Close call!

Greg1959 · Jan 4, 2013

Drove the tractor down one of my fields to cut down a walnut tree for firewood. Cut some vines from around tree so I could get into it. Made bottom cut on sloping side of tree and then went around to backside of tree for the final cut. Made a good clean cut and tree was starting to fall exactly where I wanted to fell it.

Since it was a was a clean cut, I was not too worried about a 'kick-out' from the trunk of the tree. I only stepped back one and a half steps.

As the walnut tree just about hit the ground a good sized dead tree whooshed by my head and grazed my leg as it fell right where I was cutting.

The vines that I cut going up the walnut tree had grown over into the dead tree (I did not notice them). So, as I cut the walnut tree down, it pulled the dead tree over also.

As soon as it fell and I realized what happened, I thanked GOD.

Legs and arms shaking, I climbed on the tractor and drove home.

Around three hours later I had calmed down enough to go look at my near disaster.

PJH · Jan 4, 2013

The good Lord ain't done with you yet Greg! You came close to being killed or at least hurt badly. A local timber man was killed exactly like that when he was clearing for a new golf course here in Southern Illinois. He cut one tree, and the vines pulled the top out of another behind him. Fell right on him. Someone went and found him when he didn't show up for supper. I'm glad you weren't hurt. Bet you'll think of that incident every time you cut another tree!

Paul

Heavyduty1 · Jan 4, 2013

You did get lucky. Watch out for those vines, they could be Poison Ivy. I have gotten a rash from it during the winter. :shock:

da.bees · Jan 4, 2013

So how did your pucker string work? :shock:

DownSouth · Jan 4, 2013

Wowzers! Sure am glad your ok, that could have been really bad news. We tend to think about how close we came to death, but imagine if that tree had just landed on you but only trapping you. How long would you have laid there before someone came looking for you?
Buddy of mines Dad went to the farm to cut trees a few years back. It got dark and he hadn't come home. They drove out trying to find him, but with the darkness they couldn't. The called the sheriff who ended up bringing out a dog who found his body, under a tree limb. Autopsy showed he had lived several hours after being pinned. What an awful way to go.

Paul from MI · Jan 4, 2013

Local guy was killed in a similar situation a few years ago. Cut a tree, which fell into another, broke off a limb which snapped back on him. You just can't be careful enough.

Dave Sherburne NY · Jan 4, 2013

They call those dead ones WIDOWMAKERS

PaGlenn · Jan 4, 2013

A fire burned me out of my farm five years back,overwise I would still be running a chain saw. I had a couple close calls also running woods mowers on my tractors. In a way, Im glad I don't operate that equipment anymore.

syco 1 · Jan 4, 2013

co worker wants a dead tree cut no problem cut it and it stuck in another tree he said i will get my 2 sons to help push it over. 4 guys pushed it over all right it snapped half way up top landed 2 feet from all of us we could have all been killed scarey.. little more respect for dead trees they are the worst. gerald

maxwell99 · Jan 4, 2013

What I finally learned after a few close calls is: do not go to
the woods to cut trees without taking a buddy along with
you. If you do made a mistake; maybe he can cut the tree off
you or bandage up a bad cut and call for help and get you to
the Dr.
Otherwise you might wind up like the guy that the tree fell
on him, possible he might have lived if he had a buddy with
him. Another safety tip is always have two operational
chain saws.

Stay safe

Dan in Ohio · Jan 4, 2013

Stopped cutting trees down a few years ago, as you just never
know what might happen. Have had several scares like yours
as well as minor injuries requiring a trip to the ER.

Now I always wear chaps, gloves, ear protection , and eye
protection when I cut wood. Cell phone is a must also.
Seems like I always forget something.

I have plenty to cut just cleaning up after Mother Nature .

Dan in Ohio · Jan 4, 2013

Dan in Ohio · Jan 4, 2013

Darn iPad

showcrop · Jan 4, 2013

This Khudzu vine is taking over the world. Two years ago you wouldn't have to think about trees being tied together. Now your lucky to get a tree to fall at all, there is so much of it. I am pulling out as much as I can find and get at around my place every autumn.

DENNIS MIN · Jan 4, 2013

I"m probably the king of poison ivy... year "round in Minnesota for me...

D.

retired farmer · Jan 4, 2013

From your pictures I see you made two glaring mistakes. 1. You didn't clear an area around the bottom of the tree for your escape route. 2. You didn't leave a hinge joint on your cut to make the tree fall where you wanted it to go. You NEVER want to make a cut at the base like you did. When I had my place I was taking down big cottonwood trees with a four to six foot trunk and a hundred and fourty to fifty feet tall. I would make a horizontal cut in to within three inches of the center and then make a fourty five degree cut up from the bottom into the horizontal. Then I would go on the opposite side and go about a foot or so higher than the horizontal cut and make a fourty five cut down into the center so it would end up a couple of inches higher and leave a chunk in the middle for a hinge. Dropped them right where I wanted them to go every time.

Zachary Hoyt · Jan 4, 2013

When I have cut a tree and it is starting to fall I always leave the
area by walking rapidly down my -----predetermined escape
route------ that I have cleared before I cut the tree. I have seen
a few times when I was cutting trees that were very crooked or
growing on a slope where after the top of the tree hit the ground
the butt end bounced up 8 or 10 feet in air and then came down
again and you do not want to get in the way of that. I always am
working by myself and believe in being as cautious as possible.
The other reason to have an escape route planned is in case the
tree does not fall how you want it to, you don't want to be
trapped underneath.
Zach

LAA · Jan 4, 2013

If you have a way to graze the kudzu it is nearly equal to alfalfa in feed value.

2x4 · Jan 4, 2013

my timber cutter got hit in the head same way. Trip to hospital & few stitches. Looked up before he cut after that.

37chief · Jan 4, 2013

Glad you didn't get hurt, I'll bet that happened fast. I have more respect for chain saws, and cutting since I sliced one of my fingers open a couple years back. Look on the bright side, you now have more wood. Stan

Nancy Howell · Jan 4, 2013

Glad you"re ok.

Fred from MO · Jan 5, 2013

Giving thanks nobody was hurt. Had rented a
dozer to clear wooded property. The dead
trees scared me the most . I had a buddy cut
those down while I pushed out the stumps. He
had to leave and later on I came face to face
with an old oak that was very tall dead and
straight. I raised the blade and got on the
upside of the best path for it to fall and eased
into pushing on it. The tree started going over
the right direction that I wanted it too until it got
to 45 degrees. Then the top of the trunk broke
off about 30 feet up where it was rotted . The
remaining 40 or so feet to the top had some
vines in it connecting it to some other live
trees. The remaining top 40 foot swung out
away from the dozer and teetered on its newly
broken base and perched there straight up and
down for a second or two. By the grace of god
and maybe a slight breeze it fell away from me
and the dozer. I thanked my stars it fell away
from me because it looked like it was going to
come back on me in the cab. Needless to say i
needed to change my pants after that!!

IlliniJohn · Jan 5, 2013

I'm also Glad you are OK, and have had my "near miss" with a dead tree as well.

I guess God is not done with us yet, eh?

Close call!

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