Logging and Transportation

Logging has been around for as long as man kind can remember. It is key to the advancement of civilization and industrialization. The lumber industry has recently began to climb with the prices of natural gas and crude oil rising, creating a higher demand for lumber. There are many methods to go about logging an area of lumber. The first method is called clear cutting otherwise known as clear felling. This method is when an area is entirely cleared out for economic purposes. However this is the method that is known for deforestation, destroying habitats and changing the climate, causing the debates on logging. The next method is called tree-length logging. This is when the trees are de-limbed to the top where it is then “topped” and the climber descends back down the tree where he fells the tree at the stump. The “slash” or the limbs, leaves, leftovers, are left at the sight may need to be treated if wildfires is of concerned. The tree is then transported to the landing where it goes through several other steps before off to the mill or lumberyard. Next is the method of logging known as full-tree logging. Trees are felled along the roadside and are transported with limbs an all still attached. Once at the landing the tree is de-limbed, topped, and bucked. Unlike tree-length logging the “slash” is left to be dealt with at the landing. Full-tree logging allows maximum use out of each and every tree, reducing the amount of wasted wood. The last method is the Cut-to-length method. This method refers to felling, de-limbing, bucking and the sorting of the different wood at the stump. Sorting refers to separating the different types of wood such as pulpwood, saw logs, etc. From there the skidder comes and picks up the timber and transports it back to the landing were it is loaded onto trucks and hauled to the mill. This method is best applied with smaller timber and ground flat enough for equipment to run. This method is not good for steep sloped or hilly areas. The transportation of the wood depends on what is will be used for. Felled logs generally go to a sawmill to be cut into timber, a paper mill for pulp, or other uses such as fence posts etc. There are many methods of getting the wood to its transportation (truck). The first is simply by loading the truck with heavy machinery directly at the landing. Then there is the method involving the skidder to pull the logs up to the ground platform were the truck is already waiting. Lastly, when dealing with uneven terrain a skyline is used. The skyline acts about the same as a ski lift in but with logs. Cables are attached to the felled wood downhill, which are then lifted and pulled to the top where the landing site is. For places the a skyline can’t work through because of environmental concerns a heavy-lift helicopter is brought in. This is the most costly for of logging transportation. There is just so much that can be discussed about logging operations its unbelievable and with this industry climbing it can be a good source to take advantage of.