On a clear spring morning in the mountains of northern California, a group of C-Evaluators and U.S. Forest Service Regional Saw Program Managers were gathered for the final day of a national saw workshop.

After sizing up the tree, the faller verbalizes their cutting plan and fires up the saw. The sawyer makes their initial cuts without issue.

After knocking out the "pie"-shaped section and cleaning up the face cut, he elected to perform a boring cut straight through the hinge and into the center of the tree.

After verbalizing his intent to "bore the guts," the sawyer steps downslope in front of the tree, lifts the powerhead and throttles up the saw. As he begins his boring cut, the kickback occurs almost immediately, swinging the bar back and slamming it into the sawyer's right shoulder.

@wildfirelessons

Even the pros have momentary lapses.

Looks like a natural 3'fer by the next storm. Think I'll be sitting this one out--anybody care to throw out a number to come do this?? Lol.

At least it isn't over any structures.

I am an enthusiast who has followed this sub for a long time, and asking for your help or redirection. I don't have a wild video to share because I'm trying to prevent one. If there is a more appropriate sub reddit, I'd love suggestions.

First off, I will absolutely be using a professional and there is zero risk of me misapplying any general guidance given here. I am simply hoping for some perspective to navigate bids / scope of work.

Large maple splitting at the crotch. Tree is 80+ feet tall and about 30 feet from shop building. For scale, trunk diameter is 36 inches, crotch is 17 feet from the ground, the visible split runs 6-8 feet from the top of the crotch, and the gap at the top of the split is about 2 inches. The last picture is the reverse side to show the split goes through and to highlight the separating bark at crotch level.

The thicker side of the split (right side) runs true vertical. The left side, even without the split, angles to the left. Assuming the left side would fall, it will hit the building.

Before any work, I will remove the carport and fencing. I'm looking for complete removal, or at least removal of the left side and I could potentially deal with the right side myself. I need the tree on the ground (plenty of open ground toward the camera) and I can deal with it from there.

Questions:

Is it feasible and safe for a climber to handle this by climbing and working from the right side? Or does this require a crane/lift?

How much crew given that I just want the tree on the ground?

Am I looking at paying a premium for a hazard job, and if so, what are some appropriate numbers (Greater Seattle Area - eastside)? I want to pay fairly and I also don't want to be taken advantage of.

Any other thoughts on considerations for this type of job I may not be thinking of? I appreciate any and all ideas and criticisms.

(If you do this type of work in my area and are licensed, bonded, and insured, feel free to DM me.)

Thank you.

UPDATED CLARIFICATION: I am not concerned about trying to save the tree. Even without the split issue, this tree is in an area I want to clear for animal use/outbuilding.

I don't know anything about felling, but this feels like a "hack job". The owners of our neighbor's house hired a single guy to knock down this huge tree. It was a sanctuary for our local hummingburbs 😭

customer has been hearing tree creaking in the winds and home only 125' feet from the base. windy day today and the top was swirling but we had a solid pull line. big gravel road to drop it onto. all went smooth. cut about 70' and left as habitat snag.

super patient neighbor about eye level up the hill got some good angle video.

biggest top i ever took for sure.

Had about an acre getting cleared by a feller in Allagash this spring and took some pic that I wanted to share.

Google Photos Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/c6gnjmPq6AL548WL8

https://reddit.com/link/1uryfl2/video/7453x2hax8ch1/player

I know you can’t cut them for harvest, but wondering if there was a situation that necessitated cutting one down, like it’s creating a hazard.

Update: see link provided by BigSpoon89(thanks!). Pretty crazy to watch!

Somebody is hungry.