Packing Trails

[Baystatetom]

I am starting in on a new woodlot next week. We have about 2′ of snow now and 2 more storms forecasted in the next 4 days. My plan is to bunch logs along 2 main trails for a forwarder to pick up later as there is a long up hill skid out to the landing. I will be walking my team in and out 1/2- 3/4 of mile everyday. I am thinking about throwing together a wooden “V” to drag back and forth a few times to help plow and or pack the main trail. Anybody ever try this? how do you pack down a trail this time of year?
Deep snow doesn’t hardly seem to slow down my oxen at all, but they don’t drive from behind so I have to walk with them.
~Tom

[Mark Cowdrey]

This is the rig I use for my sleigh trails. Definitely not the same situation as you although the principle might have some value:packing the snow down rather than pushing it aside. The angle of the board could be flatter for better packing, I just went w what I had. It works pretty well

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[Rick Alger]

I pull three bolts about 5′ long crossways to the trail, woven together with chains like a raft. First time through I use 6″ diameter stuff, next time something bigger.

[j.l.holt]

used to use a tree with a wide crotch.we called it a sweet water drag. cut the limbs and pull from the trunk. if need be load some wood cross wise to stand on or help push snow down into trail.

[Does’ Leap]

I have rigged a v-plow for my bobsled which worked well. It removed a good portion of the snow from the main skid roads. I have also used an 8′ section of pulpwood and hitched it to the back of my logging arch at an angle with 2 chains which worked as a hybrid plow and packer. The latter of the 2 methods I think worked best and is easier to put together. Finally, just yarding wood is effective but obviously difficult for a while.

George

[Baystatetom]

Thanks for the ideas everybody.

[Rick Alger]

Can you wear snowshoes when you walk beside them?

[Brad Johnson]

We use a 7 foot wide piece of maple (13″ diameter) plunged on both ends with chain run thru the holes. We drag first thing in the morning and last thing at the end of the day. It is simple and very effective. It is dragged behind arch but for oxen you could chain a piece of plywood behind a ride along, provided you can drive with voice commands. Otherwise, you might be walking. Can one be ridden??
-Brad

[Mark Cowdrey]

Brad,
How short do you hitch it? I find that longer gives more drag but more “inside corner swing”. Shorter the opposite. I tend to move the hitch point of whatever I am dragging, long & short & left & right, based on whim & guessing.
Mark

[Brad Johnson]

I hitch about 3-4 feet behind arch. I really does work well.
-Brad

[Baystatetom]

I nailed together a big wooden V today. I’ll try it out tomorrow. The snow doesn’t seem to bother them but I have to stay beside them until they know the trail or else when I talk to them they just turn around and look at me. I could use snowshoes if I could keep up but my team is exceptionally fast for oxen and I have to run my tail off half the day until they slow down. Teaching them to drive from behind is becoming more of a priority everyday.

[Brad Johnson]

No matter where you drive from, conditions are challenging right now with such deep powder snow on the ground. I am having a hard time walking up on the steep ground behind my horses. We are skidding single down to Shane’s team who is forwarding, but it is exhausting work for the teamster and well as the horses!
-Brad

[mitchmaine]

I agree brad. evreytime I break a trail here, the wind fills it in smooth in an hour or so. and the snow just doesn’t pack. no moisture in it. I tried running on a snowmobile track across a corner of our field thinking it might hold but we blew it to pieces in one trip. the top of the snowfield is smooth as can be and hides the dips and holes so one minute you are in two feet of snow going pretty good and the next minute as a friend says the horses are swimming. good luck there bud and stay safe. mitch

[Livewater Farm]

looks like with the snow pack and cold temps start to sugaring maybe more in line with the traditional start
here in southern vt was always town meeting day 2nd tues in march
then again the past couple of seasons have been pretty eradic with start and finshing
Sugaring is always exiting and a time of renewal here on the farm
the bear in me comes out of hibernation
-8 this morning colder tomrrow then more snow for the weekend cant even think of breaking trails
expecting up to 40 mile per hr wind gusts
Bill

[wild millers]

We pulled the home made seed roller out of the barn today to pack in our cross country ski trail and give the boys some exercise. Another 12-18″ coming our way Saturday-Sunday.

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