Too Sketchy to Drop?

[Toasty-Yote]

The ash recently died in my dad's yard. It is about 50' tall and as you can see, is covered in vines. Some looks like Virginia creeper and some is very thorny with red berries. No idea what exactly it is but the thorns are nasty. I cut most of the vines at ground level today but I am guessing vines like that will take at least a year to lose most of their tensile strength.

My question is if you would drop it or leave it. There are two main trunks and both of them are intertwined with the vines so that if I were to cut one, it could pull down parts of the other trunk in unpredictable ways or just leave it hanging/leaning by the vines which is another sketchy situation. I don't have a tractor and enough rope to pull it down even if I could get the rope high enough to get some leverage. I think I already know the right answer but wondering if anyone has ideas on how to do this somewhat safely. I feel there is at least two really good cords of ash right there and although he has a large woods, my Subaru Impreza really only has access to the outskirts for loading the rounds.

 

[Slimdusty]

Is there any structures within the fall zone? If that is a no, I would feel comfortable falling it (from what I can see in the pic). Stay within your own comfort zone, that’s the most important criteria.

 

[Toasty-Yote]

There is nothing around it that I am worried about it dropping on (other than me). I just don't like the idea of dropping one trunk and it pulling random pieces off the other trunk as it falls. I guess, as long as I got out of Dodge when I heard it starting to crackle and fall, I would mitigate that risk somewhat.

 

[stoveliker]

If you do, make sure you wear a proper helmet.

 

[bigealta]

And make sure u have multiple good clear escape paths.
i'd start with cutting all the vines then the small leaner trunks.

Maybe wait till the snow is gone for a better escape plan.

It does look like there are lots of dead branches up there so i would be thinking pulling with a rope. You can get cheap ones at depot.

If you do cut them make sure you do a good hinge, take your time to get it right.

 

[weee123]

I’ve personally cut a tree down like this that was intertwined with wisteria into another cherry next to it. It pulled the cherry down with it so be prepared for two trees to come down potentially.

 

[EbS-P]

I’m a hard pass on any felling that isn’t super simple. Are you in dire need of this wood?

If I were to do it I’d throw a rope between the two stems and then use/pull that rope to remove all vines between the two stems.

Then Clear out the base. Then take the the left stem. It’s got a hard lean small notch bore cut. Then then asses the remaining stem.

In that amount of time one could fell 3 easy trees.

 

[Duds13]

I wouldn't attempt it.

1. Dead ash - could easily snap off near the top as you are cutting
2. If there's Virginia creeper wrapped around it, highly likely there is poison ivy too.
3. Looking at the photo things could go wrong quickly getting twisted up in the vines.

That's just me though. I know my skill level and I'm far from a pro.

 

[Murray01]

If it’s feasible, hire a pro to knock it down. Done that lots with trees near structures and power lines. You do the clean up save a few $.