Sawyer Shoutout!

Assessing derecho damage - trees down over the AT.

(Photo: Christina W.)

 

A 'shoutout' is a positive public acknowledgement and that is what this post is all about ..... some public acknowledgement for our group of sawyers.  All volunteers are vitally important to the AT, but the ones who truly keep the R to R trail open and passable are the sawyers and their chainsaws. This morning is the perfect time for this post because as of 6:00 a.m., several of our sawyers are on the road to Natural Bridge for a long day of re-certification class ..... safe travels, guys!

 

What does it take to be a sawyer? To operate a chainsaw on Forest Service or National Park lands, sawyers have to be certified. A new sawyer attends a two day class (over a weekend, usually) to learn the basics. Everything revolves around safety. A chainsaw can do some incredible damage in a very short time .... I read somewhere that the average number of stitches for a chainsaw injury is 110.  Of course, sawyers wear a lot of personal protective equipment (PPE), but all of that protection doesn't do much good if you cut into a blowdown that is unstable and it shifts and comes down on top of you and/or the volunteers with you on your work crew! If a sawyer candidate gets through the classroom and then the practical (i.e. in the woods, sawing with an instructor teaching and evaluating), then he gets his "card" ..... but only after showing that he has also gotten certified in First Aid & CPR.  So before the sawyer ever gets in the woods with a chainsaw and on the AT clearing blowdowns, a lot of personal time and commitment have already occurred. Every three years, sawyers have to be re-certified ..... and have that current First Aid/CPR certification again.  Now ..... a certified sawyer can start the real work!

 

 

Two blowdowns on the AT on Sec. 1
(Photos: David G.)

Our sawyers are dedicated to their work on the AT and some of the most hard working guys I know. Last Saturday, two of our sawyers (to be exact, the two in the pictures below) worked the morning at The Wetlands. Two blowdowns had been reported on the AT in early February (see pictures above) so these two sawyers, around noon, left The Wetlands and drove the two hours to the AT, then cut these blowdowns off the trail. They put in a very long day!

Left:  A Tale of Two Difficult Trees (Photo: Christina W.)

Right: 'The Wetlands' WORKout  (Photo: Merlot)

In the pictures above, you can see the PPE the sawyers have to wear: a helmet with face screen (goggles are under those screens), ear protection, long sleeves, gloves, and kevlar chainsaw chaps. Their boots also have to meet certain requirements. So ..... you are a sawyer and your task for the work trip is to clear the trail from Rockfish Gap to the Humpback Parking lot, a distance of about 7.5 miles. What are you carrying all those mountainous miles? The chainsaw for starters and those things are not light! Our sawyers all carry them up on their shoulders ... some clubs use 'freighter' packs, but the bottom line is .... the sawyer has to carry his saw. All of the PPE has to be carried along as well as fuel, bar oil, wedges, perhaps an extra chain, and tools to adjust and repair the saw if necessary and last but not least, the FAB (the First Aid Bag). That's a lot of "toting" going on and why being on a chainsaw crew with a sawyer is not only a lot of good hiking, but very, very important work as you help them with gear and clearing the blowdown debris that they cut.

Work to be done after derecho damage occurred on the trail!

 Konnarock Photo Album No. 1  (Photo: Dave W.)

The most important thing to remember if you are on a crew with a sawyer or you run across one while hiking the trail: the sawyer is the crew leader and is in charge. Follow his directions, do what he says, and stay alert.  Remember, the sawyer is not only running a noisy chainsaw, but he's got on ear protection and cannot hear well, if at all. He does not need distractions while cutting - it is dangerous not only for him, but for anyone getting in the wrong spot. I've seen blowdowns shift, chains come off saws, and other weird stuff happen, regardless of how "safe" a sawyer is in the way he assesses blowdowns and uses the saw. Do not make the sawyer's job harder by moving out of a safe area where he thinks you are standing or trying to help too soon to clear what he is cutting. If you run up on a crew while hiking, especially if the saw is running, stay well back. When the saw is turned off, ask the sawyer if it is safe to pass and let him direct you as to the safest route through the blowdown area. Safety first, for everybody!!

 

 

A Surprise for the Sawyers (Big Tree Bites the Dust!)

(Photos: Dave W.)

 

 

There are plenty of interesting stories that come back with the sawyers after a day on the trail. In the last year or so, we've started getting some pictures of their work and sharing a tale or two of what happens when they are out cutting blowdowns. The pictures help folks who aren't on a sawyer crew understand what goes on and the stories are interesting .... and fun. The sawyers enjoy their work and always have a great time out on the trail, even when they are working very hard. Clearing the trail is immediately rewarding for the sawyer crews as they take a big mess and turn it back into ..... great trail.

A messy blowdown that these two sawyers cleaned up - notice the chainsaw carried up on the shoulder and PPE  - out of sight is a volunteer carrying the gas can and other gear. 'Gang Aft Agley' Becomes A Very Good Day

(Photos: Merlot)

 

 One of our sawyers, being a 'swamper' for the day

at Presquile NWR March 23, 2013.

(Photo: Merlot)

 

We really appreciate and respect our sawyers and the work they do - the Rockfish to Reeds section of AT would not be the well-maintained trail that it is without their efforts. I've posted pictures of most of them above (I think I am missing one ..... don't have a picture anywhere of him but 'RW', you are on my list to get a picture and I will post it when I get it! Update:  Got it - last picture posted!) I've also posted links to the work trip crew reports where these pictures were taken so you can read about it and/or see more pictures.  

 

Thank you guys, for all you do on the AT ...... and the time and effort you put in to get certified, stay certified, keep that First Aid/CPR card current, prepping chainsaws, cleaning chainsaws and carrying it all as you hike the AT and keep those blowdowns cleared!

 

~ Merlot 

 

 

Just for fun .... Trail Trivia Quiz!

 

1. Sawyers carry a specific tool for the field maintenance of their chainsaws ... what is this tool called?

 

2. One of our sawyers was struck in the Kevlar chainsaw chaps by a Timber Rattlesnake - what is the name of the trail feature where this happened? (Major Clue: feature got its name due to this event!)

 

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