Day 137
I own a chainsaw. It's still in the box. It’s not that I don't want to use it. I just haven't made tree takedown a priority when dealing with so many other projects. I also have never really been trained. I am well aware that it isn’t rocket science and even a novice handyman should be able to figure it out, but when it comes to something that can easily sever a limb, I plan on taking my time to make safe and responsible decisions. Being an Ice Age Trail volunteer, I am often reminded of the required safety trainings available and handling a chainsaw is usually near if not at the top of the list. So, despite the need to take down trees, I have heeded the advice of my better half and my conscience and resisted the urge to fire up my chainsaw.
Once I am trained, I'll be out there. Until then, I am fortunate enough to have helpers. The same gentlemen who assisted with trail preparation and coop creation offered their services for tree takedown. Unfortunately, lining up our schedules made things tricky.
However, everything seemed to come together for a nice winter tree cutting session. Though a winter work day might not seem ideal, they both referenced it was a great time to cut. Knowing the land would be frozen with packed snow, we would have easier access to the trees than when there were bugs and bright sun.
Everything seemed great until two days before our tree cutting party. Mother Nature tricked us again and provided us with a string of warmer than expected days. While not melting everything away, it did soften the ice just enough that many of our steps obliterated the thinner layer of surface ice and into the cold and mucky standing water below. The two helpers were experienced and seasoned in the field of winter working so they were prepared. I, however, was not. Plus, since I didn't have proper safety equipment, including chaps and helmet, today would not be my chainsaw training day. Instead, I would help “supervise.” We got to work right away but almost instantly, things besides the trees went sideways.
