1.
Start with an ancient dark spruce the height of a dinosaur, listing dangerously close to the house.
Start with an ancient dark spruce the height of a dinosaur, listing dangerously close to the house.
Sherman's been climbing trees for 17 years.
2.
Fill up chain saw with gasoline. Relax. You're a tree climber. It's not the most dangerous profession. It's the second most dangerous profession. (The first is fishing.)
Fill up chain saw with gasoline. Relax. You're a tree climber. It's not the most dangerous profession. It's the second most dangerous profession. (The first is fishing.)
3.
Put on gloves, hard hat, cleat shoes, earphones and chainsaw. Now, weighed down with all that, go climb a very, very tall ladder.
Put on gloves, hard hat, cleat shoes, earphones and chainsaw. Now, weighed down with all that, go climb a very, very tall ladder.
Tim and Toni Locke, owners of Enchanted Forestry LLC.
4.
Make sure your coworkers stand beneath, spotting you.
3.5
Make sure you have trustworthy coworkers.
Make sure your coworkers stand beneath, spotting you.
3.5
Make sure you have trustworthy coworkers.
5.
Rappel up the tree, sawing off branches as you go.
Rappel up the tree, sawing off branches as you go.
6.
Try to forget that the average chainsaw injury requires 110 stitches.
Try to forget that the average chainsaw injury requires 110 stitches.
Every man on the work site was called out to help.
7.
Because the tree stands so close to the house, you can't take it down all at once or it might land on the roof. Tie a rope to the top and saw the top off partway. Then, tell the team holding the end of the rope to pull.
Because the tree stands so close to the house, you can't take it down all at once or it might land on the roof. Tie a rope to the top and saw the top off partway. Then, tell the team holding the end of the rope to pull.
8.
Make sure the treetop falls where you want it. Not so easy when wind threatens to make it (and you) fall backwards.
Make sure the treetop falls where you want it. Not so easy when wind threatens to make it (and you) fall backwards.
9.
Keep your work area tidy. Sweep away treetop and fallen branches with a tractor.
Keep your work area tidy. Sweep away treetop and fallen branches with a tractor.
10.
Lop off as many branches as possible. When you've denuded the tree, tie a cable to what is now the top of it.
Lop off as many branches as possible. When you've denuded the tree, tie a cable to what is now the top of it.
9.5
It looks like a giant palm tree, doesn't it?
It looks like a giant palm tree, doesn't it?
10.
Secure the cable to truck and tractor.
Secure the cable to truck and tractor.
11.
Congratulations! The tree came down and the house is still standing! Walk the trunk like a conquering hero.
Congratulations! The tree came down and the house is still standing! Walk the trunk like a conquering hero.
12.
Take away wood to be seasoned and milled. (Miller = 10th most dangerous profession.)
Take away wood to be seasoned and milled. (Miller = 10th most dangerous profession.)
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