I avoided this industry for thirty years but since I began in April 2007 there is a whole new appreciation for this kind of work. Yes, sometimes the weather is quite foreboding but the Oregon coast range is the perfect nursery for growing trees. Even a rainy day can be a thing of beauty.
As a photographer I have captured many a wondrous scene in one of God's most awesome creations, a forest. Now that I work in that same forest on a daily basis I have captured many more images that are nothing short of stunning. Of course it might also be because this is the happiest I have ever been in my working career.
At the age of ten I began working with wood and have become quite well known for the many things I create in my workshop. Thus working as a logger seems quite natural. The crew finds unique pieces of wood on occasion that I take home to work on. Walking sticks, slabs for woodturning or carving and odd shaped pieces that end up as yard art are amongst the many things I have done since last April.
My job is chaser on the landing. Perfect! My many talents are put to their best use in this position. My main job is to unhook the chokers when the yarder brings them in. But there is much time that I spend waiting for the next turn so I have put that time to good use. Organizing and cleaning the tools comes naturally to me. The crew is quite pleased with this and that makes me happy. What more could one ask for?
The firefighter in me is a big plus as well as I have become very safety conscious after thirty years of service. Tiny details that my boss may feel aren't important are part of my daily routine. One thing I have learned throughout my working career is that the guys doing the work usually know how to do the job more efficiently and safely than the boss ever could. My boss is a great guy but just a bit impatient. Yes, time is money but speed kills. Find the happy medium between these two and stick with it.
I found a sign in a small store a few months ago that says it all for a logger: BETTER TO BE CAREFUL A HUNDRED TIMES THAN TO BE KILLED ONCE. Amen to that!
Keep checking each week to read more about the life of a logger.
Rescue Dog.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Logger's lament.
As we drove home today the crew was quiet. I didn't know why until my stepson and I were on our way home. The son in law of the boss had died in a logging accident today. He worked for our company for years and left to work for another. Our lead choker setter was best friends with him and this is the second friend he has lost in less than a year.
Logging is dangerous work but it is also quite rewarding. Every day we get to see the glory of God's tree nursery with trees as far as the eye can see. Rain or shine the Oregon coast range is the most beautiful place that one could ask to be. So as I go to work tomorrow I will say a prayer for those affected by the loss of this logger.
Our company has a five year plus safety record and is the safest in the state of Oregon. This loss is a sobering reminder of what could happen to any of us.
Even though I don't know this logger I feel a loss too. As a firefighter with 30 years experience it is easy for me to relate to how people feel when tragedy strikes. My sincerest hope is that nothing as tragic as this should ever occur to our crew. They are my friends and family.
May God watch over us and keep us safe from the perils of our job.
Rescue Dog.
Logging is dangerous work but it is also quite rewarding. Every day we get to see the glory of God's tree nursery with trees as far as the eye can see. Rain or shine the Oregon coast range is the most beautiful place that one could ask to be. So as I go to work tomorrow I will say a prayer for those affected by the loss of this logger.
Our company has a five year plus safety record and is the safest in the state of Oregon. This loss is a sobering reminder of what could happen to any of us.
Even though I don't know this logger I feel a loss too. As a firefighter with 30 years experience it is easy for me to relate to how people feel when tragedy strikes. My sincerest hope is that nothing as tragic as this should ever occur to our crew. They are my friends and family.
May God watch over us and keep us safe from the perils of our job.
Rescue Dog.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Simple pleasures.
Working in winter weather can take its toll on one's body. Four days of logging in the snow followed by four days of being sick. On the bright side though, this week was absolutely wonderful!
The sun came out to play Friday beginning with a sunrise of spectacular colors. The high clouds that floated by during the day were beautiful. Snow covered hills could be seen to the north and east of our work site. The day passed quickly and the quitting whistle put a smile on all our faces.
This is the first time I have had the energy to write anything. I guess it must be the sunshine and that crazy bunch of guys I work with that has brought out the writer in me. My job as chaser on the landing gives me much time to ponder the things that we sometimes take for granted.
Sometimes the simplest of things can bring the greatest pleasure. Appreciation for all that we are given in this life is a reward in itself. A sunrise or sunset, a view from a mountain top, or perhaps a small object that catches our eye such as a flower or an odd shaped piece of wood or stone. Pleasure is where you find it and it does not have to come with a price tag.
Look around and let your senses find the simple pleasures of life. The smell of coffee in the early morning or bacon cooking on the stove. Step outside and feel the cool morning air and breath in through your nose sampling the air for a pleasent odor. Taste your food when you eat, don't gulp it down just because you "don't have time". Yes you do and saying you don't is just an excuse.
Have a wonderful day and please, take a moment to enjoy the simple things around you. Open your eyes, mind and heart and you will find joy all around you. God bless you and may your prayers be answered.
Rescue Dog
The sun came out to play Friday beginning with a sunrise of spectacular colors. The high clouds that floated by during the day were beautiful. Snow covered hills could be seen to the north and east of our work site. The day passed quickly and the quitting whistle put a smile on all our faces.
This is the first time I have had the energy to write anything. I guess it must be the sunshine and that crazy bunch of guys I work with that has brought out the writer in me. My job as chaser on the landing gives me much time to ponder the things that we sometimes take for granted.
Sometimes the simplest of things can bring the greatest pleasure. Appreciation for all that we are given in this life is a reward in itself. A sunrise or sunset, a view from a mountain top, or perhaps a small object that catches our eye such as a flower or an odd shaped piece of wood or stone. Pleasure is where you find it and it does not have to come with a price tag.
Look around and let your senses find the simple pleasures of life. The smell of coffee in the early morning or bacon cooking on the stove. Step outside and feel the cool morning air and breath in through your nose sampling the air for a pleasent odor. Taste your food when you eat, don't gulp it down just because you "don't have time". Yes you do and saying you don't is just an excuse.
Have a wonderful day and please, take a moment to enjoy the simple things around you. Open your eyes, mind and heart and you will find joy all around you. God bless you and may your prayers be answered.
Rescue Dog
Saturday, February 2, 2008
"Where's Justin?"
January weather makes logging difficult, especially snow. It was 12:30 pm and the snow began to fall. The ground had not thawed out all week so the accumulation was rapid. We had just changed roads to log the next section of the unit and the first two choker setters arrived from a long walk up the steep hill.
After only a few turns Tyler hollered out to me, "Where's Justin?" Good question as he is usually the first one back up the hill after a road change. "It's been an hour already. If he doesn't show up real soon we will have to go on a manhunt for him."
Within fifteen minutes we had stopped all work and the crew set out on a quest to find our missing man. I had heard the descriptions of the hill we were presently on and was quite happy that my job didn't include traversing the rock bluffs and steep slopes. I walked up to the trailhead that the crew had established and listened as they hollered out his name. Soon the dense brush and old growth timber muffled any sound of the crew.
The snow was falling quite heavy by now and we were getting quite concerned that no contact had been made with our missing man. Tyler had just returned to the landing and we discussed what to do next. The boss wasn't thrilled with the idea of having to call in the county search and rescue team but if we couldn't find Justin soon there would be no other choice.
Tyler waved to me to follow him and we made our way down to Larry's pickup and went for a short drive on the road below us. I stood by to monitor the radios as Tyler walked down the road to search a new area. I got a good laugh when I heard Larry remark, "I been doing this for 35 years and haven't lost a choker setter yet! I guess there's always a first time for everything."
Soon amongst the chatter I was listening to on two different radios was the voice of our MIA. Next was the question of where is he geographicly to our position? Tyler and I had just started back to the landing when he heard Justin say that he could see Larry's pickup. We stopped and hollered to him. A voice came back to us and we searched the open hillside to pinpoint his location. Finally I was able to spot him and was a bit confused as to how he ended up there.
Back on board the crummy the crew was full of questions for Justin. Since we had spent almost two hours looking for him the questions were inevitable. Seems that instead of following the established trail, he had gotten quite lost in the old growth timber. He had veered to the right instead of the left as he neared the top of the hill thus missing even the short spur road we were on.
After hearing his tale the crew figured out what road he had come out on. My question was why didn't he use his talkie-tooter to call us when he realized that he was lost? Logger pride perhaps or sheer stupidity, I guess we will never know for sure but our man was back on board and we were on our way home.
Another day done but with one logger that will not soon live down getting lost.
Rescue Dog
After only a few turns Tyler hollered out to me, "Where's Justin?" Good question as he is usually the first one back up the hill after a road change. "It's been an hour already. If he doesn't show up real soon we will have to go on a manhunt for him."
Within fifteen minutes we had stopped all work and the crew set out on a quest to find our missing man. I had heard the descriptions of the hill we were presently on and was quite happy that my job didn't include traversing the rock bluffs and steep slopes. I walked up to the trailhead that the crew had established and listened as they hollered out his name. Soon the dense brush and old growth timber muffled any sound of the crew.
The snow was falling quite heavy by now and we were getting quite concerned that no contact had been made with our missing man. Tyler had just returned to the landing and we discussed what to do next. The boss wasn't thrilled with the idea of having to call in the county search and rescue team but if we couldn't find Justin soon there would be no other choice.
Tyler waved to me to follow him and we made our way down to Larry's pickup and went for a short drive on the road below us. I stood by to monitor the radios as Tyler walked down the road to search a new area. I got a good laugh when I heard Larry remark, "I been doing this for 35 years and haven't lost a choker setter yet! I guess there's always a first time for everything."
Soon amongst the chatter I was listening to on two different radios was the voice of our MIA. Next was the question of where is he geographicly to our position? Tyler and I had just started back to the landing when he heard Justin say that he could see Larry's pickup. We stopped and hollered to him. A voice came back to us and we searched the open hillside to pinpoint his location. Finally I was able to spot him and was a bit confused as to how he ended up there.
Back on board the crummy the crew was full of questions for Justin. Since we had spent almost two hours looking for him the questions were inevitable. Seems that instead of following the established trail, he had gotten quite lost in the old growth timber. He had veered to the right instead of the left as he neared the top of the hill thus missing even the short spur road we were on.
After hearing his tale the crew figured out what road he had come out on. My question was why didn't he use his talkie-tooter to call us when he realized that he was lost? Logger pride perhaps or sheer stupidity, I guess we will never know for sure but our man was back on board and we were on our way home.
Another day done but with one logger that will not soon live down getting lost.
Rescue Dog
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