Yep, wedgies...first a face cut is made in the direction you want the tree to fall...cuts this time were either "straight" or "dutch", depending on the degree of lean of the tree, how the wind is blowing, other factors. Then the back cut begins, the 36" long saw bar teeth biting through the backside. Once the bar is into the tree far enough, the wedges are tapped into the back cut with the flat side of an axe until firm. Then a little more cutting,
a little more tapping of the wedges. I was standing far aside during this part. Cut wrong, and a tree this size can "barberchair", split lengthwise...this sends sharp and long "splinters" flying...splinters than can kill as quickly as a ninja's sword. One of the many reasons that logging is considered one of the most dangerous occupations on the planet. I digressed....as the tapping and cutting progresses, there is almost a dance between the cutter and the tree...watching the tree top, you can see it begin to "dance" back and forth...this "dance" covers a sway & jiggle area of several inches at first, then develops into more than a foot....finally, the fatal lean, letting you know she's going to fall...at this point, as the back cut opens, Lonnie would grab his saw, and scramble out of the way... Branches snap and then Whoomph!...she's down. The next step is the limbing..first the limbs on top of the log, done standing on the log, caulk boots giving the grip....then a practiced eye cuts the side & bottom limbs off while standing on the ground. This step is also a knowledge thing, because it could ruin your afternoon to have tons of log roll on you. Guys, a good cutter earns every dime he makes, and to watch one work is to watch performance art. Like Tyson is a wrench artist? Lonnie is a chainsaw artist....
