Today we got to mill the gravy train tree! A massive behemoth, too wide for us to cut normally, so we had to get creative.
So this tree is way too big to just cut up into logs, plus it’s situated on a spur of the mountain with dropoffs on either side. It is too wide at the base for us to get our mill on, and it is on an extreme decline. Easy peasy! We started off at the top of the tree, where it is skinnier, and just started cutting straight down into it at the lengths we needed. We cut out sections where our mill could fit into and started skimming off the top.
Then we just took the slabs off to the side…
and turned those into beautiful lumber!
Later on we figured out how to get around the issue of the tree being too wide for our mill: we used the skill saw to make an edge at the max width, and used an ax to clear out the extra! Today was our most productive day yet!
But now I must tell you of our sad saw saga. Our new Magnum 880 is out of commission for the rest of the trip, which means we are using our less reliable, used and abused, Magnum as our main saw. There is a plastic gear which pumps the oil for the bar, and it snapped. There is a spare back in Sobega, but we have no way to get it to us. What’s more, we broke another chain tensioner today which leaves us with one more remaining.
Anyways, remember that kid who cut his finger last trip? He came by yesterday…
and it is looking a lot better! He even wiggled the tip for me so everything must be connectedly well.
Also, remember that hill they needed to take out to make a chopper pad? It’s gone now!
Thank you for your prayers!
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