Essential tools to carry; pole saw.
Funny how subjects get brought up but this was one I would like to address here in the NW...I was talking to someone who wanted to travel off road...a bit deeper into our forests with a TC....I asked ...
Forum Discussion
2x we carry a gas powered chain saw (with spark arrestor) and a pruning saw.
We go on extended trips so we can explore further into various FS and BLM lands. We've often cut trees that fall across the road both inbound and outbound. We also remove rock fall as well.
In addition to beetle kill, there are a significant amount of fire killed trees still standing from previous years. It doesn't take much of a breeze to bring them down across the road, blocking your way out. Add a big storm with rain resulting in water saturated soil and lots of wind and you may not get out for some time.
Even if you are relying on an agency to clear the road, we ran into a 1 mile section on a FS road that had over 40 8" diameter trees down on our only route out. In this case the FS had cleared the road of trees just 2 days after the storm. Unfortunately they only cut out an opening as wide as their truck. There wasn't enough width for my dually to fit through with the TC on ....
Idaho State law "requires vehicles to carry a bucket with minimum 1 gallon capacity, 24" handle shovel with a 6" blade, and a 4-BC fire extinguisher" when recreating on Idaho state endowment trust land. Forest service suggests an axe as well.
Better to be prepared. A chain saw, an axe or a mountain bike beat walking out.
richclover wrote:
... All it takes is an overnight thunderstorm to bring down the deadfall across the only road out.
jaycocreek wrote:
... I knew a guy that went back on an older logging road and a tree fell over the road after he went through. He didn't have an axe or a saw and he had to walk out for help...
deserteagle56 wrote:
... Storms knock some of the trees over across the roadway. The Federal agency responsible is not about to send out a crew to prune trees or remove fallen ones.
richclover wrote:
.... Pine bark beetles have killed off lotsa trees and deadfall has become more of a problem. I’ve had to trim branches from leaning dead trees to avoid damage to roof or sides. I’ve also had to chain saw deadfall trees off of a forest service road ...)
We go on extended trips so we can explore further into various FS and BLM lands. We've often cut trees that fall across the road both inbound and outbound. We also remove rock fall as well.
In addition to beetle kill, there are a significant amount of fire killed trees still standing from previous years. It doesn't take much of a breeze to bring them down across the road, blocking your way out. Add a big storm with rain resulting in water saturated soil and lots of wind and you may not get out for some time.
Even if you are relying on an agency to clear the road, we ran into a 1 mile section on a FS road that had over 40 8" diameter trees down on our only route out. In this case the FS had cleared the road of trees just 2 days after the storm. Unfortunately they only cut out an opening as wide as their truck. There wasn't enough width for my dually to fit through with the TC on ....
Idaho State law "requires vehicles to carry a bucket with minimum 1 gallon capacity, 24" handle shovel with a 6" blade, and a 4-BC fire extinguisher" when recreating on Idaho state endowment trust land. Forest service suggests an axe as well.
Better to be prepared. A chain saw, an axe or a mountain bike beat walking out.
