Tree #1
After getting the waterbar half of the crew started, Jim S. (crew leader & certified sawyer) and Christina W. headed south down the AT to take care of two blowdowns. The first tree down was a 'stepover' and fairly close to Rockfish Gap. The second blowdown had been reported (as best could be understood) just beyond Naughty Girl Creek. Naughty Girl is the boundary between sections 1 and 2 and is 1.8 miles south of Rockfish Gap. As it turned out, reports of the tree's proximity to the creek were grossly exaggerated ...... the tree was closer to the old cabin/chimney ruins on Sec. 2 which is probably another mile past Naughty Girl. This was quite a hike and Jim and Christina didn't get to the tree until about 2:30.
When the blowdown was finally located, it turned out to be really big and work-intensive due to the way it had fallen ...... here are Christina's comments on it as well as her great series of photos showing how vital a sawyer's work is to keeping the AT clear:
This large tree was lengthwise blocking the trail south of Naughty Girl Creek on Section Two. The subtitle to this one could be "How to Single-Handedly Dispatch a Large Tree Blocking The Trail Lengthwise in 40 Easy Steps". Of course I'm kidding, it only appears that way because of the skill and experience of the sawyer. ~ Christina W.
Length of tree #2!
Evaluating the tree ......
...... and evaluating some more.
The first cut.
Sawing .......
Wedges in use.
Mid-section
Lower aspect.
Upper aspect.
Two-thirds done.
Final touches .......
All done!
♦ ♦ ♦
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