, barely taps in 1 wedge and finishes the cut
Drops it literally with the trunk of the tree on the center of my X mark.
He walk over to tree 2 and repeats it.
In maybe 4 minutes both were down, and I go look, the trunk of tree 2 was also on the ucX mark.
He says got a cold beer, so we sit and have an icy cold beer, he says well gotta go home and feed the cattle, bye now.
Walks to his beat up old dodge and drives away.
I limb them, and buck them, use the bobcat to clean it all up, and then go inside.
I cleaned up a bit, grabbed a box, went to the freezer, grabbed out about 50 pounds of fresh moose and deer meat, and another 20 or so punds of fish i had caught.
Put it in my truck, went to town, bought a 24 of his fav beer, went over to his house, and gave it to him.
He says no need, neighbours help neighbours, but thanks anyways.
I said at least keep the beer, so he agreed, and took the beer.
It was an honor to see someone so skilled work.
He made it look so easy, not bad for a guy 71 years old. Or any darn age.