John Adler discussed the trigger felling controlled release technique. To learn more about Game of Logging and Northeast Woodland Training, find more at www.woodlandtraining.com
Great video! Well said! I see so many really bad tree felling videos and sometimes I comment so I can share my 46 years of experience and am usually met with lots of hateful responses. We now have very safe and effective methods for cutting trees but so many people either don’t know them or just don’t use them.
I’m saving as a reminder to always be safe in the woods especially around chainsaws. I love everything you’ve said, and I think that’s why you’re still doing it 40 years not every 10. Pure wisdom! Thank you for sharing. Be safe my brother.
Excellent message. I have operated a chainsaw since my teens and learned what I thought was the right way by watching the old timers. I've been "lucky" a bunch of times. I obtained more safety, technique, science and success from training with John and Dave from Northeast Woodland Training than all the decades before combined. There's a reason these guys are still in the game.
Awesome Video! I was guilty of that, for a while. Was educated by a fellow I believe was educated by you :) An eye opener. Going to post this as many places as I can as it may save a life
My problem with your trigger wood technique is it is the only one that has ever had trees tear off in an unexpected direction on me, ever. A total surprise going to the north when i set up for south, that sort of thing. Sure its great when you use it on the right tree. When you judge the tree incorrectly and use it on the wrong one it is disasterous for lack of feedback. What good is a headstart in running away from a tree youve got your back to, when you dont even realize its chasing you down? What do you do when you snip the trigger and the tree just looks at you, just standing there in the wind? When youve run outta wedges trying to get it to go where you thought it would, but it wont and now theres just 2 little buttons keeping it up? A livesteer backcut gives the cutter feedback at all times. He can put an indicator wedge in the front and watch to see if the kerf is opening or closing and then stop and leave it standing safely for any period of time, coming back with equipment or a different plan to finish in a different direction without ever entering risk of going in an unknown direction. A tree sitting on a hinge and a trigger or 3 tabs is constrained from showing its true intentions. You find out if you won the match when you snip the trigger. To me, thats gambling, not being safe. If im chasing one off i know which way to run every time. Im deeply sorry for the loss of your friends, and ive known a few as well but i think people feel overly safe with trigger style cutting
I think you have a good point that should not be overlooked. I use the trigger wood technique when I know the tree has a good head lean and there's no question which way it wants to go. Seems like I'm usually falling against the lean and I don't use that method often as I need to get my wedges in and tight before I get the hinge wood down to size to prevent it from sitting back. In my opinion, if you're not sure of the lean (good to check lean with an ax) then cut the conventional way from the back and put in a wedge when you have room. If it ends up having a head lean, you'll still have plenty of time to clear out since it was just a slight head lean. Heavy head lean - I think I use that trigger method every time. Either way you do it, I agree that there is no reason to stay there "chasing" the tree. Looks cool, maybe, but not when you think about a good friend that had their life ended that way. Note, I fall some timber, but operate equipment more than I'm cutting, so I'm hear to learn and maybe share some of what I've learned over the years. One other thing I do - as soon as I clear out I generally shut off the saw. I think in the video he set the brake and then shut the saw down. I like to shut the saw down first for 2 reasons. First, I think it helps me hear what's going on better as I clear out. Maybe there's something I don't see, but hear. Second, I think a saw shut off completely is slightly safer than when the brake is on, but mainly I'm doing it to hear, and if it's larger timber I'll be limbing with a smaller saw anyway, so no need to keep the big saw running.
Thanks, again a interesting video. I am 72 years old, cutting trees for my fire wood, and I have to see all of your videos.
Great video! Well said! I see so many really bad tree felling videos and sometimes I comment so I can share my 46 years of experience and am usually met with lots of hateful responses. We now have very safe and effective methods for cutting trees but so many people either don’t know them or just don’t use them.
I’m saving as a reminder to always be safe in the woods especially around chainsaws.
I love everything you’ve said, and I think that’s why you’re still doing it 40 years not every 10.
Pure wisdom! Thank you for sharing.
Be safe my brother.
Great video John! I remember Kevin very well. Was always prone to caution when out in the wood. Only takes an instance...
Excellent message. I have operated a chainsaw since my teens and learned what I thought was the right way by watching the old timers. I've been "lucky" a bunch of times. I obtained more safety, technique, science and success from training with John and Dave from Northeast Woodland Training than all the decades before combined. There's a reason these guys are still in the game.
Great message. You’re spot on.
RIP Jed Walters
he was a logger i assume. Got hit by a big branch on the head and died instantly.
@@BryanClark-gk6ie
@@BryanClark-gk6ietree guy killed a few months ago on the job out west. Used to be on a bunch of videos on the Guilty of Treeson TH-cam channel.
thanks for your common sense, no nonsense approach. Really appreciate learning from you.
Great video
Awesome Video! I was guilty of that, for a while. Was educated by a fellow I believe was educated by you :) An eye opener. Going to post this as many places as I can as it may save a life
Great points.
Love it! Thanks for the video!
Right on!!
I have always wondered why the hell those people keep cutting the hinge while the tree is falling when they should be getting away from the tree!
My problem with your trigger wood technique is it is the only one that has ever had trees tear off in an unexpected direction on me, ever. A total surprise going to the north when i set up for south, that sort of thing.
Sure its great when you use it on the right tree. When you judge the tree incorrectly and use it on the wrong one it is disasterous for lack of feedback. What good is a headstart in running away from a tree youve got your back to, when you dont even realize its chasing you down? What do you do when you snip the trigger and the tree just looks at you, just standing there in the wind? When youve run outta wedges trying to get it to go where you thought it would, but it wont and now theres just 2 little buttons keeping it up?
A livesteer backcut gives the cutter feedback at all times. He can put an indicator wedge in the front and watch to see if the kerf is opening or closing and then stop and leave it standing safely for any period of time, coming back with equipment or a different plan to finish in a different direction without ever entering risk of going in an unknown direction.
A tree sitting on a hinge and a trigger or 3 tabs is constrained from showing its true intentions. You find out if you won the match when you snip the trigger. To me, thats gambling, not being safe. If im chasing one off i know which way to run every time. Im deeply sorry for the loss of your friends, and ive known a few as well but i think people feel overly safe with trigger style cutting
I think you have a good point that should not be overlooked. I use the trigger wood technique when I know the tree has a good head lean and there's no question which way it wants to go. Seems like I'm usually falling against the lean and I don't use that method often as I need to get my wedges in and tight before I get the hinge wood down to size to prevent it from sitting back. In my opinion, if you're not sure of the lean (good to check lean with an ax) then cut the conventional way from the back and put in a wedge when you have room. If it ends up having a head lean, you'll still have plenty of time to clear out since it was just a slight head lean. Heavy head lean - I think I use that trigger method every time. Either way you do it, I agree that there is no reason to stay there "chasing" the tree. Looks cool, maybe, but not when you think about a good friend that had their life ended that way. Note, I fall some timber, but operate equipment more than I'm cutting, so I'm hear to learn and maybe share some of what I've learned over the years.
One other thing I do - as soon as I clear out I generally shut off the saw. I think in the video he set the brake and then shut the saw down. I like to shut the saw down first for 2 reasons. First, I think it helps me hear what's going on better as I clear out. Maybe there's something I don't see, but hear. Second, I think a saw shut off completely is slightly safer than when the brake is on, but mainly I'm doing it to hear, and if it's larger timber I'll be limbing with a smaller saw anyway, so no need to keep the big saw running.
I cut my trigger strap and I'm high tailing it out of there