Logging Terminology

[Does’ Leap]

Can someone help with the difference between yarding a twitching? Is yarding moving logs around the landing while twitching is ground skidding? Also, what is the proper name for the right and left horse? How about blocking vs. bucking? Limbs cut off a tree (slash, brush?) A “chopper” is someone who fells and limbs or just fells? Any other terms I am missing?

Thanks.

George

[john plowden]

yarding is hauling down the road to landing – twitching is from the stump to road or landiing – the right horse is “off”the left is “near” – limbs are slash – brush is what you cut to get to and away from the tree or on the road -a chopper cuts and limbs –
A jag is a load – Swamp or to swamp (swamper)is moving brush and slash out of the way and some times choking the log (wrapping the chain)-
There are quite a few more terms used and I’m sure someone else will pipe in – These are used around here –

[Rick Alger]

Back in the day around here at least there were two ways to harvest wood : stump cutting and yarding.

Stump cutting was more or less like cut-to-length. You would cut the wood to measure where it fell and pile it close to the stump which was generally next to a trail. It would be hauled to roadside or river later.

Yarding was more of a tree-length system. You would cut and limb the trees and pull them to a clearing and cut and pile them there with a lot of other stems. They would also be hauled later.

A stump cutter might use a twitch horse occasionally if it was available. A yarding crew required a twitch horse or a yarding team.

[near horse]

How ’bout the term “bumpin knots”? Do you all hear that one much?

[Gabe Ayers]

Here are a few modern southern ones:

snaking logs – meaning weaving in and out around trees with small wood on the ground or saw log sized material on an arch.
scooging – means stepping the log forward a bit to get the suspension just right for proper lift before skidding to the landing.
Chain Monkey – entry level job by an apprentice or low paid helper, the person (trail monkey) that clears skid trails including proper turn around space at the log or stump to attach to log. This work helps a beginner learn the nuances of various attachment methods.
Making a bed – cutting the trees that will be crushed by falling a big tree on them, thereby preventing spring poles and leaving shattered snags sticking up in the woods post harvest. May prevent limbs being thrown back toward the feller.
compound angle skid trail – one that goes up/down and across the hillside a once. Usually requires a bumper put in place to keep logs in the skid trail and not slipping off the edge and cause harder skidding and more danger for the skidder, with our with log arch.
pro-passive water bar – a water diversion method that adds a piece of wood across a finished skid trail instead of digging a traditional water bar which causes more erosion from exposing uniform particle mineral sub soil. The purpose is to divert water from following the disturbance cause by extraction. Works good when former skid trails are ridden over by animals, not favored by folks that ride four wheelers in their woods post harvest.

[blue80]

also, “demdarelogs”

Southern indiana for ” those logs” 😀

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