Winter schedule

[d'brew]

It feels like traditional winter logging roads are a thing of the past because the past few years has been only mild and wet winters. Usually, by mid-January, we would already be three weeks into our harvest plans.

But if we were to attempt to get started when there is water everywhere. The rivers are at spring runoff levels. What tips do you have for working in these conditions and how are you all handling it?

 

[Canaan_Realian]

Yeah, winter's been garbage for logging lately. If the ground's soft and rivers are already high, you're asking for wrecked roads and stuck iron. Around here, guys either wait it out or stick to higher ground where it firms up quicker. Costs more downtime but cheaper than fixing torn-up trails.

 

[lgf3rr]

It feels like traditional winter logging roads are a thing of the past because the past few years has been only mild and wet winters. Usually, by mid-January, we would already be three weeks into our harvest plans.

But if we were to attempt to get started when there is water everywhere. The rivers are at spring runoff levels. What tips do you have for working in these conditions and how are you all handling it?

It definitely seems like those consistently deep freezes we used to rely on are getting rarer, making traditional winter haul roads unreliable! I think, because of the conditions you're dealing with, you need to redirect your strategy to focus on road stability and environmental protection. Consider prioritizing aggressive drainage and utilizing the morning hours after any overnight chill for firmest ground! The broader adaptation I'm seeing is a strong pivot toward high-standard, all-weather road systems and a greater use of specialized, low-ground-pressure equipment that can operate without tearing up the site. Stay safe out there! It's an expensive lesson in climate adaptation we're all learning.

 

[w00dman]

@d'brew one quick tip from me is probably the golden rule in wet logging, which is don't leave a rut deeper than 4-6 inches.
If your equipment is sinking past that, STOP immediately. The long term damage from soil compaction and erosion will cost you way more in fines and future productivity than the money you'll make from one wet weather harvest. Sometimes the most profitable move is parking the iron and waiting a few more days