[Volunteers_fosm] Trail Work Report For Monday, April 19, 2021

[Robert Lowder]

Hello Everyone:

This past Monday, April 19, 2021, the FOSM Trails Maintenance Crew removed a previously reported fallen hazard tree, along with several other fallen, hung-up or otherwise hazardous trees or parts thereof, from Pino trail. The crew had originally attempted to complete this work in March, but the project was wisely deferred until later due to unsafe working conditions caused by snow and ice. The primary objective , which took nearly three hours to safely remove, was a live 12-inch diameter branched Ash tree which had broken at about the eight foot high level and had fallen downhill both above and onto the trail. A tall dead fir about three inches in diameter had also fallen onto to broken tree. Due to the weight and lengthy branches of the Ash tree it was necessary to do about 12 different cuts with a crosscut saw and pruning saws to get the whole mess safely on the ground and off the trail. The fact that Ash is a hardwood (they can make furniture out of those things) which was still "green" and moist, the wood swelled as it was cut and basically grabbed the saw. That slowed the cutting considerably. (And no, generous applications of WD-40 did not help at all.) There was also considerable work involved in clearing underbrush, saplings and various forest debris from around the fallen tree before actual removal could even start.

After the work was finished, the crew discussed the operation. It should be noted given that the combined trail clearing experience of the crew members totaled nearly 50 years, it was the consensus of the group that this was likely one of the most complicated tree removals in recent history. As is always the case, every significant job action is done with input from the entire crew to assure that the work is done safely and that no hazard is overlooked.

Monday's crew consisted of Byron Garner, David McCreery, Rav Nicholson and Bob Lowder.

Photos by Jamey Browning and Bob Lowder.

Bob L.


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