Old Logging Days Remembered

Old Logging / Sawmilling Days Remembered

The following will be memories of when I went to work right out of high school in a LARGE portable sawmill that at that time (1954) logged and milled the trees into lumber. At that time we were paid $1.50 an hour.

The Sawmill : We traveled in maybe a 30 mile radius of the home port. This crew consisted usually of 12 men. Of these, 6 actually worked on the mill operations, then a cat skinner, choker setter, and a truck driver. If we were donkey logging (stationary yarder) then a yarder engineer and a choker setter along with a whistle punk were added to the crew. And one timber faller, along with the owner who filled in where ever needed.

In the photo below, here we were yarder logging as evidenced by the spar tree in the background. On the Left rear row, Brick Snodgrass - choker setter, Ed Hobbs - lumber stacker, Joe Westerman - yarder engineer, LeeRoy Wisner - sawyer, Terrel Munsel - log haul helper, Burton Westerman - choker setter, Bill Schwartz -offbear, Martin Stohr - log haul operator, (Front Row). Harry Boekelman - chaser/general helper, Ralph Moerke - the owner, Ed Moerke (uncle of Ralph) - cat skinner, Bud Fox - truck driver. The only one missing in this photo was the timber faller Frank Mohoric.

Here is a photo of the crew, taken about early fall of 1957 or 1958

Power for this mill was a 471 GMC diesel motor for the mill itself. Of course no muffler, just a 4" straight stack. This mill was pretty sophisticated in that day as it used air and electric for the carriage operations. The forward/back for the carriage was a belt driven cable driven off the main headsaw shaft. It was designed for the forward motion to feed the logs into the head saw at a slow speed controlled by a friction belt drive and the sawyer's operation of the large stick lever. The reverse was a lot faster, to save time on the return trip of the carriage. The carriage dogs and flippers were controlled by electric micro switches in the hand lever ran by the sawyer, which controlled air cylinders (for faster operations) than if they were hydraulic. There was a lift arm from underneath, that could be foot activated, raising up at the carriage's rearward loading location which rotated the cant for the next slab cut.

Electric power for the controls, and the 20 HP vertical edger motor was from the generator ran by another 471 GMC motor. In the shack that this motor occupied was another Allis Chalmers gasoline motor that ran an air compressor.

In starting here, I had to purchase a "Tin Hat" (as I was working on the landing and possibly under a spar tree a lot of the time) and it became apparent very soon that caulk boots were needed. I started out as a log haul helper, with my primary job being hooking onto logs that were on the landing, (by a cat or yarder) to then be pulled into the separate mill operations log haul. Here the log haul operator, knowing what size of lumber was to be cut would give me a finger number, and I would hold my pickeroon at that location on the pre-marked deck as a stop mark for him. He would saw them into lengths from 9 1/2' to 16' depending on the diameter and/or what would be left after the preferred size/length was cut. His operation was run by an old flathead Ford V8 engine, a single drum winch (as I had to drag the 1/2" line out to the landing to hook onto the logs) to be pulled in and cut to length. To this motor as attached a large hand lever operated 5' chain saw blade, which was used to cut the logs into lengths.

The lumber stacker had a 30' long heavy metal overhead eye beam which allowed him by using a electric hoist to by using tongs, to easily move the larger lumber into 4' X 4' stacks of lumber from 10' top 16' long. This lumber was stacked on 2 parallel logs, that was the right height for the truck to back down and the lumber then pulled from the logs onto the truck bunks by using a cable by the cat. A truck load usually was 4 of these stacks (2 high and 2 wide). BTY -- the cats were Allis Chalmers HD5s.

There was also a sawdust pile, where a conveyer chain ran from under the mill and out to the side of the mill. Over time this sawdust pile also had to be occasionally relocated away from the mill by the cat skinner. The one good thing about all this sawdust was that in winter when things got muddy, this sawdust help keep the place from being a mud hole.

Being close a lumber supply, there was always a shack built over the log haul that had a 55 gallon oil drum as a wood stove, which was used to dry our gloves, and a place to eat lunch. Part of my job in colder weather was to keep the fire going of which we were blessed with lots of firewood.

It was my job to also roll these logs down a slight ramp, and see that they were in line to be raised up into the mill deck by a chain conveyer controlled by the sawyer. If any large logs came in, then I would climb up onto the loading deck and help the sawyer turn down (using a peavey) these that were beyond the capabilities of the carriage mounted mechanical system. I also chased landing (unhooked the logs) that were pulled in by the cat if we were cat logging or by the yarder if high lead logging.

The mill employees consisted the log haul operator and helper, a sawyer, off-bear, and a lumber stacker.

Here you can see the cat operator pushing logs into the cold-deck pile that he had just pulled in	Here the log haul operator and helper standing on the log chute, in front of the shack

Here the cut lumber was rolled off the far end of the mill, with the slabs, being ran off the the off side using a conveyer chain onto a choker that was pre-laid on the ground. When this slab pile got to a large enough, the choker would be wrapped around the pile and hooked. The cat operator then would tow this load of slabs out onto the slab pile, unhook and push them out to the outer end, or over it. Occasionally someone would cut them into firewood.

Here you can see the off-bearer straightening the slab pile	Here a cat operator is pulling a choker sling of slabs away from the mill

The lumber was mostly cut to standard sizes, or to what the larger sawmill needed at that time, that it was hauled by truck to. It was cut into either Rail Road car decking being 2 3/8" X 5 1/2" and 9 1/2' long. Or into cants, meaning for the larger size of logs, what could be cut into 4" X 4", 4" X 6" or 8", 6" X up to 10", 8" X again up to 10" and in lengths from 12' to 16' depending on the logs available. What trimmings that came off to get the cants, was cut into 1" or 2" X 4',6" or 8". The cants were re-sawed at the larger mill.

Here you can see the lumber pile and the overhead electric hoist	Here you see the truck loaded with lumber ready to haul to the larger sawmill

This mill ran a 60" diameter head saw that used removable insert teeth. These teeth were usually re-sharpened every hour, as it was easier to touch them up, rather than wait until they really got dull. They got duller oftener if the operation was cat logging as compared to yarder logging.

We had a spare head saw on hand just in case the one being used was damaged. In running this size of circle saw, it would get slightly warm during the operations. As it heated up, it slightly changed it's shape. To make it run true as it got warm it had to to be 'Hammered". This was a process known and practiced by very few. The saw blade was laid on a large flat steel table where it was hammered in certain locations, slightly stretching it to make it slightly dished, so that when being ran into the logs, it would straighten out and run true. Otherwise in use as it got warmer, it would start to wobble. And to cut true lumber it needed to be true at the time it was running.

In the photo below, the overhead carriage cable supported by rollers on a cable that the air line and electrical cables were attached to the carriage by.

Here you can see the sawmill from the off side

Initially we used a second operation independent edger to cut the edges off the 1" or 2" thick slabs. But later a electric 20HP vertical edger was installed in front of the head saw. This edger's saw blades were set by the sawyer, (different than normal where the off-bearer usually did that). This speeded up the operation considerably. This edger utilized (2) 20" saw blades that both were movable vertically in 1" increments, being operated by the sawyer, utilizing electrical micro switches to lock the plungers in position. In use, I, (the sawyer) could set them to cut off the edgings (top and bottom) of the next cut as the carriage was returned before the log was moved out for the second cut.

The photo below on the left was taken from the sawyer's position, the photo on the Right was taken right after the vertical edger had been installed and the owner was testing it out.

Here you can see the sawmill from the on side before the edger was installed	Here you can see the sawmill with the vertical edger having just been installed

Timber Falling : I probably have gotten the cart before the horse here as the trees need to be fell, limbed and bucked and drug into the mill site before the sawmill can handle them.

In the photos below you see loggers using what appears to be Stihl power saws. On our crew, the faller (69 years ago) used exclusively a Titan brand, and his favorite was the Titan Jr. However at this time, many saws did not have a fuel pump and could not be ran laying flat, where the Titan had a bar/chain/clutch system where the bar could be rotated crosswise to use when falling, then rotated back vertically for bucking.

Here you can see the faller starting to fall this tree	Here the bucker is limbing this tree before bucking, or topping it

Cat Logging : If the land was flatter, OR a small enough patch of timber that did not warrant bringing in the sled mounted yarder, it would be cat logged. The owner had two Allis-Chalmers HD5 cats, usually older one stayed near the mill, while the other was used to drag in the logs. They were usually Bob-Tailed right off the cat's winch drum. Occasionally however an Arch was used. This arch had two large truck tires that had a wide, high opening between them. It had a set of fairleads mounted on the top of the frame (possibly 8' above the ground). This was towed behind the cat, which allowed for more logs to be moved at once as one end being hooked and raised up enough to decrease the drag.

Here a choker setter worked out in the land where the trees had been fell. He would locate the logs that needed to be drug in, and hooked them on. It was his job to locate these logs, and if they were laying tight on the ground, to dig a choker hole under them so when the cat skinner came back for the next load, time was not wasted.

Cat logging chokers were different than high lead chokers, in that the cat chokers had an eye spliced in the other end, where high Lead chokers had knobs on both ends so that they could be readily exchanged off the Butt Rigging (the heavy swivel connection between the mainline and haulback).

These logs were drug in on "Cat Trails", so when the logging was done, there were a few main cat tails along with many secondary ones.

High Lead Logging : In these days, (before the portable steel Towers) if the tract of land was larger OR rougher terrain, High Lead logging was in order. Here we used a smaller skid mounted triple drum yarder powered by a Ford industrial 145hp V8 motor.

This type of operation required a "Spar Tree" in which blocks were attached near the top for LIFT. These spar trees were picked (and saved) before the timber was fallen. Their location was critical to be usually on a point of a ridge where access was readily had in all directions. For this milling operation, it was critical to have enough flat land to set up the mill on. If that was not there naturally, the cats were used to level enough land for the milling operation to occupy.

With the blocks hung high up, and a lot of leverage, Guy lines were needed leading from the tops of these trees out in at least 4 directions to stumps where these lines were anchored, pulled tight and secured. Initially these spar trees had to be limbed and topped by a "High Climber" as seen in the photo below on the left. Depending on the location and timber most of our trees were at least cut at about100 feet, many in the old days up to 200, but our timber was not that big and we did not reach out that far.

Here the spar tree has been limbed and the top being cut off	Here a guy line stump has been undercut in preparation to stinging the line around & being secured by railroad spikes

These days were the last of the sled mounted yarders, these units utilized at least 3 drums. The larger "Main Line" drum was spooled with wire cable of from 1 1/2" to 2" diameter. A smaller drum holding double the length of the mainline drum in a size of possibly 5/8" diameter "Haul-Back" line. Then a smaller drum holding about 3/8" diameter wire cable was the "Straw Line". This smaller line was also known as the pass line when attached to the spar tree higher than any other block, and was used when the climber was pulled up to swing (rotate) the blocks when the pull could put a lot of side pressure on the tree. These drums only had forward power to pull the line in because by using blocks set far out, one line would pull the other either in or out. The controls were usually both hand and foot operated from a lever to a cone type clutch on one side of the drum. These could be adjusted so that the foot lever, (if a hard pull was needed) the operator could stand on the lever, but yet could readily be released, lessening or stopping the pull, by just letting off on the foot pressure.

Moving them involved getting them onto a logging truck, getting them to the logging site. They then moved themselves by the crew pulling straw line out to a big stump in the direction they wanted to go. Then that straw line back to the yarder so the mainline could be hooked onto and then pulled out to the stump. Once the mainline was attached to a choker on the stump, the yarder could move itself that direction. However stumps had to be in the right locations, but there were usually many candidates here. It could take many such moves to get it in the desired location. Then possibly in the final location by use of the cats. It in turn needed to be secured by lines to stumps behind it.

Here you see a typical sled mounted yarder

The rigging (3 Blocks) were attached to the top of the tree. The "Bull Block" was the biggest, which the mainline went through. The "Haul Back" block smaller, and above everything was the "Pass Line" block. In operation, the high climber would go up the tree taking a small rope with him. Once at the top, he would pull up the pass line block and hang it high. Now the small rope was used to pull the pass line up and through it's block. Once the pass line was through the block and both ends were on the ground, they served as a means of raising both the haul back and bull block, holding them in place as the high climber secured them to the tree. Now the pass line was used to pull both the main line and haul back line up and through their blocks.

Now to get the lines out into the fallen timber so it can be drug in by the yarder. The straw line is cut in "Sections" of about 300', with eyes spliced into each end. "Bitch Straps" were made, being short sections of the same line that also had eyes spliced in each end. One end had a small special hook that did not unhook easily. These were a total of possibly 16" to 18" overall length. The spliced eyes were not compact, but slightly longer than normal so they would ultimately bend more easier and not get hung up. This line was stored/spooled on the straw line drum.

In use, these bitch straps were used to connect all the sections of the straw line together. Initially the Rigging Slinger, or Choker Setter would take the loose end and start out through the down timber. However prior to this he would have surveyed the operation and carried two haul back blocks out to the farthest edge of the down timber. There would be located and anchored to stumps. This now established a "Road" to pull the logs in later. The second block was located away by maybe at least 100', or enough for the chokers to reach. Other crew members would join him pulling this line out and through both of the haul back blocks and back to the yarder.

Now the haul back line could be attached and pulled out replacing the straw line. Then the main line was attached to the "Butt Rigging" which was attached to the haul back line. This butt rigging was a HEAVY swivel with usually two choker Bells attached. The chokers were usually at least 50' long having knobs on both ends. One end had a Bell sometimes called a Dee. Bells were heavy metal with a keyhole type opening on one side. In use the choker was wrapped around the log, and the knob was inserted in this bell opening by pushing the knob in twisting it up and then down, locking it securely in the bell. It can readily be unhooked from the log at the landing by pulling a bit of slack, pushing the knob up and out.

Here, there has to be some means to communicate from the choker setter to the yarder engineer. In the old days a LONG electrical extension cord was ran from the yarder out to a vantage point where the "Whistle Punk" could see and hear the choker setter. On the yarder was a very loud horn. There is a universal code for these whistles. The choker setter would holler his instructions (usually the word HO) and the whistle punk would by using his "Punk" blow the yarders horn for directions for the yarder engineer. Greatly simplified this code would be one HO for go forward, "HO HO" to go ahead on the haul back, pulling the mainline back, and a lot of HOs to slack the lines. There were also some to signals for straw line. A chart of these are listed at the end of this article.

These roads were started from the front, working toward the rear of the setting (farthest out). When that "Road" was cleaned of all the logs as far as the chokers would reach, the choker setter would move that haul back block closer to the other farther block, creating a new road. When both the running line and the haul back line got close together and a new setting was needed, a few sections of straw line was called for by the choker setter, pull them by hand into a new position, where when ready, by attaching them to the haul back line, let the yarder engineer pull the haul back line through the new positioning of the blocks. A new road was established and the process started over. Many times this was done by the choker setter before the old road was totally cleaned of logs.

Here you see the owner of this operation, Ralph Moerke

My Personal Involvement Here : Yes, I started as log haul helper October 13th 1954. I know this as on Friday the 10th, I purchased a new Remington model 760 pump rifle in 30-06 for $104.95 from Montgomery Wards in Centralia Washington. I sighted it in on Saturday and shot an OLD 2 point Blacktail deer on Sunday, and went to work for Ralph on Monday.

Here you see the mounted deer head mentioned above, which is listed in Boone & Crocket book under 2 point deer

    As winter of 1955 set in, the sawmill shut down temporarily because of FREEZING weather where the mill could not saw the log's frozen log's sapwood as this ice fractured enough that the sawdust turned to powder, which could not be effectively removed from the kerf and heated the saw so bad it would not run straight. I and a hunting buddy (who was also working as a logger but in Oregon and were also shut down) went to Seattle and applied for work at Boeing Aircraft Co. I got hired for day shift as a draftsman working on the Bomarc guided missile program, this would have been because of the drafting class I had taken during my senior year in high school and the extra year correspondence drafting course I had taken after graduating. My buddy got hired bucking rivets on night shift building the then new commercial 707, or the military version, the KC135. So we rented a room in a apartment house at the base of Queen Anne hill that was in the area now occupied by one of the Space Needle's parking lots.

    Within 5 months of moving to Seattle, the buddy volunteered for the Navy and shortly later, and I got a phone call from my old sawmill boss wanting me to come back and become his sawyer in the sawmill. Being a farm boy in a big city, and at 19 years of age with the possibility of a good wage based on hourly, or commission depending on my ability, I took the advantage of a tail-wind and headed home. Being glad to have had the opportunity to expand his drafting knowledge and a temporary life in a big city, BUT country boy living appealed to me much better. I was very humbled by being offered that very specialized type a job at my young age.

    Having been around this sawmill for about 1 1/2 years, and doing some sawing in dad's saw mill at home, I quickly learned the sawing trade well, and the next few years the sawmill business flourished.   I was the youngest of the crew, but since I was now sawyer and on commission salary, it was to my benefit that if anything broke down, if the boss was not there, then for me to see that it got fixed. This could include welding broken metal parts or electrical troubleshooting on the mill. Soon I became foreman over the crew of 12 men when the boss was away doing other business. Using my repair/welding/electrical experience I also soon became an accomplished millwright, with a lot of general logging experience thrown in, which involved falling and bucking timber, setting chokers, cat skinner, cable line splicer, truck driver and even a tad bit of high climbing.

Learning to run the cat, came if the regular cat skinner was off that day or doing something else and the slabs off the mill needed to be drug away from the mill, or sawdust needed to be pushed away from the mill.

High Climbing ; My one climbing opportunity came when we moving the mill to a new setting, and got it pretty well set up mid afternoon. The boss had to leave to get something we needed, so told the crew to take the rest of the day off. He looked at me and asked if I wanted to climb the partly limbed spar tree and finish limbing it as he had the spurs and belt in his pickup. Sure, I had used dad's telephone line spurs before on a few other trees that needed to be limbed around home. OK, he had one of the crew stay with me. It was already limbed up about 1/3rd of the way. I proceeded to limb it up to about where the blocks would be rigged. At that time, I was getting rather tired, but what actually stopped me from going any farther up was that I inadvertently choked the axe handle too much and when chopping on the next limb, the end of the axe handle made contact with my testicles. Needless to say that put an end to my work up there. BUT I then had to come back down this tree (probably 120 feet), and VERY SLOWLY at that.

Splicing Line ; Another time we had finished one of out settings and the boss was building a larger sled mounted yarder to be used on our next setting. He had it pretty well done and all new line on the drums, except the 3/8" wire rope strawline, which was about 2000'+. This needed to be cut in 300' lengths and eyes spliced in each end, along with a "Bitch Strap" made for each section. The Bitch Straps consisted of maybe 6' of line again with splices on each end, with a "Bitch Hook" spliced into one of the eyes, so with it doubled over to attach to the eye in the ends of two sections of strawline. In essence, this would make the 2000 feet so you could break it every 300 feet. These hooks were small enough and shaped so after being used enough, they would not come unhooked once there had been a lot od strain put on them to maintain the "set", they would not hang up on brush and would pass through the smaller haul back blocks The overall finished length of these straps doubled over length was possibly 2'. This hook did not attach to the strawline, but to the other end of the bitch strap making a loop. These bitch straps were used to connect all the sections into one continuous line that could be separated at any of the joints if needed. I do not remember how many days I spent splicing line on this job.

Here you see a "Bitch Strap hook" with a dime for size reference.

His older smaller yarder's mainline was getting tired. We were pretty much flat landing on this setting, but the yarder engineer, (the boss's 85 year old father) was getting slower on his responses and one turn, it got hung on a big stump, and he did not let of quick enough pulling this old mainline in two. This mainline was 1 1/2" diameter and this was near the end of him using that yarder so the cost of a new line was rather prohibitive. OK, we, the whole mill crew spent about 3 days rolling a LONG SPLICE in that mainline. This splice was probably 100 feet long all together, which was rather a job of weaving LONG strands into the ends of each wire line. Each strand was shorter than the one before it, making a more a tapered smooth transition.

Bucking Timber ; Then after the line splicing, the new setting (about 35 miles away) was to be on the end of a ridge overlooking a 180 degree coverage. With the larger yarder scheduled to being used here, along with what land was needed for the mill, part of the end of this ridge needed to be cat bladed off to make a level mill setting site. The timber needed to be cut off this piece of land to make room for the mill and have enough timber on the ground to get started once the mill was set up. The timber there needed to be down enough for the cat operator to log that small patch, and push the logs into a small cold deck pile. So the boss sent the timber faller there to get the timber down, but he could not have him there all alone, so I was sent along as his bucker.

This meant my job was to help the faller, by after when the tree was on the ground, I limbed them with either a Titan power saw or axe. Then measure and cut them to length. Normally just the tops would be cut, but here, since space would be at a premium, and to be cat logged. they needed to be shorter than the full length for maneuverability in dragging them in. I got a chance to learn firsthand falling and bucking. I was not a novice at power saw use, and the faller even broke me in on falling a few trees (I am sure the easy ones).

Securing Guy Lines ; On the last setting we had before he sold the sawmill, we had milled the whole top of one decent sized hill, but the lower part was some pretty nice timber and they decided to log it off, and sell the logs instead of milling it. This was a pretty steep side canyon on the access side with the other side not quite as steep. Again the end of the ridge was the setting site. Here in setting up the spar tree, I was involved in attaching each of the 4 guy lines from the top of the spar tree to stumps. The boss had already limbed and topped the spar tree, and hung a pass line, then these guy lines were attached to the top of the tree back to stumps.

On one line that we were pulling tight around the guy line stump, the cat skinner was pulling the end of the line which had two wraps around the pre-notched stump. Railroad spikes were what we drove into the stump, numerous on each side of the guy line, clamping it in place. OK, the line was pulled as tight as he wanted it. The choker setter was holding a railroad spike and I was starting it into the stump by lightly tapping it with a sledge hammer, a few times getting it in deep enough into the stump to stay by itself so he did not have to hold it anymore. When he let go of it, I swung hard and hit the head of the spike. That spike did not go in, but made a summersault and the head of the spike hit the choker setter dead center on his forehead. I thought I had killed him.

Setting Haulback Blocks ; With the yarder set, the strawline needed to be stretched. But first the haulback blocks needed to be carried out and in place, then the crew could pull the strawline from the yarder around the whole setting and back to the yarder. Once it was strung, then hooked onto the haulback and in turn would pull IT in place. I was selected (being the youngest) to carry those blocks out to the far side of the setting and attach them to stumps. They probably had sheaves of 12" or more in diameter and weighted 75 # or more. Carrying one at a time on my shoulder, I set off following the edge of the cutting line inside the edge of the still standing timber. This was not flat land by any means. Going downhill, I stepped on a rock that rolled under my foot and I started falling (downhill of course) with the block on the high side and my shoulder. Man, I could envision this block crushing my head. Somehow in going down, I got twisted enough to pitch the block away from me by the time I hit the ground.

Setting Chokers ; On this setting, we started at the bottom and worked uphill. With the yarder set and operations began, I was selected to help the the older choker setter. Initially off the point of that ridge it was STEEP and a hell hole, where the older choker setter really needed help. After about a week, he never showed up for work. Guess who now had that job all alone? A week later the boss asked if I needed help. My response was I have fought all that steep brush alone and now you are asking if I need help as I get to the easier more sloping side hill. No I will handle it alone.

The farther up the hill this cutting was, the less slope the far side was, BUT it was real steep right off the ridge the yarder was sitting on. The whistle punk was my mill offbear, who apparently really did not understand the signals. On this setting the yarder engineer could not see very much of what he was pulling logs from right under him because of the steepness. In hooking logs from the back of this setting as they came down this not so steep hill, they gained speed and nosedived into the base of the hill, but out of sight of the yarder engineer. Occasionally they dug in and broke the tops off at the choker when then being pulled more straight up.

This was not that bad until I got a road that in the very bottom was a large rotten windfall laying crosswise to the road I was working on. What would happen was those logs being pulled slightly downhill, nosedived under that log, and got broken off on being pulled up. Some stayed under but many broke off and fell back to where the tops were laying on top of this old log.

The whistle punk was now slightly uphill on the steep side and watching down on everything I was doing. I tried repeatedly for him to repeat my signal (HO HO HO) to the yarder engineer to tighten up on the haulback as the logs came sliding down the far hill faster than the mainline was pulling them in, my wanting the logs to raise enough to clear this old log. But he apparently did not know or understand the whistles that well, and would not relay what I had hollered to him. I finally gave up and let those broken topped logs just lay there and when that road was all picked up at the back, then I would move forward and pick up those dozen or so that lay in the bottom at this big log. (Again FYI - a chart of full whistles information is the end of this article)

We were flying two chokers. In this particular location the rigging had to be spotted pretty close on, as it was coming back high off the ridge from the yarder, (and blind to him), to then have the chokers drop where I needed them. In doing this, I got a couple of turns cleaned out of this mess, but on the next turn, the tops of these two full length logs were just laying on top of that old log. I am standing on the far side of this big log BETWEEN the two logs, and had hooked one of the chokers onto one log, then on trying the second choker, I needed about 6" of slack to be able to button her up. Knowing the whistle punks miscommunications, I really wanted the mainline slacked (HO HO HO HO), my dilemma was there could be no WRONG whistle now. So I decided to have the haulback ran back (HO HO), and to then QUICKLY stop it (HO), where maybe I could gain those inches that I needed. Guess what, he sent in the go ahead signal. As soon as I heard his whistle blow at the yarder, I ducked, it pulled the log that I had the choker hooked on TIGHT INTO the other one, Knocking my tin hat off. That afternoon I told the boss, his response was DON'T GET HURT. Hell, I was trying to do my job, but the whistle punk holds my life in his hands. In retrospect he may not have been all to blame as he had been offbear on the sawmill for a LONG time, standing very close to that 471 GMC diesel motor with no muffler, so he had probably lost a lot of his hearing. Maybe the boss did not realize this when he assigned him that easy job.

About that time instead of using a electric wire to the whistle punk, a belt mounted battery operated device, the Talkie Tooter was invented and became available. This were battery operated, and were carried by the choker setter, who could send in his own signals, BUT he could also talk to the yarder engineer, giving better instructions if needed. Now that device has pretty well been abandoned and two way radios are being used between the choker setter and the yarder engineer.

Raising a Spar Tree ; Raising a tree is something that many ordinary loggers never get involved in. In working here I was sawing one day when to top of the spar tree got pulled off. The whole top, maybe 30' with all the rigging (blocks and lines came down on the landing. The cat skinner who was also chasing landing then had just turned and started walking away. Miraculously he never go touched, other than probably having to clean his shorts.

The situation, his older (much older) brother (the boss's father) was running the yarder. This new yarder was more powerful that the one he was used to and when a turn (the two logs that were hooked onto) hung behind a large stump, his reaction time was too slow.

Here we found a replacement tree large enough, cut and drug it onto the landing. On this we pre-rigged some of the blocks and attached the guy lines to the top. Then a log pad was made next to the original spar tree for the new tree to sit on. We hung a block in the top of the original tree to assist in guiding the new tree into position. Then using two cats and the yarder, we proceeded in pulling the new tree up, and again fastened the guy lines to the existing stumps.

This went rather well, simply because of being able to use part of the old spar tree to assist in getting the new tree started in this the process.

Loading Logs with a Shovel Loader ; The boss also owned a track mounted shovel loader that also had a interchangeable boom that was used to dig rock out of a rock pit for building roads. This loader was somewhat a heel boomer, meaning when loading logs, the closer end of the log could be anchored against the lower wider section of the boom. In the photo below you can see the loading boom installed. This pinchers/tongs were air activated.

The boss had me play with it initially, instructing me to pick up a medium sized block of wood to practice before actually loading rock in the dump truck for road building.

Here the shovel loader waiting for enough larger logs that the mill could not handle, to make a load

Road Building ; Many times if we were on a summer show, we did not have to rock the road, but if it was to be a setting where we could expect rain, then we built our own rock roads. This meant the cat operator would pioneer the road grade in and then we hauled pit run rock (usually from 4" to 12") building our own logging road. Here, we hauled the rock to where we could turn around, and back to the end, and dump the load. We kept this up stacking one load next to the other, working our way uphill. Then the cat operator would come in and blade them down. If he needed more rock, another load would be dumped where needed. Then river rock would be spread on top of this ballast as a topping.

On one road, it split off our main road from the mill setting and down a finger ridge to its point where the landing was to be. This road was built for the setting mentioned above in my "Choker Setting" section. Here about half way to the new setting, the road side hilled the upper end of this STEEP ridge. We had two dump trucks, and loaded our own rock from a pit on the upper part of this hill.

This particular day just the two of us were working, hauling rock to the very end and working uphill. We had rocked about 150 yards by stacking each load next to the other. I was backing down, and at the location to where I stopped, and started raising the bed, my rear drivers tire/wheel must have stopped on the exact spot that a stump had been dug out and was softer than the rest of the ground. It sunk axle deep, pivoting my drivers front of the truck OUT into mid air OFF the side of the road. The only thing that saved me from going over into that steep canyon was I had not tripped the load of rock in the bed yet. This was heavy enough to hold me along with me holding the brakes until the other driver showed up with his load.

We both always carried a chain or cable. He hooked onto the far outside of my front bumper and pulled me back into the road and out of that hole. Needless to say my load did not get dumped in the place I had intended it to be.

Hoot Owling ; In the real hot weather WDNR (Washington Department of Natural Resources) would go into Hoot Owl mode for the loggers. This was start at daylight, usually (5:30 AM) and be out of the woods by 2 PM. However there was a stipulation that at least one man remain for an hour afterwards as fire watch, just in case of something smoldering that developed into a fire after everyone was gone. Here when the mill was running, I as sawyer was designated as fire watch, at which time, I cleaned up around the mill, greased and filed the head saw teeth. So my time was not just sitting twiddling my thumbs.

Also with it being as hot as it was, our HD-5 cats (which were powered by 271 GMC diesel motors) usually required starting fluid to start in the morning when it was cold. But with this hot weather, they never cooled down during the night, as the next morning they would start as if they had just been shut down a half hour before.

    Burning Slash ; In those days after the setting was logged, we burned what was left. This was probably because by law, IF a fire happened to get started within a certain number of years (5, if I remember right) after we logged it, the company that logged it was liable. So burning this slash in the fall of the year became the norm.

   Here the cat operators would build a "Fire trail" around the whole perimeter of what was logged.   Then with approval of WDNR, when the weather permitted in the fall, (usually a rain in sight) we would light it on fire.   This was done by using a hand held 2 gallon aluminum round tank that was filled with diesel, this had a wick near the small outlet. By lighting this wick on fire, and walking along the fire trail swinging this contraption, spewing small drops of firey diesel, setting back fires as you walked.   The theory was to set fire to the perimeters, forcing the fire to burn toward the center.

   We then patrolled these fire trails with an axe and/or shovel looking for hot spots near the trail that may become large enough to possibly jump that fire trail. Initially we went in pairs, but later when things settled down maybe split up and alone on each end of the patch that was burning.

One that we were burning, as the evening approached, the wind picked up. The boss had two of us stay until the wind died down, or we were sure things would be OK. This was on a steep hillside. We patrolled this every hour. But as it got darker, and being steep, we were somewhat reluctant (without good flashlights to stumble around in the dark. I had an idea, in my pickup I just happened to have my 22-250 varmint rifle with a 10 power scope. We picked out a overlooking point off the upper road, and took the scope off the rifle, where I could cover 90% of the perimeter below us looking for small fires, that we had already pretty well knew their possible location from up close and personal experience. We stayed until 2 AM, when the wind died down, then made one final pass before we went home.

Planting Trees ; The boss had a working agreement with the mill owner that we sold the lumber to. Many times he would buy the whole property instead of logging it off paying stumpage. He paid my boss a discounted price for our lumber, BUT the boss got the property after it was logged. A pretty good deal for both.

My boss was a pretty far sighted guy, looking out for his sons and family. Along with the fact that IF he reforested this now barren property, he could put it on the tax rolls as a tree farm and not have to pay taxes until it was harvested (in some cases 50 years). This meant we as his crew, got a good dose of planting Douglas Fir seedling trees. This was done late in the year (mid November plus) when it was raining and the ground was not dry. Some of the crew used narrow shovels, but I modified and made a heavy long bladed hoe. We spread out 10' apart, carrying small bags of 50 trees each and planted every 10' apart.

I lived long enough to witness many of these "Tree Farms" thinned numerous times, or then finally logged off. He has passed away now, but one of the grandsons now logs off patches yearly and the family seems to live comfortably because of his far reaching vision.

Taking Care of Your Tools ; One tool used by loggers is their axe. A dull axe is a dangerous thing. So sharpening an axe is a prudent thing to learn. Most logging axes are double bitted, (meaning a cutting blade on both sides). I said most, the exception would be a fallers axe as they are single bitted with a hammering head on the other side to use for driving wedges.

Trying to sharpen an working axe with a whetstone is meaningless, where a file works fine. Many files are not taken care of along with being well used and not as sharp as they could be. On a double bitted axe, chop it into a stump, then "Draw File" the blade. This is done not by filing down on the blade edge, but lengthwise of it with the file at 90 degrees, and with a old worn file the sharpest part will be close to the handle end, (the part no one uses). In draw filing, you will take LONG slivers of metal instead of Small Chunks. By making numerous lengthwise passes on each side, you will be surprised at the outcome, and it is easier to make it sharp the full width of the blade.

Sharpening Power Saw Chains ; Along the line of the above, sharpening power saw chains also fits that bill. During a day of sawing, you may hit small rocks, or even nails, dulling your chain. There are a few things to consider when filing a power saw chain. Some chains are "Chisel Bit", while others are the conventional using around file. Either needs the right file to match the saw chain. It is a lot easier to "Touch Up" a slightly dull chain than to wait until it does not cut and spend a lot of time trying to correct the dull-bad teeth. Some fallers have electric sharpeners at home and carry spare sharpened chains that they just exchange onto the saw if one gets dull.

For those that touch up their own in the field, as a general rule the top front of the tooth needs to be at 45 degrees to the blade, alternating right and left. If one side has a obvious difference (longer), the cut will not be straight, the same if one side is dull.

Then when the chain has been used to about 1/2, the rakers need to be filed down. Rakers are a upward protrusion on the top of the chain in front of the actual cutting edge. These are designed to control the depth of the cut along with raking out the chips.

Origin of a Choker Knob and Bell ; Take a close look at the photo below. Notice the "Keyhole" appearance. Initially just a wide "Bearpaw" hook was used, but they were prone to come unhooked if not a tight control was maintained. The story is that a logger was sitting in an outhouse that had an old skeleton type key lock, and during deep thought happened to look at the keyhole. This was the inspiration for the common "Bell and Knob" type choker used worldwide today.

Chokers, notice on top, the keyhole where the knob is inserted sideways into the bell & then when moved 90 degrees being locked in, & the bell slid freely on the choker cable	Here a closer look at the bells, being slit on the far side with a socket type pocket

Established High Lead Logging whistles by the Pacific Logging Congress in 1930 are listed below, using the word HO for a short, or HOH as a longer tone for a long. This word seems to be fast and easy to loudly holler and more readily understood

Logging High Lead Signals
-	one short	Start or Stop
- -	two short	Come back on haulback
- - -	three short	Come ahead easy on main line
- - - -	two short and two short	Come back easy on haulback
- - - -	four short	Slack the main line
- - - - - - -	two short and five short	Slack the haulback
- - - - -	three short and two short	Tight line
– – –	three medium	Hooktender. Followed by three short, call in crew
— — - - -	two long and three short	Donkey doctor
— — — - -	three long and two short	Climber
— — —	three long	Locomotive for switching
— — — —	four long	Foreman
— — -	two long and one short	Oil
—	one long	Stop oil
— —	two long	Water
—	one long	Stop water
— — — — — —	six long	Man hurt, locomotive and stretcher
— — — — - - - - - -	four long and six short—repeat	Fire
- - - - - - - - - -	succession of shorts	Danger, blasting at landing
— -	one long and one short	Starting and quitting
Locomotive Signals
— — — —	four long	Foreman
— — — — —	five long	Section crew
— — — — — —	six long—repeat	Man hurt, stretcher
— — — — - - - -	four long and four short—repeat	Fire
Butt Rigging Signals at Tree
- -	two short	No choker
- - -	three short	Strawline
- - -	two short and one short	One choker
- - - -	two short and two short	Two choker
- - -	one short and two short	Bull choker

Log Pond Flunky ; Then one winter early in my work experience when we were shut down for the weather and I was collecting unemployment, I got called from Hemphill & O-Neal sawmill at the north end of Chehalis to work on their log pond to fill in while the employee was on vacation. My job title at that time was log haul helper. Therefore and, I was available so I went in to see what it entailed. That was an experience.