Trail work … on the Dike Trail. There has been a snarly blowdown about fifty yards from the trail head since December. There was passable route through the branches and I’d hoped my sister would help me with the chainsaw when she visited in January, but her plans changed. Then Rocky Raccoon happened and I spent several weeks lying on my a**. And honestly I was a little scared. I have never used the chainsaw by myself. But, today was the day!
I had mixed feelings about moving this. It has been my experience over the years that people who ride these things (circled in the photo), at least in this area, are unable to decipher pictographs and are possibly illiterate. When I have attempted to explain the pictographs, the riders’ cognitive abilities have proven below average. A big tree close to the trail head would stop them before they get up the trail, get stuck, and subsequently cause a lot of damage to the forest; the usual sequence of events.
On the other hand climbing through the branches on snowshoes, and especially skis, was a little treacherous. And, if this tree remained during the summer months, there would be a new trail beaten around it … possibly a new “trail head”.
So this is it. Job done. The biggest tree I’ve cleared by myself. My past efforts having been limited by the length of my 
Pocket Chainsaw; 10-12″ diameter. (BTW, the Pocket Chainsaw is absolutely the best handsaw I’ve used for clearing trails in 15 years.) The diameter of this tree was about the same length as the blade of the chainsaw I was using. I had discussed the strategy for dismantling it with my sister a few weeks ago. (Hmmm. She nearly broke her femur last year cutting up an oak tree. Maybe I should have done additional research. But it all turned out ok.)
Yeah, this tree is probably no big deal to chainsaw experts, but I am a wimp and was literally weak with fear until the final cut was finished. Cleared a couple other trees today, but nothing else worthy of photos.
Hi Cathy – you are a much better blogger than I am! I had some pleasant catching up to do on your posts – from now on I’ll check more regularly or do the RSS feed (except I like the element of surprise). Dearing trees, eh? Very impressive day off cross training. :) I am SO GLAD you got the green light to run! Did you get a bonescan or did the doctor base it off other things? Either way, it sounds like you’re being nice and disciplined with keeping it to short runs. And Bonnie looks incredibly cute with her gear. Thanks for the tips on what dogs can eat and not eat, too – I didn’t know that. Take care!!
No Kendra, you are a MUCH better blogger than I am. : ) I loved your account of Chuckanut! A lot of people don’t know about xylitol. I happened to hear about it from disc doggers last year. There is actually someone who has a patent on xylitol coated dog bones!! It has made me much more aware of not giving my dogs something unless I know all the ingredients are safe. I’ll have to post my compiled list of foods that are potentially poisonous to dogs. I had a bone scan and MRI back in Feb. My doctor thought it was a stress fracture based on the bone scan, but since there was no evidence of calcification after 6 weeks, decided it probably was not. I hope you are running again soon! -Cathy
Wow, I’m jealous that you got such meticulous follow-up on your bonescan – in other words, that you didn’t just take for granted that what I assumed looked like focal activity automatically meant a stress fracture… the more I learn about my old bonescan, my new bonescan, and just other things (yes, conflicting things, heh heh) the more I think I perhaps did not have a fracture after all. All of which is water under the bridge now, but it’s just one more thing to add to the LIST of warnings… that a bonescan is NOT incontrovertible evidence either way. As we know, medicine is not an exact science (right?). And healing is an art, or so it more and more seems to me. Sorry for such a long reply – and yes, I am back running. YAHOOOO! (ps: no, YOU’RE a better blogger! >:) )
Kendra, I am glad you are running again!! That is great news! : ) At my last appointment my doctor offered me the choice of another MRI or running a little to test it out. Tough choice. ; ) Actually the reason I voted against the MRI is the same issue you point out, there don’t seem to be certainties with any of these tests … and maybe it is impossible without pre-injury data to compare to. (p.s. post as long as you would like to my blog anytime!)
congratulations on losing your monster chainsaw virginity! they terrify me, too. they don’t seem like a forgiving tool and you just know they have a mind of their own.
first this tree. next, intricate sculptures carved out and sold on eBay.