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Tractor logging loads are loaded off a spur road
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Logging started up in the Mutton
Mountains June 16 and damaged logs,
resulting from the 1996 Simnasho fire,
are being hauled out.
"Large helicopters with long cables
are being used to gather the logs in the
steep terrain where roads don't exist
and trucks are unable to get in," says
Timber sale officer Dan Brisbois. "We
have workers on the ground setting
chokers that are attached to the logs
and are picked up every few minutes."
The ground chokers, which sometimes
carry up to ten logs, are then attached
to a long helicopter cable. The
helicopter then takes the logs and drops
them off at a not-too-distant log deck
where they are loaded on log trucks.
"We're averaging fifty-plus loads each
day by using a helicopter. So far, 809
loads have been hauled out. It could
have been more, but logging trucks
have been kind of scarce lately. The
helicopter contractor (Ericksons
Helicopters) has contracted Young and
Morgan trucking out of Molalla, so the
number of loads should start picking up
soon," says Brisbois.
According to Louise K. Jackson,
Forestry timber sales accountant, the
Simnasho fire helicopter logging
contract started June 16, 1997. So far,
the total timber volume removed by
helicopter as of the end of July is
4,007,670 board feet of ponderosa
pine, Douglas fir and some noble and
very little white pine. JR Smith of Warm
Springs is conducting tractor logging in
the same area and has hauled 373
loads totaling 1,472,420 board feet.
Between both logging contracts, the
total volume of timber removed so far is
5,479,990 board feet and 1,183 truck
loads.
According to BIA Timber Sales
Supervisor Dan O'Brien, "weather
permiting, we expect to harvest five
million board feet on the tractor logging
contract and seventeen million board
feet with the helicopter logging contract.
"Most of the small timber comes to
the Warm Springs Forest Products
Industries and The Dalles mill. Some of
the large stuff goes to Crown Pacific in
Prineville, Molalla Forest Products and
the Avison Mill," says O'Brien.
Local residents are discouraged from
driving in the area while logging is being
conducted.
Large helicopter flies in logs every five to ten minutes
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Loaded log trucks travel up steep windy roads before reaching any of the paved roads
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Results of the 1996 Simnasho fire
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Log decks are piled near each timber sale unit
A helibase is used to refuel the helicopter near the logging
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