TimberWest - September/October 2020

AFTER THE FIRE

From the Ground Up Farm, Chico, CA

IT’S ALL ABOUT SOLUTIONS John Boak Logging Arcata, CA

DREAM TO REALTY Gahlsdorf Logging Rickreall, OR

FOURTH-GENERATION LOGGER CHASES DREAM

JEM Forestry Bonners Ferry, ID

ON THE COVER

September/October 2020 Vol. 45 No. 09-10

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JEM Forestry's and its Link-Belt and John Deere combo at work in the woods.

Fourth-Generation Logger Chases Dream

Fourth-Generation Logger Chases Dream

Justin Everhart had always dreamed of striking it out on his own, and that’s just what he did.

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Dream to Realty — One Step at a Time

Jim Gahlsdorf, president of Gahlsdorf Logging Inc., knows that overcoming the challenges of owning and growing a business depends upon the ability to embrace change.

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After the Fire

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It’s All About Solutions

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Tech Review

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Emergent Technologies

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Guest Column

On November 8, 2108, the world changed for Jenny Lowrey and her family as the forests of Butte County, California, exploded into flames.

John Boak credits his success to the philosophy — life is not about problems, it’s about solutions.

Dream to Realty — One Step at a Time

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After the Fire

A look at the wide variety of forwarders on the market.

New Technology on the fire line.

Vote: Your community, forests and livelihood depend on it

DEPARTMENTS

Page 4 ................................................................In the News Page 33....................................................... Machinery Row Page 35................................................... Association News Page 36.......................................................... New Products Page 37.............. Advertiser’s Index/Classified Section Page 37............................................................. Subscription

It’s All About Solutions

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TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

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Bark Beetles in Arizona

The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management aerial-surveyed the state in 2018, by flying over 15 million acres of forest and assessing 276,000 acres of tree damage from bark beetles, reported the Payson Roundup. What they found was a 513 precent increase in bark beetle activity.

Drought and bark beetles are responsible, as bark beetles sense chemicals emitted by stressed, unhealthy trees. Trees that are adequately hydrated produce enough pitch to deter bark beetles and other parasites.

Worsening drought leads to forest-wide infestation.

For more information, links about this topic are also conveniently posted weekly on Facebook, joining Jones and a local network of gardeners and green-thumbed followers at facebook.com/gilaextenstion.

U.S. appeals WTO softwood decision

The World Trade Organization reported that the United States notified the Dispute Settlement Body in late September of its decision to appeal the panel report in the case brought by Canada in “United States — Countervailing Measures on Softwood Lumber from Canada”.

Given the ongoing lack of agreement among WTO members regarding the filling of Appellate Body vacancies, there is no Appellate Body Division available at the current time to deal with the appeal.

In a response to the U.S. announcement that it would appeal the softwood lumber decision, the Canadian government said it was surprised by the U.S.’s seemingly contradictory message that the WTO appeals body should be in charge of this case — and that it also is illegitimate.

New home sales strong in the U.S.

Home buying and selling prospects drastically improved in August, as economic concerns continued to ease for both buyers and sellers. Significant uncertainty remains for the housing market going into the fall, as the economy faces a long and bumpy recovery in the upcoming months. Nonetheless, 4

real estate is still a hot seller’s market and improved selling prospects are a good sign and will need to remain on that path to bring more homes into the market, reported Norda Real Estate Investments.

Record-low mortgage rates and shortage of inventory has kept the US housing market strong with respect to buyer demand. With unusually high buyer interest this late in the homebuying season, buyers are moving much faster than this time last year to beat out competition and lock in low mortgage rates. The national median listing price on Realtor.com was $350,000, up 10.1 percent year-over-year, while prices rose 8.9 percent in larger markets.

Oregon timber industry hit hard by fires may cause generational impact

A rare wind event over Labor Day weekend, helped create fires that scorched roughly one million acres across Oregon. Several individual fires burned more than 100,000 acres. About 40 percent of that was private land.

Seneca Sawmill, a timber company based near Eugene, estimates fires burned through about 10,000 acres of the 170,000 which they own, report KATU2.

“Different stands are different ages, so they were affected differently. Younger trees were burned up completely, older stands fared a little better,” said Casey Roscoe, Senior VP of Public Relations at Seneca Sawmill.

Many others were affected, such as Freres Lumber. Rob Freres, President of Freres Lumber, estimates fires burned through about 6,000 acres of their timberland. Like Roscoe, he said it’s too early to tell what the financial impact of the fires were, but estimated it will be in the “high-eight figures, which leaves a real big hole in future planned harvests. It changes our business plan.”

Oregon is the number one producer of lumber in the U.S., and these fires will have a lasting impact. What it will be is yet to be seen.

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TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

ContractorProfile

Fourth-Generation Logger Chases His Dream

JEM Forestry, Bonners Ferry, Idaho

By Lindsay R. Mohlere

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s Justin Everhart tells it, he had always dreamed of striking out on his own and owning a logging company.

“I was picking rocks and sticks behind my grandpa’s grader in what would have been my fifth-grade year, and then every summer after that. I was finally able to hop into a skidder when I was about 14, and that was every summer until I graduated high school,” says Justin.

After high school, Justin went to work 6

full-time for his grandad’s outfit, Everhart Logging Incorporated. For nearly ten years, Justin continued to learn the ropes of the timber business from the ground up while keeping his dream alive and developing the mindset to create his own outfit.

In April 2020, Justin stepped up, split from his dad’s company, and formed his own company, JEM Forestry. The company is based in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and fields a crew of Justin and three others, specializing in mechanical logging.

“It’s been more balls than brains,” says Justin. “This has been my dream since I’ve

sat around Grandpa’s dinner table with him and Dad as a kid. I’ve learned so much being there, but this has been my dream to own my own business and do my own thing. Logging is a changing industry, and I’m still young enough to see the change. Like Eric Krume said, ‘It’s a changing industry. You either change or you get ran over.’ And I think that’s a big thing.”

The Men Are Rarin’ to Go

At 27 years old, Justin is probably one of the youngest owner/operators in the business, and the other members of his crew are

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

ContractorProfile challenges to Justin and crew, but that doesn’t slow them down.

“We’ve got probably two or three summers’ work up there. There’s quite a bit of wood, it’s just, steep, rocky, crummy soil. I mean, it’s pretty much a trifecta of not-fun logging. Terrible wood. It’s just the steeper, tougher ground. All the good stuff ’s already been logged off, so you got to adapt to what your conditions give. That’s kind of actually what we specialize in,” says Justin.

Another challenge Justin faces with his new company is weather. Typically, the winter snows and rain shut down logging in the Panhandle, and crews are lucky to work eight months a year. To overcome that downtime, Justin and his crew work 10 hours a day,

The JEM Forestry crew take a break for a photo. From left to right, Beau, Justin, Mark and Dalton.

young as well, but age doesn’t get in the way of having a strong work ethic and a desire to be the best.

“To be honest with you, I got what I consider one of the best crews around,” says Justin.

“We’re a younger crew. A lot of logging crews around, they’re older guys. Average age about 50. My oldest guy right now is 31 years old. We’re young and work hard. We take a lot of pride in that. We take a lot of pride in just the quality of our work, every one of the guys do. That and teamwork, the crew morale. They go out and attack the work. Whatever we’ve got to do, they’re there with a smile on their faces, raring to go. They just want to work. We take a lot of pride in that because I’ve always been, ‘if you ain’t having fun, why be there?’”

Currently, JEM Forestry is working a contract at Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort in the Selkirk Mountains of North Idaho.

The steep and rocky terrain presents unique

every day. “I’m trying to pound 10 and a half, 11 months out of eight months. Everybody’s scared of that big overtime work, but when you’re sitting at home doing nothing, that overtime doesn’t seem do bad,” he says.

In addition to crew members, Beau Cowley, Mark Mitchell, and Dalton Magie, Justin’s wife Maria, and his mom Ketta handle the paperwork.

“My wife Maria pretty much pays all the bills and basically handles almost everything at home. And my mom actually does our payroll. There’s no way I could do this without my wife. She’s been by far, my biggest supporter.” (continued on page 8)

At present, JEM's equipment stable includes a 2018 Tigercat 830D buncher, a 2019 Tigercat 632E skidder, a 2017 John Deere 948L, and two 2016 3740 Link-Belts.

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

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ContractorProfile

(continued from page 7)

Machines to Meet the Terrain

To meet the steep challenges of the North Idaho terrain, Justin relies on late-model equipment that will hold up to the demands the ground throws back at him. At present, Justin’s equipment stable includes a 2018 Tigercat 830D buncher, a 2019 Tigercat 632E skidder, a 2017 John Deere 948L, and two 2016 3740 Link-Belts. One’s a loader, and the other has got a 500 SouthStar processor on it.

“If I could afford to own all Tigercat, that’s what I would own. There is no better machine out there. I came out of a Timbco, and I’m cutting stuff now that I would have never even dreamed about cutting in a Timbco. As far as operator ease, I mean you’re not sore at the end of the day. You got that harness, where you’re hanging on the side of a cliff, and you pretty much feel invincible. And then as far as Tigercat’s support, I’ve been doing this a long time and I’ve worked with all of them, and there isn’t anybody even close. They’re the type that

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would get in their pickup and drive you the part that night if they could. They’re great,” says Justin.

Justin also had high praise for Triad Machinery out of Spokane, Washington.

He says the service and sales were top rate.

“They’re great to deal with.”

Justin hasn’t really considered going into tethered logging yet but is looking to expand with a yarder down the line. “I’m hoping to have Summit build a yarder this spring.

I’ve been in pretty good contact with Eric Krume, and he’s getting some new ways of logging. I like that idea. I think the new ways are the future. You got to go out and try. But right now, we’re just staying mechanized,” he says.

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Starting a new logging company, and any other business for that matter, is a challenging proposition. For Justin, just starting out, overcoming the everyday challenges of working in the woods feeds his desire to expand and prosper.

“My biggest challenge is there are only seven days in a week. My next plan is getting into the yarding side. At some point I’d like to have a smaller roadside. I don’t know if I really want to have another full mechanized crew. Around here, there’s really not the work for it. I think I’d rather have one big side and keep the guys all busy and raring to go,” says Justin.

“I would like to be one of the big top competitors and be able to not only have a healthy living for myself, but a healthy living for all the guys with me,” Justin continues.

“Yeah, the boss man has all the risk, but without your good employees, you’re still nothing. They’re out there working just as hard and just as many days as you are. And I think people tend to forget that part. I want my guys to make a good, healthy living.”

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TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

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ContractorProfile

From Dreams to Reality — One Step at a Time

Gahlsdorf Logging Rickreall, Oregon

By Lindsay Mohlere

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fter 35 years in the logging business, Jim Gahlsdorf, president of Gahlsdorf Logging Inc., out of Rickreall, Oregon, is well aware that overcoming the challenges of owning and growing a business depends upon the ability to embrace change and push ahead.

Dreams of Working in the Woods

Miguel in a tree and Boman yarder carriage to his right.

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Gahlsdorf got his start like many others in the timber business. He had the dream and desire to work in the woods. That coupled with a keen interest in the outdoors and family influence – his dad had a forestry background but didn’t work in the field – were major guiding factors.

“At one point I thought I wanted to be a forest ranger because it looked pretty cool to live in a ranger station, wear a green shirt, and drive a green pickup around,” says Gahlsdorf.

One summer vacation, Gahlsdorf worked for the Department of Forestry as a conservation aide, where he participated in a small, in-house logging project. When he got to set chokers behind an old D-6 Cat, “That was the bug that bit,” he says.

“I ended up in forestry school at Oregon State University, with the design that I’d go to school in forestry and learn about that side of it and someday have my own logging company.” When he graduated, he went to work for a consulting forestry company cruising timber and surveying. “Worked there for about 11 years and still had the dream. It was either do it or don’t. Then my wife came out and said if you don’t, you won’t.”

And do it, he did. One step at a time.

“I went out and rented a worn-out Cat. Bought a worn-out chainsaw, and that was the beginning. Worked by myself for a couple years, hired a guy here and there to bump knots, or to cut a little bit. Bought a skidder on top of the Cat. Started hiring people around ’90. I cut the cord on my real job in ’87, and I’ve been here ever since,” says Gahlsdorf.

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

ContractorProfile

The Gahlsdorf Logging team takes a well-deserved break to pose for the camera.

Spreadsheets, Social Media and a New Log Loader

As it was in the beginning of Gahlsdorf ’s business, the preeminent challenge has been cash flow.

“That never changes. It was just learning the ins and outs of it,” says Gahlsdorf. “I didn’t really have any formal training doing logging stuff. I just bought a saw and decided I could cut timber. I survived that barely, and kind of the same thing with running a Cat, or skidder, or anything else. I kind of quit learning how to run stuff with a Cat. I never really got any better running a log loader or processor or anything, so I just stay away from that stuff. But I got pretty good at a spreadsheet and computer. I can print checks real fast.”

With cash flow as a major obstacle in growth, Gahlsdorf focused on working around the problem. “With the way vendors work, if you want something, they’re going to help you get it,” he says, adding that doing a rental purchase agreement, in many cases, can pave the way.

“With the RPO stuff, you got a higher down payment, but if you can make the first three months or whatever your deal is, then you’ve got a down payment. Whether you get it financed with the vendor or a bank, you’ve got a down payment by virtue of applied rent.

That’s the way a lot of people have done it.

That’s the way we got rolling,” says Gahlsdorf.

Gahlsdorf doesn’t have a particular equipment philosophy, but the overarching

goal is to try to get good people and good equipment, get good jobs, and make it all work together. “Sometimes the three-legged stool is a little precarious in terms of trying to keep all three of them even.”

Currently, Gahlsdorf Logging fields a shovel side and a yarder side utilizing a Berger Mark IIA and a Madill 172 tower.

The company has a lineup of 50 forest machines and support equipment with John Deere and Link-Belt topping the roster, including a newer John Deere 3156 and a John Deere 859. Gahlsdorf says the company looks at John Deere and Link-Belt because the quality, service, and support have always

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

(continued on page 12)

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ContractorProfile

The company has a lineup of 50 forest machines and support equipment with John Deere and Link-Belt topping the roster, including a newer John Deere 3156 and a John Deere 59. (continued from page 11) been good, and they have been well served with those relationships.

Finding the Next Generation through Social Media

According to Gahlsdorf, another important challenge of growing his business is overcoming the labor problem, which is a pervasive problem encountered by most logging contractors.

“I think labor, obviously, has been a challenge. I think we’re all getting kind of a

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culture shock in the last couple maybe four years, five years,” says Gahlsdorf. “It’s just a different mindset in the younger people.

I don’t think anybody will deny that. It’s trying to get your arms around what we need to do differently. We have to learn to adapt to what we’re presented with. Like the cell phone, for one thing. People can’t really do anything without telling somebody or letting somebody know what they’re doing or finding out what their buddies are doing. It’s just the way it is. You have to figure out ways to accommodate it or deal with it or come up with new policies to make sure you’re safe

and productive.”

Recently, the company has devoted its Facebook page to attracting new employees to complement the 16 to 25 crew members already employed. “It seemed like the way to go. Some of my competitors are using social media for that purpose. We were using Craigslist quite a bit with pretty good success, but that seemed like it’s waned a little bit. Facebook is pretty popular,” he says.

2019 Northwest Operator of the Year

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

Gahlsdorf Logging has earned some

ContractorProfile good press lately. The Oregon Department of Forestry awarded Gahlsdorf Logging the Operator of the Year award. Gahlsdorf says they won the award “for taking extra firefighting precautions due to the location of the operations in a steep and remote part of the coast range. Soil disturbance was minimized by using an elaborate rigging system that lifted the logs off the ground and over a high ridge to a yarder landing.”

According to Gahlsdorf, the project was “probably one of the most challenging, if not the most challenging logging project we’ve had in my career.”

Located in the coast range, about halfway to the ocean and halfway to the valley, the 105-acre unit owned by Hancock Managed Timberlands presented a number of difficulties Gahlsdorf and his crew had to overcome, including the drive-time to the site.

“It’s pretty much in the middle of the coast range, probably anywhere from an hour and a half in any direction to civilization,” says Gahlsdorf, adding that the topography was the biggest hurdle.

“We did a lot of research looking at old historic photos to see how somebody else logged it. We used a lot of lidar and mapping, Google Earth, and whatever we could get our hands on to help figure out how to approach it,” he said.

The topography dictated that there was going to be a fair amount of sidehill logging, downhill yarding, and uphill yarding in difficult terrain.

About a third of the unit was on the back side of a ridge from the main landing. The trees could not be accessed from below, so the crews had to figure out how to get the trees over the knob and to the landing.

By bringing a smaller yarder up the hill and beefing up the rigging employing a series of intermediate supports and blocks, Gahlsdorf ’s crew was able to yard the logs up without much soil disturbance. When the turns got to the top of the hill, they were then skidded down to the main landing.

ODF Stewardship Forester David Thompson noted, “Gahlsdorf crews are pretty in-tune with their operations and how it’s impacting the environment. They are pretty conscientious workers as far as how they set up and how they do their business.”

“It’s not just one big job,” says Gahlsdorf.

“It’s a continued commitment to protecting the resource and trying to follow the Forest Practices Act as best you can. I think we’ve made some mistakes and stumbled a time or two, but overall, I think that all of my people have that commitment. After they get involved and see where we’re at as a company, they try to do the right things for the most part.”

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SmallSawmilling

Jason Romer, From the Ground Up’s farming coordinator offered to learn how to run the Wood-Mizer. “I had no previous experience,” Jason says, “but my father Bruce did tons of research online, and a few of my neighbors with experience showed me a few things — and practice makes perfect!"

After the Fire

By Jack Petree

N

ovember 8, 2018, the world changed for Jenny Lowrey and her family and tens of thousands of Jenny’s Northern California neighbors as the forests of Butte County exploded into flames.

Seventeen days later, the Camp Fire had become the largest in California history, killing at least 85 people, burning 150,000 acres of wildlands, destroying as much as 95 percent of two towns, Paradise and Concow, incinerating nearly 19,000 structures, and inalterably changing lives.

A lot is being learned, and is yet to be learned, in the aftermath of the Camp fire regarding the need to rethink past approaches to recovering a forest that has been 14

drastically altered by catastrophic fire; especially regarding the use of burned logs in assisting recovery efforts.

The emergence of climate change as a major issue has made many old thoughts and approaches to the re-establishment of a firedamaged forest obsolete. New approaches that consider the impact of billions of tons of fiber giving up their sequestered carbon to the atmosphere are essential as advocates, professionals, and interested citizens alike work to re-establish healthy and resilient forests for the future.

New Approaches

A citizen’s group in California, From The Ground Up Farms, is exploring some of those new approaches to post-fire recovery, approaches that address forest and

From the Ground Up Farms in Chico, California community health and resilience and have the potential to set at least one standard for treating the millions of acres where people and forests must coexist.

From the Ground Up Farms in Chico, California, was founded in 2013 after Jenny Lowrey, who was battling serious health issues of her own, realized how “critical good nutrition, organic food, and access to education about food,” were to her own health and to the health of an entire community.

“We realized our community had a serious food security issue, and we don’t believe healthy, organically grown food should be a luxury only the wealthy can afford,” Jenny recalls. The result was a community organization that provides free, sustainably grown,

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

(continued on page 16)

SmallSawmilling (continued from page 14) organic foods and, perhaps more important, education about growing foods to residents of the entire Northern California region surrounding Chico.

Fire Response

Usable lumber, hidden inside a burned tree, is be revealed on a thin kerf mill.

The fire changed everything in just two weeks. “Every member of the organization has been affected by the Camp Fire,” Jenny says. “We’ve lost homes, businesses, and friends.” Jenny’s own daughter-in-law, Aindrea, was trapped in the fire zone for two days before she could be rescued.

The “Ground Uppers,” as Jenny calls them, responded to the fire emergency almost immediately. “We had Ground Uppers by day three of the fire sending hundreds of blankets, tents, tarps, sleeping bags, and respirators,” she says. “Groups that had been working with us on food security stepped up immediately with the funding needed to rebuild our community garden destroyed in the fire.”

In keeping with the need to change after the devastation of the fire, From the Ground Up approached Butte County’s North Valley Community foundation, an organization that had been a stalwart in recovery efforts, with a “crazy idea.” According to Jenny, “We thought a mobile sawmill could be used to turn burned trees into lumber — lumber that could be used to rebuild some of the structures destroyed in the fire. The foundation responded, helping make our idea a reality with a grant.”

Jenny reports that Wood-Mizer, the manufacturer of the sawmill chosen for the effort, came through as well. “We received a Wood-Mizer LT40 Wide Body hydraulic mill, including a debarker, cant hooks, and other extras. It was about $32,000ish for the mill and after all the additions and free stuff, we received about a $40,000 value. We had a $25,000 grant from North Valley, and Wood-Mizer generously made that work.”

Starting a Mill

Jason Romer, From the Ground Up’s farming coordinator offered to learn how to run the mill. “I had no previous experience,” Jason says, “but my father Bruce did tons of research online, and a few of my neighbors with experience showed me a few things — and practice makes perfect! I will say it’s pretty easy to learn once you have been shown the basics. The Wood-Mizer company has been very helpful, and their machines are amazing.”

As to the process, according to Jason, identifying and using dangerous trees first is a priority. “We leave everything standing that we can because the longer it’s standing, 16

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

SmallSawmilling the longer it takes to go rotten so any tree that has life in it, and isn’t an obvious hazard, is left for the time being.”

Once trees are selected, many people assist with felling them. “Some are brought down by arborist friends because they are dangerous, but most are brought down by the guys who have been helping run the mill or by the owners of the property where we are working.” Jason points out that while burned trees can be considerably more dangerous to bring down than live trees, the overall methods are the same for both. Most of the trees milled come from the land owned by those benefitting from the lumber.

According to Jason, most of the good lumber he and his fellow volunteers have milled so far is being used for outbuildings where people can make dry safe storage space, laundry and bathrooms, decks, porches, and things like that, though, “… we are now starting to have people make lumber for their permitted structures as they make their way through the permit process.”

Scraps are used for animal shelters, fencing, garden beds, and similar projects. No one is charged for the lumber they receive.

With the sawmill up and operating successfully, Jenny continues, “We realized we really needed a tractor. We went to our local John Deere dealer, Valley Truck and Tractor in Chico, and spoke to one of their sales guys.

We explained our nonprofit was helping Concow fire families for free. We explained North Valley Community Foundation had given us a grant to purchase a used tractor to work with. He gave us the name of a farmer who refurbishes and sells used equipment.”

Eventually, they arrived at a “great deal” on a mid 90’s John Deere 310SE tractor/backhoe.

The equipment, like the mill, Jenny says, is free for families affected by the fire to help with rebuilding.

Mobile, thin-kerf sawmills offer important attributes in addressing recovery after a forest fire. Trees almost certain to harm people and property in the near future can be selected for milling, while stems that were not completely destroyed in a fire and still useful for forest recovery are left standing. Because lumber can be milled and used almost at the stump, little fossil fuel use is involved. Using logs to mill lumber otherwise destined to give up its carbon as greenhouse gas emissions replaces the need to purchase lumber milled from healthy trees elsewhere in rebuilding. And the social cohesion created as the community works together on recovery makes From the Ground Up’s approach to recovery unique.

Jenny’s “crazy” idea may one day be seen as the standard for communities recovering after devastating forest fires.

TW

John Deere 310C moves the burned logs to the mill.

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

17

ContractorProfile John Boak Loggig's Kobelco, Hitachi and Thunderbird yarder all handling logs.

It’s All About Solutions John Boak Logging, Arcata, California Story and images by Mary Bullwinkel

L

ogging and family. For north-

ern California logger John Boak, there has always been no separation between the two. He has dedicated his life to working in the woods, along with helping his wife Candace raise a family of three boys, two of which represent the fifth generation of family loggers.

John Boak Logging LLC was established in 2013, after Boak had worked for the family logging business all his life. He started his company using logging equipment rented from the family-owned Boak Logging Inc. that was in the process of being dissolved,

after the death of his mother. Between that time and one year later when his father would pass away, Boak entered into a logging equipment rental agreement with his dad.

“I wanted to carry on with the logging business,” says Boak. “I had absolutely no thoughts of doing anything else. I’d been a logger all my life, and I was 60 years old,” he added. “Some of my siblings wanted to dissolve Boak Logging Inc., and I saw an opportunity to continue logging on my own.”

Finding Solutions

That was seven years ago, and Boak’s philosophy that “life is not about problems, Handling burned trees from California's Carr Fire.

18

it’s about solutions,” has contributed to his success. “Never say it can’t be done,” he says, “find a way to do it.”

When starting his own logging operations, John Boak Logging was using two TMY 45 yarders with motorized carriages, two 330 Kobelco log loaders, one with a Keto dangle head processor, and a 300 Kobelco excavator, also with a Keto dangle head processor. His Caterpillar side used one of the processors and a 480 Timberjack grapple skidder. This equipment was rented from Boak Logging Inc. “I worked out a rental agreement with my dad,” says Boak. “I rented the equipment I needed to carry on the same operation that I had run for him and mom,” he added.

In addition to the rented equipment, which Boak was able to eventually purchase, he added a 322L Cat with a Denharco delimber, a purchase made possible when he and his wife sold their home and moved to a new house. Turns out that one of his close logger friends needed a delimber for one of his operations, so Boak traded his piece of equipment and an operator to go with it, in exchange for a 517 Cat swing boom that he later purchased from Bud Newton at Three Star Logging.

“That Cat was the life blood of that first year’s cat side,” says Boak, “and still is the star of the cat side today.”

Along the way, Boak added several other pieces of equipment to his logging operations including another Caterpillar 517 with

ContractorProfile a straddle grapple, an 850C John Deere choker cat, a Christy yarder, a 445EXL Timbco feller buncher with a 2900 Quadco intermittent saw, and in 2016, a new Doosan 225 log loader, which gave some fresh paint to the outfit.

Boak said he is eternally grateful to his father for having the confidence in his plan to carry on the family business under the name of John Boak Logging. The way Boak looks at it, when one door closes, another door opens.

John Boak Logging is still using the Kobelco log loaders, and Boak says the Keto processing heads are essential. “In 2000 when we needed to go to dangleheads to get away from strokers on yarder landings, there were no heads doing redwood and no dealers from up north willing to demonstrate.

We were on our own, and we made a good choice, thinking that if there’s any hope of doing a redwood log with a processing head, it was going to be a Keto.”

Boak says 20 years of service speaks for itself. “We’re happy with what we’ve got,” and adds that he and his crew have the skills necessary to tackle any problems that might arise. “You show us a Keto that malfunctions, and I’ll show you how to fix it in less than two minutes, unless my oldest son Johnny beats me to the punch.”

Left to right: John Boak, Johnny Boak and Daniel Boak.

Learning the Mechanics

Boak said he acquired his mechanical skills at a young age, when he started fixing chainsaws for his dad and grandfather. Back in the day (1920s) Boak’s grandfather Ted Boak was a consultant to Washington Iron

Works, Willamette Iron & Steel, and Clyde Iron Works. Through high school John Boak worked summers setting chokers or chasing landing. (continued on page 20)

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ContractorProfile (continued from page 19) Boak says by the time he got out of high school, “I had been fixing crummies, and that quickly evolved into learning to cut and weld, and rebuild motors, transmissions, pumps, and anything else a logging outfit could wear out or break.”

He applied these skills to the TMY 45 Thunderbird yarder used in John Boak Logging operations. He says the TMY 45 is a very good yarder but built with a threestage torque converter. “They pulled great, but with no reverse it was not so great, and scary to drive. So one winter we put in a fivespeed twin-disc transmission and turned it into a more modern piece of equipment, which also made it easier to drive.”

Boak also uses a truck-mounted Christy yarder in some of his operations. “We’ve logged some good timber with it, and as a little yarder in some locations it really fills a niche there.” he says.

Another one of Boak’s prized tools is the 2900 Quadco saw on the Timbco feller buncher. Boak’s second-oldest son Daniel runs the cat side of logging operations and is the feller buncher operator. Daniel Boak is also responsible for doing all the layout work and coordinating skid trails, landings, brushings, and water barring. Both father and son

20

Boak partnered with a local construction company to deconstruct and reconstruct a 210-foot bridge across a creek on private timber company land. agree on the value of the 2900 Quadco processing head.

“It’s less trouble than a bar saw and it doesn’t have the same fire restrictions as the hot saws,” says Boak. “It’s ideal for selective cuts where you pack so much of the wood to your trail, and it cuts a 29-inch tree — hot saws can’t do that.”

Wildfire Work

John Boak Logging is very proud of one of its recent logging operations in California and the impact it will have on reducing the impact of wildfires. For more than one year, the company logged burned timber, mainly

on private timber company land, in Trinity County. This was the area burned by the Carr Fire in 2018, the seventh most destructive wildfire in California history, one that blackened more than 229,000 acres and killed eight people.

“If we don’t log the burned timber, a fire will sweep through all that area and burn it again,” says Boak. During his logging operations Boak removed 6.5 million board feet of burned and dead trees, and he was one of several loggers working there.

“I was using my TMY 45 and Christy

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

(continued on page 22)

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ContractorProfile (continued from page 20)

Thumberbird yarder and Doosan 225 log loader working through logs at a Carr Fire site.

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22

yarders,” says Boak, “and from where I was logging I could see four and sometimes five other yarders working.”

Boak is convinced that logging is part of the solution and not the problem when it comes to wildland fires. The harvested timber was transported to landowner Sierra Pacific Industries’ mills in the Redding, California area, and some also went to Trinity River Lumber Company’s sawmill in Weaverville, California.

Versatility

As mentioned, John Boak’s versatility is one of many factors contributing to the success of his business. In one instance, the company’s yarders were used for a purpose other than logging.

“It was my ‘outside the box’ suggestion that led to a partnership with a local construction company to deconstruct and reconstruct a 210-foot bridge across a creek on private timber company land,” says Boak.

Instead of using monstrous cranes, Boak set up two TMY 45 Thunderbird yarders, one on each side of the creek, to get things done.

“We took down the bridge and put the new steel girders in place using a skyline system. Moving the steel girders into place was just like moving logs,” he adds. “The center of the creek was nearly 150-feet out from where a crane could have set up. Not what you would call a long span for a yarder, but definitely out of reach for any crane on the west coast.”

Loving Life

Regarding his lifetime of logging, Boak says, “I love everything about it. The engineering part of it, the work of it, the machines, the timber, the logs, the men; there’s nothing I don’t love and haven’t loved since I was little.”

Also of importance to Boak is the camaraderie between loggers in Humboldt County, California. “I ask friends for advice, and they ask me for advice. I help friends that are broke down or don’t know how to fix a yarder, and my friends have helped me out too.”

“I truly have a team,” adds Boak. The team includes his two sons Johnny and Daniel and four employees who have worked with him for more than 20 years. “Without my boys, without my wife, without my crew, without my sister Kathleen, who is the best bookkeeper ever since my mom, I would have nothing.”

Boak believes that his two sons will carry on the family business when he steps down, although that probably won’t be anytime soon. He says, “I can do this 365 days a year, but they love it, and they’ll carry on.”

TW

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

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Forwarders Barko

Barko forwarders implement technology exactly (and only) where it’s needed, thus simplifying machine design and serviceability while delivering consistent production capabilities. Equipped with intuitive controls for smooth operation, Barko forwarders provide ample load capacity in combination with excellent stability and maneuverability.

The Barko 612 forwarder offers a full 20inch ground clearance and provides excellent weight distribution for steep grades. Low operating weight keeps ground pressure low to minimize ground disturbance, while access panels contribute to easy servicing.

The 612 is powered by a fuel-efficient 200 HP Volvo Tier 3 diesel engine and features a responsive Danfoss Plus+1 hydraulic control system. Power demand joystick-controlled steering includes full oscillation lock and 40-degrees of side-to-side articulation. To enhance performance and help save customer money over the machine’s life cycle, the forwarder is engineered with increased cooling capacity, updated torque converters, and improved cab mounts and frame. www.barko.com

Eco Log

Eco Log launched in 2020 its new F-series Forwarders, equipped with Stage V engines from Volvo Penta. Like their predecessors, the engines are characterized by high reliability, efficient performance, quick response and environment friendliness — characteristics that have now been also strengthened with a Stage V upgrade. The Forwarder cabin provides the same, great operator comfort as before, while the rest of the machine has been developed for even better service conditions and higher quality.

The forwarders in the F-series feature: a grill that swings open for easier access and cleaning; a hood that opens with electric actuators - to facilitate service; a new larger-dimensioned fenders house easier-to-access batteries, as well as the tool box; a urea tank has been placed together with the central lubrication unit, fuel and hydraulic tank to facilitate easy access and re-filling; and a new gear box in model 594, which increases the tractive effort of the machine, giving it even better performance when working in difficult terrain.

The machines are also equipped with new radiators optimized for Stage V. www.ecologforestry.com 24

HSM

Narrow design with wide tires – this basic principle of all HSM forestry machinery has proven to be particularly effective in the development of their crane forwarders. This is reflected in the high load capabilities and the very high level of ground protection.

Whether 208F or 904F, all of the models from the HSM forwarder series stand for inventive engineering, with their state-ofthe-art drive technology, efficiency and customer-orientated design.

Above all, the 208F steep slope version is currently in a league of its own.

With their experience in the construction of crane forwarders, HSM is at your service to provide reliable, economical harvesting technology adapted to the latest harvesting techniques.

HSM uses axle technology produced by NAF. In addition to the high level of craftsmanship and sturdy design, HSM adheres to its philosophy with bogie axels tool.

The long lasting, high fuel economy engines from IVECO with modern common rail technology offer the perfect combination of top performance, very low fuel consumption and remarkable smooth running with optimal exhaust emission values. Engines range from 134 HP to 235 HP. www.hsm-forest.net

John Deere

Available in a six-wheeled or eight-wheeled configuration, the 910G and 1010G models are ideal for early-to-late thinning operations and smaller end final felling applications. Both feature an improved design, including a shorter frame in front of the engine to reduce overhang. Balanced bogie axles, rigid front axles on the six-wheel model, and an unbalanced front bogie axle option offer increased durability. Additionally, the 1010G is designed for improved, terrain-friendly operation and soft soil performance, and is available with a low-ground pressure rear bogie axle option. Both can be equipped with one of two large load space options, narrow and wide, and the headboard offers better load area better visibility.

Three cab options – fixed, rotating, or rotating and leveling – are available on all G-Series machines. Available with a cab rotation of 290 degrees, these machines provide a clear view of the boom and grapple.

Decreased operator fatigue and increased productivity are ensured due to the large windows, comfortable ergonomic armrests, fully adjustable air-cushioned seat and automated climate-control system.

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

TechReview Optional Intelligent Boom Control on the CF5 boom boosts productivity. Models feature a high tractive force transmission, Adaptive Driveline Control and TimberMatic control system, and are compatible with the TimberMatic Maps and TimberManager technology. www.johndeere.com

Komatsu

Komatsu has updated its 875 and 895 forwarders with improvements and new features designed to increase productivity, simplify daily maintenance, and maximize profitability. The 875 (16-metric ton) and 895 (20-metric ton) have more engine horsepower and torque; 875 is at 254 HP and 895 is at 287 HP. These engines feature a new more user-friendly DEF system, a new exhaust system and new lower-maintenance hydraulic lifters. The diesel heater heats the batteries, engine coolant and hydraulic oil for improved cold weather starting.

Both models feature the totally new ‘future-proof ’ control system called MaxiXT, which continuously monitors and optimizes engine, transmission, hydraulic, and crane performance for the operator.

A new drive-by-wire steering system replaces the former steering wheel and allows for higher travel speed. The cab has increased side window wiper sweep area for improved rainy weather visibility, more storage space, and a standard GPS receiver.

The HST transmissions have a special hydraulic retarder overspeed protection that keeps key driveline components from over-revving. The HST also has an active feed pressure control system which decreases feed pressure when standing still, which saves horsepower and reduces fuel consumption. The FlexGate headboards have a low gloss paint finish to reduce operator glare. www.KomatsuForest.us

Logset

Logset offers a variety of forwarders. The main components have been carefully selected to ensure the best reliability: Less downtime, more money.

The successful combination of the Logset TOC 2 control system and the Agco Power diesel engine makes Logset forest machines the most fuel efficient on the market. And, Logset machines have ergonomically essential elements like first class comfort, an unobstructed view, user friendliness and easy service access.

A great advantage of the Mesera crane is its boom geometry. The crane is especially designed for forwarders, and both loading and unloading is comfortable and easy. The model 83 has reaches from 23.6 feet to 32.8 feet, and it comes with integrated hoses.

The diesel engine in the Logset forwarder range has the best (continued on page 26)

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TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

25

TechReview (continued from page 25) combination of good fuel economy and outstanding power, but it is also environmentally friendly. Thanks to the 49.5 gallon fuel tank capacity, the driver can extend the work shift without refueling. The correct dimensioning of the oil tank in each machine model ensures a longer lifespan of the hydraulic components.

The hydrostatic transmission gives the best performance, even in the most difficult terrains. It is powerful, accurate and reliable. www.logset.com

PONSSE

PONSSE Bison is the only forwarder with a transmission equipped with a stepless gear ratio change. When it is no longer necessary to stop when switching to the fast range from the slow range, working in all types of terrain is much faster.

Just hit the throttle. With Active Frame as standard equipment, it dramatically prevents the cabin, and the operator, from swaying. These help you to drive faster in all types of terrain. To top it all off, the engine rpm remains nearly constant, regardless of your speed. Of course, this has a significant impact on fuel consumption. Bison’s low-emission engine is highly economical.

The fuel economy and emissions of its Mercedes-Benz / MTU engine have been optimized to meet the strictest requirements.

Equipped with the Active Crane boom control system, the grapple becomes an extension of the operator’s hand. It goes where you want it to go, easily and effortlessly. Bison carries 16 tons with unprecedented ease from forests to landing.

For demanding terrain and challenging conditions – use the higher tractive force of the CVT technology. The advantages of a high tractive force materialize, in particular, when driving on steep slopes, in soft terrain and in deep snow. www.ponsse.com

Rottne

Rottne offers six fowarders — the F10, F11, F13, F15, F18 and F20.

The F20 offers 22-ton load capacity, withstands tough handling and you can choose between a wide load or wide load XL. It has variable transmission that is both unique and powerful, and a strong a quick crane. Operators will enjoy a spacious cab with Comfort Line, and it’s compatible for bearing or drawing tracks on all wheel pairs.

The balanced bogies, with large, wide wheels, provide excellent floatation capacity and smooth and gentle travel.

It features a well-balanced power train with a diesel engine that can be run at a low working engine speed, as it achieves maximum torque between 1,000 and 1,500 rpm. The variable hydrostatic transmission with a tractive force of a full 29.7 tons, which means the forwarder can maneuver without problem in all types of terrain and can maintain a 26

high driving speed even with maximum load.

The crane, with designation RK 160, has top-class performance.

The RD 160 has a large oil flow and the valve package is mounted on the crane close to the cylinders. www.rottne.com

Tigercat

Tigercat forwarders, ranging in capacity from 15.5 to 27.5 ton, are designed to achieve high production and lowest cost in the world’s most demanding transporting applications. Tigercat forwarders are built tough for high duty-cycle applications, heavy loads and challenging terrain.

The low-wide log forwarder bunk system allows easier crane operation and decreases loading and unloading cycle times. In combination with the new series of hooked cranes, the low-wide bunk significantly reduces the chance of crane contact with the gate or bunk stakes. The working envelope of the crane is expanded for reduced machine travel and improved productivity.

Operator visibility and ergonomics are enhanced. The operator enjoys a clear sight line to the top of the load, increasing log placement accuracy and decreasing cycle times. In addition, the grapple stays within the operator’s view through the entire loading cycle for reduced strain.

Tigercat FPT engines meet the stringent Tier 4 emission level requirements without the need for a variable geometry turbocharger, an EGR system, a higher capacity cooling system, an intake throttle body or a diesel particulate filter. No ‘regens’ are required. www.tigercat.com

TimberPro

The TimberPro D-Series 20 ton (830D) and 22 ton (840D) forwarders have been fitted with the new Cummins L9 338HP Performance Series engine.

The Cummins L9 Performance Series StageV engine contains an EGR-free architecture and compact Single-Module™ aftertreatment system.

Because of reduction in size of the emissions components, TimberPro was able to still meet all the requirements of Tier 4 Final, increased the horsepower and torque rating, but still able to keep an almost zero tailswing design.

The new L9 engine also boasts increased fuel economy and longer maintenance intervals over the previous models, contributing to a reduced cost of operation and lower overall total cost of ownership. The new TimberPro D-Series also boasts an increase in production and still maintains the reliability and customer support that TimberPro has always been known for. www.timberpro.com

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

TW

New Technology of the Fire Line Lindsay Mohlere

W

hen fire season exploded

this year, several new technological advances were deployed to aid fire managers and fire fighters battle blazes across the West.

Drones, real time mapping software, situational awareness software and ping-pong ball-like plastic spheres known as Dragon Eggs are just a few of the applications now available to firefighters.

Firefighter Team Awareness Kit

In a move to improve and complement existing walkie talkie and voice radio communication technology and give crews on the ground a more accurate picture of their surroundings, an android based app called the Team Awareness Kit (TAK) was put to use by the Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting (CoE) in a USFS approved pilot project on the Grizzly Creek Fire in Colorado recently.

Basically, the smart phone just got smarter.

The Center of Excellence was originally created through the Colorado legislature to 28

determine the efficacy of aerial firefighting and has evolved to become the go-to research and development team for projects across the public safety service spectrum.

TAK is a geospatial mapping engine, first developed by the US Military for the android smart phone system, that facilitates situational awareness, navigation and data sharing. TAK was first developed as Google maps for soldiers so they would be able to map a battlefield and call in airstrikes. The technology is under continuous development as a Program of Record by the U.S. Special Operations Command and partner government laboratories. It is a “government off-the-shelf ” model and is licensed to first responders to use for free.

According to Brad Schmidt, wildland fire projects manager with CoE, the Grizzly Creek fire deployment of the Tactical Awareness Kit was the first time the technology was applied to an Interagency Type 1 fire. Prior use was limited to smaller, in state incidents.

One of the most important aspects of TAK is the technology’s ability to track individual firefighters, along with the distribution

Dragon Eggs of equipment and spread of the fire.

Schmidt explained that the TAK app on an android cell phone, talks to a server that’s in the cloud. “It basically connects everybody when you have cell service. We also have mesh networking radios, called goTenna Pros, that are used if you don’t have cell service. They connect firefighters to other nearby firefighters that are carrying the radio system. They act as a repeater,” he said.

The mesh radio system, about the size of a candy bar, will repeat messages and display messages on other firefighter’s phones as a GPS report. It puts a dot on the map where the firefighter is located.

“A survey of firefighters that used the technology indicated it improved their

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

(continued on page 30)

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EmergentTechnologies

Dragon Eggs, which are are slug from helicopters.

(continued from page 28) situational awareness. The ability to see the location of other firefighters on a map was the most useful feature of the technology.

That’s something we really haven’t had in wild land fire,” Schmidt said.

Currently, CoE is talking to California about ways to keep the pilot project going during the fall when California hits its peak burning period. After that, they’ll present their findings to the Forest Service.

The CoE’s goal is to facilitate the utilization of a system that will enable first responders to reliably transmit location information, collaboratively map an incident, and access other tools. “Being able to see exactly where someone is, is a big step forward to improving safety and the efficiency and effectiveness of wildland firefighting even if traditional Internet connections are degraded or absent,” Schmidt said.

Dragon Eggs

Dragon Eggs are advanced engineered one-inch plastic spheres made of high impact polystyrene dropped from aircraft to start prescribed or backburn fires. Each egg contains a high-grade potassium permanganate powder, and when injected with glycol, cause a chemical reaction and a 20-40 second delayed ignition, depending upon ambient temperature. After the delay, the sphere ignites, and the plastic shell is consumed as fuel providing an effective flame to initiate a fire.

The ignition looks like a flare and burns for about two minutes, allowing fire 30

propagation to effectively take place during burn operations.

The Dragon Eggs are launched via the “Sling Dragon,” a fully automated dispenser which is slung from the helicopter cargo hook by a set of steel suspension cables. The dispenser automatically injects the eggs with glycol and releases them through a rotation mechanism when triggered by the pilot.

The entire ignition operation occurs outside and is totally separate from the helicopter flight deck. With the 20-40 second delay, the eggs usually don’t ignite until they impact the ground. The small size creates less drag during free-fall resulting in a 20 percent higher drop velocity and increases accuracy in all types of wind conditions and improves forest canopy penetration.

The Sling Dragon has a 5,000-sphere capacity and is equipped with a GPS tracker that records the drop coordinates on a MicroSD card. This allows users to view a map of the burn area on Google Earth.

Dragon Eggs have been used on several fires this year, including the Grizzly Creek in Colorado and Beachie Creek, Lionshead, Slater, Riverside and Archie Creek in Oregon. In California, Dragon Eggs were deployed on the Bobcat, Creek, Castle, August Complex, Bluejay, El Dorado, LNU Complex and SQF Complex fires. The devices were also deployed in Washington state; however, the exact incidents were not available as of press time.

“This year has seen a drastic increase in the use of Dragon Eggs throughout Region 5 and 6 (WA, OR, CA), besides the fact that it’s a historically record-breaking fire season,”

said Dev Saini, SEI industries Marketing Coordinator. “Several years ago, CAL FIRE aviation invested in 12 new Red Dragon machines so that their entire fleet of aircraft now only uses Dragon for aerial ignition of fires.

The second reason is the approval and everincreasing use of drone systems to drop eggs.”

Saini explained that many of the “qualified” crews using the eggs are hotshot crew which typically move around the NW for the entire fire season. He estimated there were possibly 8 – 12 systems actively working on back-burning ops at one point or another.

Dragon Eggs are manufactured by SEI Industries, a Canadian industrial fabric products manufacturer best known for inventing the Bambi Bucket.

Covid-19 Fireline Update

It would appear that the new normal protocols and restrictions on the business of fighting wildfire initially planned for fire season have paid off. Thousands of firefighters, crew bosses, contactors and other support personnel are deployed to major wildfires throughout the West. However, while there have been a few infections, the threat of the virus is amplified by the longterm ramifications of constant inhalation of smoke. So far, the Covid19 protocols seem to be working.

That’s a wrap.

Stay safe out there.

(Source: US Dept. Defence, NPR, goTenna. com, TAK, CoE) TW

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

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BLM Seeks to ‘Modernize” Rules Relating to Admin.

Protests; Proposes expanded Salvage CE

For years AFRC members and staff have urged the Bureau of Land Management to address the abuse of the administrative protest process by anti-forestry groups. In May, the Department of the Interior and BLM responded, announcing they were proposing updates to regulations “governing administration of timber sales and protest of forest management decisions.” In a separate news release, the BLM said they were also proposing to establish a new 5,000-acre categorical exclusion for routine timber salvage projects.

Once the rules are published in the federal register, the BLM will open a public comment period for 60 days on the forest management rules, and 30 days on the new timber salvage CE. AFRC is prepared to engage in the process to help ensure the final rules provide real relief for its members, its communities and the land managers seeking to do more work on the ground. In the meantime, AFRC thinks the announcement is an important step toward addressing the paralysis that administrative protests have caused in some BLM districts.

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Pacific Logging Congress Holding Auction December 16

The Pacific Logging Congress will be holding its annual auction virtually this year on December 16, 2021. All proceeds will be used to support the Pacific Forest Foundation, which provides a variety of educational programs — scholarships, Adopt a High School and Talking Timber podcast.

The live and silent auction already includes a number of great items, and more are being added. Just a couple of the standout items include an Ultimate Bull Elk Hunt in California where you and your friends will have 20,000 acres to yourselves to hunt the ultimate elk, and a fishing trip (3 nights, 4 days) at Ritchie Bros. private island. For more details go to www.pacificloggingcongrss.com

Eastside Screens Plan Amendment

The AFRC reported that The Forest Service has initiated a process to consider

amendments to the land management plans of six eastern Oregon and Washington national forests (Deschutes, Fremont-Winema, Malheur, Ochoco, Umatilla, and Wallowa Whitman) to revise a provision that limits harvesting trees larger than 21 inches in diameter.

This provision, often referred to as the 21” rule”, is one component of a unique portion of those eastside land management plans commonly referred to as the Eastside Screens. They are unique in that they were established as interim direction in 1994 in response to a petition by the Natural Resource Defense Council demanding that the Forest Service halt certain timber sales in eastern Oregon and Washington.

The interim nature of their genesis resulted in a set of guidelines that were not a product of a robust scientific review or public engagement process. These shortcomings were likely deemed acceptable at the time, since they were producing a product that was not intended to be permanent. However, a year later, the Regional Forester signed those guidelines, including the 21” rule, into permanent plan direction for all eastern National Forests.

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TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

Fecon Dealer Locator

Fecon has recently updated its web site by adding a Dealership locator tool. This new functionality allows viewers to search for attachments, tractors, rental or any, within 10 to 250 miles from a desired zip code. The results are displayed on a map which shows locations of dealers who meet entered criteria, along with their contact information.

A “contact this dealer” button allows users to quickly communicate their needs to Signature dealerships. This intuitive functionality allows customers to quickly find the nearest Fecon equipment, parts and service facility, whether they are in the shop or at a remote jobsite. It can be viewed at https:// www.fecon.com/dealers/.

Morbark Leadership Change

Morbark announced the appointment of Bradley (Brad) Boehler as the successor to current Vice President of Alamo Group’s

Forestry and Tree Care Business Unit and President of Morbark Holdings, Dave Herr, effective August 24, 2020.

Herr joined Morbark initially as a board director and then as its CEO in October 2016. He successfully led the Company through a period of intense growth, operational improvement, acquisition, and integration of complementary businesses, including Rayco Manufacturing, LLC, and Denis Cimaf, Inc., and finally, the transfer of ownership to Alamo Group in 2019.

Before joining Alamo Group, Boehler was President of the Skyjack Group, a major Canadian manufacturer of aerial lift equipment, including scissor lifts and telehandlers.

During his sixteen years at Skyjack, he led the Company through a period of very high growth and performance improvement.

Before joining Skyjack, he worked for seven years at Tigercat International Inc.,

Boise Cascade Purchases Property Near Nashville

Boise Cascade Company announced that it has completed the purchase of a new property with building structures in Gallatin, TN. “The acquisition of this new facility will allow us to expand our operations in the Nashville market, one of the strongest housing growth markets in the U.S.,” said Jeff Strom, vice president and Building Materials Distribution (BMD) general manager of Eastern Operations.

The 13-acre facility currently has 183,000 sq. ft. of warehouse and office space. The Company plans to start construction and site improvements immediately, with a goal to begin operations in the new facility in Q2 2021. The current facility will remain open during the transition. The property was previously home to Fowler Lumber Company, an Appalachian hardwood producer.

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Repair & Recovery Fire Relief Fund The Repair & Recovery Fire Relief Fund Was Created to Assist Forestry Contractors Who Suffered Severe Loss of Equipment To The Historic Wildfires.

To Donate to the Repair & Recovery Fire Relief Fund Contact: OREGON LOGGING CONFERENCE P.O. Box 10669 • Eugene, Or 97440 Tel 541.686.9191 • Fax 855.866.0572

Email: firerelieffund@oregonloggingconference.com

www.oregonloggingconference.com

34

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

Unreserved Timed Auction - Quesnel BC Bidding Opens: 9 AM – Sat, Nov 21 Bids Start Closing: 9 AM – Tue, Nov 24

Complete Dispersal for Westside Logging Ltd & Major Realignment for C&C Wood Products & Consignme Various Consignors n ts WeLCome!

1 of 5 Hitachi ZX210 Processors

2018 Hitachi ZX310F-LL-6N Log Loader

1995 Caterpiller D8N Crawler Tractor

1 of 2 TigerCat X870C Feller Bunchers

1 of 3 John Deere 748 Grapple Skidders

2007 John Deere 700J Crawler Tractor

1 of 5 Tri Drive Log Trucks w/ Quad Axle Trailers

2015 Kenworth T370 4X4 Service Truck

Full Dispersal of Misc Rough Cut and Finished Products By C & C Wood Products Ltd.

Partial Listing: Heavy Trucks: 2011 Western Star 4900SA Tri Drive Day Cab Truck Tractor, 2011 Western Star 4900SA Tri Drive Log Truck w/ 2006 Arctic QD-32, 2000 Kenworth T800B T/A Day Cab Truck Tractor, 2000 Western Star 4800 T/A Plow/Sander Truck Construction / Industrial Equipment: 2011 JD 2954D Log Loader, 2012 JD 2154D Processor, 2007 JD 700J Crawler Tractor, 2013 Caterpillar M325D LMH Material Handler 4x4 Mobile Excavator, 2005 Fabtek 548C 8x8 Forwarder, 2004 LinkBelt 240LX Log Loader, 1998 Case 9045B Hyd Excavator, 1980 Raygo-Wagner L120 Log Loader, 1994 Bomag BW 213 D-2 Vibratory Roller, Terex MHL 460 Inoperable 4x4 Wheeled Material Handler Vehicles: 1989 Alfa Romeo Spider Quadrifoglio Vintage Convertible, 2017 GMC 1500 Regular Cab 4x4, 2015 Chevrolet 2500HD Double Cab 4x4, 2013 Toyota Tundra Crew Cab 4x4 Pickup, 2014 Dodge 3500 SLT Tri Drive Dump Truck, 2012 Ford F250 XLT Crew Cab 4x4, 2011 Ford F250 XLT Extended Cab 4x4, (3) 2011 Ford F350 XLT Crew Cab 4x4, Ford F350 XLT Crew Cab 4x4, 2009 Ford F350 XLT Crew Cab 4x4, 2012 GMC Sierra 2500HD Crew Cab 4x4, 2011 Chevrolet 1500 Regular Cab 4x4, 2010 GMC 2500HD Regular Cab 4x4, 2009 GMC 1500 Regular Cab 4x4, 2007 Toyota Tundra Crew Cab 4x4, 2000 Ford F350 XL Extended Cab 4x4, 2002 Chevrolet 1500 Regular Cab 4x4 Recreational: 1980 Canoe Cove 36 Ft Boat Trailers: 2014 Doepker B Train Log Trailer, 2012 Castleton B Train Log Trailer, 2010 Arctic QD-32 Quad Axle Log Trailer, 2006 Arctic QD-32 Quad Axle Log Trailer, 1996 Superior Tridem Log Trailer, 1988 Columbia Tri/A Wood Chip Lead, 1988 Columbia T/A Wood Chip Pup, (2) 2019 Titan 53 Ft Tri/A Shuffle Floor Trailer, 2019 Aspen 55T Tridem Detachable Hyd Double Drop Trailer, 2006 Doepker Super B Hiboy, 1995 Aspen LB50 Tridem Lowbed Trailer, Knight S/A Booster, 1994 Aspen S/A Jeep, 1997 Southland 16 Ft T/A Stock Trailer, 2005 Custombuilt 55 kW Genset Trailer, 1979 Trailmobile T/A Warehouse Van Trailer, (5) Alta-Fab 60 Ftx12 Ft Skid Mounted Wellsite, (2) 2002 Alta-Fab 56 Ftx12 Ft Skid Mounted Wellsite Industrial Support Items: 75kW Skid Mounted Genset • 2007 Evergreen 40 Ft Shipping Container

Equipment located at Westside Logging yard at 1741 Campbell Crescent in Quesnel, BC can be viewed October 22nd-24th from 9am-5pm and November 14th-20th from 9am-5pm.

Cory Dueck 403-634-6217

Travis Matycio 403-793-1269

Full listings and details at www.teamauctions.com

Komatsu Upgrades XT-5 Family of Tracked Feller Bunchers

To better meet customer needs, Komatsu is upgrading its XT-5 family of tracked feller bunchers, adding performance and operator improvements, as well as covering the machines with a special 2-Year/5,000Hour warranty program. The XT430-5, XT445L-5 and XT465L-5 models were introduced in 2018, and these advancements were made based on customer feedback.

Komatsu XT-5 machines let customers travel, operate the swing, arm, and tool simultaneously, for maximum usability. To further boost multi-functioning performance for its customers, Komatsu added 7 percent more horsepower (331 hp vs. 310 at launch) to the Cummins QSL9 engine and increased the hydraulic flow, while maintaining excellent fuel efficiency.

Additional lighting elements improve nighttime visibility of the right track and when using the rear camera, for a total of 13 LED lights brilliantly illuminating nighttime operations. www.komatsuforest.us

Tigercat 718 Advances to G-Series

Tigercat engineering recently completed the drive-to-tree feller buncher line-up with the release of the 718G. One of the last Tigercat machines to receive a Tigercat FPT Tier 4 engine, it was a challenge to package the additional after-treatment componentry required for Tier 4 compliance, while still retaining the nimble size of the industry’s finest thinning machine. The designers have succeeded, incorporating all of the features of the larger G-series family members, as well as additional enhancements, while maintaining the approximate size of the previous E-series machine.

The 718G gets its power from the Tigercat FPT N45 Tier 4f engine which provides 170 hp at 2,200 rpm. The completely redesigned engine compartment allows for a high capacity cross-flow cooling set-up with a hydraulic driven, automatic variable speed fan, and an automatic reversing cycle.

The new accumulation mode allows the operator to choose between normal and auto-accumulate for bunching head arm operation. Simultaneous open and close of the clamp and accumulator arms can also be programmed on a joystick button. www.tigercat.com

Titan expands two OTR tire lines

Titan International, Inc. (Titan) — producer of Titan Wheels and Titan Tires — has introduced the industry’s highest ply ratings for two of its existing OTR product lines — the Titan CM100 and the Titan CM150. This higher ply rating allows for carrying significantly heavier loads and doing so with greater durability and a longer life.

The CM100 and CM150 were engineered to withstand the toughest conditions and highest weight load requirements, making them ideal for applications such as gantry cranes used at ports and 36

shipyards, forestry log stackers in wood mills, steel mill pot haulers that move slag and more.

The CM100 comes in the 37.5-39 size, but in two options: an E-3 with 52 ply rating and the new dual rated E-3/L-3 with the industry’s highest 60 ply rating. The CM150 comes in three sizes 18.00-33, 33.25-35 and 37.25-35.

The newest addition is the 33.25-35, which is now offered as a dual-rated E-4/L-4 with the industry’s highest ply rating of 56. www.titan-intl.com

Doosan introduces the DL580-5 wheel loader

Doosan Infracore North America, LLC, is expanding its wheel loader lineup with the new DL580-5-wheel loader. This machine offers customers a two-pass fill wheel loader for over-the-road, 24-ton capacity trucks, improving operational efficiency and reducing load-out cycle times.

The Doosan® DL580-5 wheel loader is designed to serve customers in mining and aggregate work, and it is capable of heavy-duty construction tasks.

The wheel loader is equipped with an enhanced front workgroup that features a reinforced Z-bar, a larger profile arm, and lift cylinder geometry that work together to improve lifting capacity and performance.

The model also has a larger volume steering pump and cylinders, which help to maintain steering efficiency with larger loaded weights. In addition, Doosan provides a heavier counterweight to offset larger load capacities. www.DoosanEquipment.com.

Waratah introduces the H212 harvesting and processing head

The new H212 from Waratah Forestry Equipment is a lightweight, agile harvesting and processing head. Waratah’s smallest harvesting head, designed for 8-16 metric ton tracked carriers or 16-18 metric ton wheeled carriers, provides enhanced productivity for early thinning operations. The multi-purpose head can handle mixed hardwood and softwood stands as well as multi-tree harvesting, processing or debarking applications.

The H212 features the new and highly efficient SuperCut 100S saw unit with improved auto tensioning and easier servicing, which can fell and process trees up to 520 mm (20.5 in.) in diameter. The delimb arms, which are designed to provide premium delimbing, complement the feeding power and grip of the drive arms on large or crooked stems. Likewise, the processing arm option, with an extended upper and lower knife offset, enables picking stems from the ground or piles to reduce processing time. www.waratah.com

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

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AD INDEX COMPANY PG# ALLIANCE TIRE........................................... 22 CASCADE TRADER..................................... 12 GEM CHAIN BAR........................................ 25 HYDRAULEX GLOBAL................................... 8 JOHN DEERE................................................ 9 JORAL / LOGGINGENCODERS.COM............ 25 KOMATSU AMERICA................................... 39 LBX / TRIAD MACHINERY / BEJAC................ 5 MAXAM TIRE NA........................................ 16 OLOFSFORS............................................... 29 OREGON LOGGING CONFERENCE............... 33 PACIFIC LOGGING CONGRESS.................... 32 PAPE MACHINERY...................................... 15 PETERSON................................................. 21 PONSSE NA............................................... 31 QUADCO GROUP.......................................... 2 RAPID-SPAN.............................................. 19 SELECT SAWMILL...................................... 37 SENNEBOGEN............................................ 23 TEAM AUCTIONS........................................ 35 TIGERCAT / BEJAC..................................... 40 TIMBERPRO / BEJAC / DDI EQUIPMENT...... 27 VULCAN ON-BOARD SCALES...................... 20 WALLINGFORD'S INC................................. 13 WHITE MOUNTAIN CHAIN........................... 17

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GuestColumnist

Vote: Your community, forests, and livelihood depend on it

By Nick Smith

W

ildfires are devastating

my home state of Oregon as I write this column for TimberWest Magazine. A million acres have burned, several towns have been devastated, and several more are on the brink.

Lives and homes have been lost. Businesses have been destroyed, many of them small and family-owned logging companies. And the loss of our natural resources, including timber, water resources, and wildlife habitat, has yet to be measured. For many of us, our lives will never be the same.

During this time, we have seen and heard incredible stories of courage and kindness.

Neighbors are helping neighbors, and men and women in our industry are putting their lives on the line to protect their communities as well as the forests they’ve spent their careers managing. We thank the firefighters and first responders for their bravery and tireless efforts.

By the time you read this column, you will be preparing to vote for the next President of the United States, the U.S. Congress, your state legislatures, and offices across all levels of government. If you’re frustrated like I am, there is no better outlet than to support those candidates who support you, and to replace those who are failing to protect your community, your local forests, and your livelihood. This is the only time every two years that elected officials answer to you, and it is your most important opportunity to send a message to the decisionmakers.

Previous columns in this magazine have described the mismanagement of our public forests. The lack of logging, thinning, and burning has resulted in dangerous conditions on the ground, a major factor that is contributing to the massive wildfires we’re now experiencing. For decades we have warned elected officials that our federal forests would burn if they failed to act.

Some have listened, including retiring Congressman Greg Walden who worked throughout his career to provide our federal agencies relief from the 38

litigation and obstruction that continues to stymie active management. But others have not, and it is time to hold those elected officials accountable.

On privately owned forests, politicians are making it more difficult for you to manage your own lands and harvest, transport, and manufacture the wood products that meet the everyday needs of our society.

It is sad that many of our privately owned timberlands have been wiped out by the fires that gained intensity on adjacent and overstocked federal lands.

When it comes to legislation that hurts our industry, politicians will often justify their decisions by claiming they are “following the science” or “listening to the experts,” even though neither they nor “the experts” seldom spend as much time in the woods as those who work and depend on the health, sustainability, and productivity of our forests and resources. It is time for these politicians to hear your voice.

If decisions affecting our industry and our working lands were truly based in science, wildfires would not be tearing through our public forests with such intensity. If decisions were based on the opinions of real experts, our industry would be meeting all of our nation’s demand for wood products. We would not be importing wood products from

other countries that lack the expertise and technology of our domestic industry, and who do not operate — voluntarily — under strict forest practices.

Yet policy decisions are often not based in science, they are based in politics. Let’s face it, politicians only respond to issues and interests that affect their ability to gain — or remain in — office. They respond to the small, yet vocal, minority of anti-forestry activists who flood their offices with phone calls and emails, who show up to the town halls and agitate until they get their way.

Most of the men and women in our industry prefer to stay away from politics and focus on their jobs and supporting their families.

Such indifference and apathy comes at a cost.

As #TimberUnity has shown, we are most effective when we choose to leave the woods, and our jobs, to participate in the process and make our voices heard. But in most cases, the decisions have already been made once the election is over and the winner is enabled to implement his or her agenda. The upcoming election is your chance to shape the agenda in Washington D.C. and your state capital.

Once again, this is the only time the politicians ever truly answer to you. Ask them where they stand on the issues that matter to you. Do not settle for their polished and poll-tested talking points. Challenge them to explain their positions, and what they are actually going to do to accomplish your priorities and meet your needs. Then tell politicians you will hold them accountable if they fail to deliver on their promises.

Your vote is your voice. Use it, and encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to do the same. VOTE! — like your community, forests, and your livelihood all depend on it.

TimberWest Magazine — September/October 2020 — www.forestnet.com

Nick Smith is Executive Director of Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities (healthyforests.org) and provides public affairs services to the American Forest Resource Council in Portland, Oregon.

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