It's Almost Time...

[Stoneman]

how's that brook, can you get across

Ain't made it down to the stream yet, but I'm guessing it's booming right now...

[Stoneman]

Okay, this weekend's the big one. The last time I made it out there a coupla weeks ago, we ended up just cleaning up the old clearing and figuring out where exactly the new clearing's gonna be...

So Sunday I'm packin' up the tools, the 'Cat and some lunch and spending the day out there. Yeah, I know it's Easter but I'm not the Easter type. If I'm alone I most likely WON'T be dropping anything big, just hitting the small stuff and undergrowth & shit. If I get some people to come out, we'll be dropping the big stuff and gettin' more into it - limbing, piling the brush, scoring & bucking the logs and stacking 'em out there. Not sure if I'll get to marking the trails this weekend. I guess that depends on how much (or IF) I can scrounge up some help and how long it takes...

There's still limited parking so we still hafta park out at the main road and take the trail down...

[elissama]

Okay, this weekend's the big one. The last time I made it out there a coupla weeks ago, we ended up just cleaning up the old clearing and figuring out where exactly the new clearing's gonna be...

So Sunday I'm packin' up the tools, the 'Cat and some lunch and spending the day out there. Yeah, I know it's Easter but I'm not the Easter type. If I'm alone I most likely WON'T be dropping anything big, just hitting the small stuff and undergrowth & shit. If I get some people to come out, we'll be dropping the big stuff and gettin' more into it - limbing, piling the brush, scoring & bucking the logs and stacking 'em out there. Not sure if I'll get to marking the trails this weekend. I guess that depends on how much (or IF) I can scrounge up some help and how long it takes...

There's still limited parking so we still hafta park out at the main road and take the trail down...

Stoneman - I'm in for sunday if you want my kinda help I didn't even know it was easter sunday till yesterday afternoon so I have no plans.

[Stoneman]

Stoneman - I'm in for sunday if you want my kinda help I didn't even know it was easter sunday till yesterday afternoon so I have no plans.

Awesome! You gonna be up in Alton this weekend?

[elissama]

Awesome! You gonna be up in Alton this weekend?

No. Maine Saturday day then no plans rest of the weekend. Call or text me with info for when to show up!

[Stoneman]

This may be hard to believe. But we may be in drinking mode Saturday night at the Stone Crib...

[Stoneman]

Holy hell! I burned the shit outta my hand last night by inadvertanly grabbing a glowing stick in the fire. I've got a half-dollar size burn blister smack dab on my palm. No way in hell I can handle a chainsaw today, no way...

We've already made plans to spend the entire weekend out there next weekend though. Saturday, dropping & shit - Sunday, marking trails...

[Stoneman]

Hand's healing up & this weekend HAS TO be the one. I'll be going out Saturday to drop the trees in the new clearing and limbing, scoring & bucking 'em and piling 'em up. *IF* I get enough done Saturday, I'll start marking trails Sunday...

I won't be dropping anything big if I can't get someone out there with me...

[RandyO]

There's still limited parking so we still hafta park out at the main road and take the trail down...

what time you gonna be out there?

can I drive my jeep down

[Stoneman]

Leavin' my house at 10:00. You MAY be able to drive down now. I'm takin' the 'Cat though, just to be safe...

[elissama]

fibber! You never called like you said you would!

[Stoneman]

fibber! You never called like you said you would!

You said you were gonna be in Maine Saturday. We went SATURDAY!

[Stoneman]

The new clearing's lookin' good! Got a lot done Saturday, thanks in big part to RandyO's tenacity - can't thank him enough!

Also finally caught us a glimpse of wunna the black bear I've known was out there. Bastard was about 50 yards from us and crossed the old road just minutes after Randy walked down. Just stood there for a minute checking us out, then continued on his merry way - the bear that is, not Randy...

Momma had cubs back in '08, so this could be the year for another litter. If that's the case, I'm guessing we could see a bit of increased activity out there this summer...

Not sure which day I'll be out there this weekend. But I'll be spending at least one solid day out there. Still have a handful of medium sized trees to drop & limb & score & buck & shit and I'll start hauling the logs out. Actual saw work shouldn't take more than a few hours, then it's just loading/hauling/unloading...

Still haven't had time yet to start marking trails...

[RandyO]

felling a rotted hollow treeis always fun

[Stoneman]

So this weekend was a complete wash - never even made it out. I'm trying to find someone to head out there with me this Friday so I can finish dropping trees (I don't like doing that part without someone with me). Then I'll spend Saturday & Sunday hauling the logs home...

Gonna do things a bit differently this year: Rather than cut to size out there then take that haul home to split and rinse & repeat, I'm gonna get it all outta there then cut & split it all at home. Won't be so much of a hassle to get out there this way, and I think it'll actually go quicker. I can work more leisurely and I still think it'll go more fasterest. Then I can spend what time I can get out there actually working on trails...

If anybody's off Friday and wantsta tag along, we'll make it worth your while: food, drink, booze...other things. As far as actual 'work'? Maybe pile limbs as I cut 'em, move some small logs and probably load the truck up while I'm out there. I'd also like someone out there to keep an eye out on the bear - I REALLY want a good pic of him!

[Omahastylin16]

If anybody's off Friday and wantsta tag along, we'll make it worth your while: food, drink, booze...other things. As far as actual 'work'? Maybe pile limbs as I cut 'em, move some small logs and probably load the truck up while I'm out there. I'd also like someone out there to keep an eye out on the bear - I REALLY want a good pic of him!

tell me about these "other things"

[Stoneman]

tell me about these "other things"

I will if you're planning on showing up. If not, step away son. Step away...

[RandyO]

can't make it out friday, but possibly saturday again

do you want to get that big oak in the wall down?

[Stoneman]

can't make it out friday, but possibly saturday again

do you want to get that big oak in the wall down?

If I can't find a tagalong for Friday, I'll start pulling the logs out then and do the rest of the dropping Saturday. Most of the stuff I'm talking about are the medium sized trees (mostly the beech). I can't remember the tree you're talking about, but if it's a big swamp oak I may just drop it for next year's take...

If you can make it out Saturday, I'll shoot over & pick you up. I'm driving the truck down at this point. I'll be sure to remember the treats this time!

[RandyO]

If I can't remember the tree you're talking about, but if it's a big swamp oak I may just drop it for next year's take...

!

it was a Red Oak, the next big tree along the stone wall at the road double topped iirc, about 28"dbh maybe 3 + cords of wood in that one tree

[Stoneman]

it was a Red Oak, the next big tree along the stone wall at the road double topped iirc, about 28"dbh maybe 3 + cords of wood in that one tree

Yeah, yeah, that one. That'll come down for next year's take for sure. That'll be the last one I probably drop this year...

[Awesome]

This weekends out, weekend after is a long one. I can make time in between riding to do some labor and socialize the dogs.

[Stoneman]

This weekends out, weekend after is a long one. I can make time in between riding to do some labor and socialize the dogs.

I'll letchya know, Jay. I'm hoping to get all the firewood outta there this weekend. The next big push would be to straighten out the parking area and trails. Fuggin' trails - I REALLY need to start on that this year...

[Stoneman]

Okay, Randy: Saturday's a go, we're in! No one can get Friday off, so I'll just make a few trips out there to grab logs & get 'em to the house. Saturday we can get the rest of my firewood down and ready to go, maybe even start pulling that shit out...

If all goes according to plan (and all indicators are they actually will this time), I'll be going out Sunday to start marking the main trail & flag the perimeter of the parking area...

I WILL be bringing some type of firearm along from here on in too...

[Stoneman]

I'm loading up now, Randy. I'm bringing some piece of mind, you bring the camera. See ya around 9:00...