Almost Was Killed While Logging

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CuttingEdge
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Almost Was Killed While Logging

Post by CuttingEdge » Mon Apr 17, 2017 1:39 pm

Spring Pole: Kind of says it all.

I did not see it when I was logging back on March 27th and it swung up, and launched my chainsaw into my forehead at full throttle. The impact knocked me out, and when I came too I was bleeding.

Well you guys know me; I hate cell phones and I cut wood alone so I was screwed! I took a look at the skidder and it had 7 trees hooked to it so it was not coming out quickly, so I just started running for my truck. It was a half mile run so I passed out again, came too with more blood all over the snow, and figured I was going to die if I stayed any longer, so I started running again.

I got to my truck and saw my face covered with blood, so jumped in and drove home and freaked Katie out (and my 3 year old who thought I was a "yelling, bloody monster". She called 911 and got the ambulance on the way, but I hung up on them and called my truck driver to see if he could get someone to run up in the woods and shut my skiddder off (Diesel is $1.99 a gallon after all). His boy came up when I was loaded in the ambulance and said the saw was still running where it was tossed in the brush, blood everywhere, but no chain brake on.

In the end I spent 4 days in the hospital, but am I not fully recovered. Kind of fuzzy and a "tick off" on the rattled brain. Still seeing a lot of specialists right now to get it all straightened out. I will admit that in the hospital I thought I would go right back out and cut the biggest tree I had just to kind of get back up on the horse, but honestly, I am kind of gun shy. I have cut logged since then, and with a skidder too so it was professionally, but I am glad it is mud season and things are a bit slow right now.

For those that care about such things, it was 20 stitches right between the eye brows with a Stihl MS 461.
I have no intention of traveling to my grave in a well manicured body; instead I am going to slide into heaven with a big power turn, totally wore out with busted knuckles, jump off my dozer loudly yelling, Woo Hoo, another Shepard has just arrived!

cdunn
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Post by cdunn » Mon Apr 17, 2017 7:15 pm

That sounds really bad, thank the Lord it was no worse. Lesson for everyone.
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Stan Disbrow
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Post by Stan Disbrow » Mon Apr 17, 2017 7:27 pm

Hi,

Wow. Glad you are as OK as you are. Yes, Spring Pole says a lot.

I spent 20 years in the hills back in NY State running with a rural rescue squad. I saw a lot I will spare everyone details on. Most died.

Though one guy did what you did but got both the artery and vein on one side. Saved himself by applying his own direct pressure until I got there. Then he passed out and my only course of action was to hold pressure right into the OR....

He lived. Mainly because he wasn't working alone and had someone to run for help. Last thing anyone wants to is run while bleeding.....

Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!

Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (now known as 5045D)

Scottyb
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Post by Scottyb » Mon Apr 17, 2017 10:56 pm

So good you were not hurt more seriously. Sounds bad enough, 20 stitches will add character to that forehead for sure.

Gun shy is a good thing. Some lessons are not intended to be learned twice.
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pop pop
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Post by pop pop » Tue Apr 18, 2017 10:12 am

well you survived the fight with the chainsaw but how bad did the wife beat you? :oops: :roll: :wink: :lol:
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Tigerhaze
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Post by Tigerhaze » Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:23 am

OMG- I am glad to hear in the scheme of things that you are coming out relatively OK. All of us that cut wood I think have been in a position where we got lucky because trees don't always behave the way they should.

I have to cut some wood again this week so a good reminder for me to be extra careful.
(1) JD Straight 450 crawler dozer with manual outside blade; (2) JD 2010 diesel crawler loaders; (1) JD 2010 diesel dozer with hydraulic 6-way blade; (2) Model 50 backhoe attachments, misc. other construction equipment

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Stan Disbrow
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Post by Stan Disbrow » Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:29 am

Hi,

My personally hated ones are when they look perfectly normal, but then twist and pop up when they let go. No clue where those are headed or what they will then do.....

Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!

Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (now known as 5045D)

Scottyb
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Post by Scottyb » Wed Apr 19, 2017 12:03 pm

for sure, I'm reminded of one very big spruce that was beat up by a big wind and. when I started to cut into it, it spun 180 degrees and wobbled for a few moments, I ran as fast as I could away from it, over litter and under growth...it fell not far from me and then I realised....Why am I still holding on to this
saw ?
450`s c-dozer 6 way, b-loader.
350`s c-loader + ripper, b-loader with winch arch. B-loader with dozer pads
backhoe attachment.
1010 loader with forks for round bales
a few 610 Bobcats. many attachments

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notmeu
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Post by notmeu » Thu Apr 20, 2017 8:20 pm

If anything cuttingedge, you made me aware of the dangers of cutting a "spring pole" tree. I watched a few YouTube videos on the proper way to cut one down since I never came across one yet in about 15 years of cutting firewood. Who knows you could of saved a life by writing this post about your experiences. Thanks!
1956 JD420, gearmatic 8a winch, custom 6 way blade and FOPS.

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CuttingEdge
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Re: Almost Was Killed While Logging

Post by CuttingEdge » Tue May 02, 2017 9:22 am

I am on the mend now. Been just over a month and the brain fog is lifting. Luckily it is mud season so I have been going slow. Slogged out a load of wood, but was kind of cautious. I am getting back into it now, but noticing just how many spring poles there are! Wow. Now I jump on the skidder and pull the tree clear of them and then start limbing. Slower, but much more safe.
I have no intention of traveling to my grave in a well manicured body; instead I am going to slide into heaven with a big power turn, totally wore out with busted knuckles, jump off my dozer loudly yelling, Woo Hoo, another Shepard has just arrived!

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