Traipsing thru Tall Timber
Courting Death as a Montana Logger
by
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Some cutting experiences are a bit more unique from the normal or ‘run of the mill’. One of the first ‘memorable’ trees that initial day on the job was right along the dirt road we were cutting beside. There was no traffic on the dirt road so that wasn’t an issue. But I still attempted to ‘fall’ one tree parallel to the road so as not to ‘plug’ it, in case someone happened to try to use it later.
I determined which way the tree seemed to be leaning the most and cut the tree to fall in that direction. The 8 inch diameter fir tree went the way I had planned it but with one slight problem. As it fell to the ground, the top of the tree fell in among several other small trees beside the dusty road and actually slid down along side of a ‘slanted’ tree. That caused the top half of the tree I just fell, to bend in an arc which made a dangerous situation, one that I was not yet aware of.
I plugged in my ‘spring-loaded’, automatic re-wind measure tape into the ‘butt’ end of the tree I just fell, and walked out the 35 feet to the proper distance to cut the 1st log. I briefly ‘scored’ the top of the log at the exact mark and then reached my bar on the bottom side of the tree, at the same mark, to cut the underside of the log.
When my chain had cut about 3/4ths the way through the log, I suddenly heard a huge ‘boom’; the tree exploded. The tree split into 2 halves right where I had cut it and each half came flying toward my face at lightning speed. The log on the right flew at my face, just missing me by inches. The left side flew back, into my saw and threw my saw into my chest, knocking me down on the ground. As the left end of the log flew on past me, it too had just missed my head by inches.
I cautiously got to my feet, looked around to make sure, no-one was watching and picked up my chain saw. The flying left end of the log had violently hit the side of my chainsaw bar, knocking the chain completely off the bar as well as severely bending the chain so that it would not go immediately back on the bar. It required some remedial repairs, on the spot, before I could continue working.
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About the Book
Life for most people is a stiff challenge. Seldom indeed are good jobs handed to one on a platter. You typically, train, study, and learn to pursue a path to perfection. When tackling the job of a Montana timber faller, I jumped in with both feet on the first day. This was truly a situation of “live and learn” as you go. I was blessed beyond belief to make it through each and every week. By keeping my nose to the grindstone and my eyes ever vigilant on my surroundings, I was able to survive countless encounters that were destined to cripple my career. In the end, I am still alive and smiling. Someone is surely watching over me.
About the Author
Living and working in the big wild West, especially as a timber faller in the rugged Montana forests, forces one to learn quickly or perish. The author had little choice but to keep extremely observant so as not to get injured or maimed and thus be able to work another day and provide for his family. Working during sweltering, hot summer days as well as frigid winter days of down to twenty-five degrees below zero brought vivid life to the old adage of “easier said than done.” In spite of his constant vigilance, occasional mishaps were in the making. The author worked for nearly twenty-four years as a Montana timber faller and made it through, alive.