The Dangers of Forestry
17 juin 2016 9:28 Laisser vos pensées
I always knew forestry was amongst the most dangerous jobs. It just never really seemed that way. We’re all provided levels and levels of training. I have knowledge and skills now to do things I never imagined I’d be capable of doing.
In my mind, I saw forestry as dangerous mostly because of the wildlife you can encounter, or falling off of a log and injuring yourself. Of course I knew trees could fall, but whenever it crossed my mind, it was always one tree in a stand. It never crossed my mind on what it would be like if multiple trees were falling in a stand, while I was present.
So I’d like to replay one of the events from the past two weeks that happened, from my train of thought. It’s obviously not 100 percent correct, but it’s to the closest I can remember.
Oh wow, that’s a huge beaver lodge.
Oh, dam number one.
I wonder what’s causing those ravens to make so much noise. Oh Odin had two ravens, one called Huginn and the other…I don’t remember his name…
Wow! Look at that tree’s DBH! It’s huge!
This beaver flood is never ending.
Annnnd another roll of flagging tape gone.
Ughh rain, rain, rain. And still mosquitos. At least rain heavy enough to drive the mosquitos off.
*Crack*
What was that…? Ohhh…
Slowly, on the other side of the beaver flood, a tree tumbled.
Hmm, well, let’s radio my supervisor and keep going.
Beaver floods, oh they never end, beaver floods.
Beavers, beavers, beavers, destructive little beavers.
Ahhh! Change of scenery! An ephemeral. Let’s GPS that and return to the never ending flood.
*Crack* Tree down.
Ohh…
*Radio* ”Hey Melissa, we’re heading back to the Argo, there are trees falling around us, do you copy?”
*Crack* Tree down.
…
*Crack* Tree down.
Nope! Time to go! I’ll head back to the Argo and meet my supervisor there.
Okay, right, South. Need to head South.
…Breeze is picking up…watch for trees…
South. South.
It’s fine. No trees falling. Just keep going South.
Sou- Wind is picking up. Stop. Look around. Check the trees…
*Groan*
That tree there! I’m okay. Not in range.
*Crack* Tree down.
…Wind has died down, best keep going. Right. South.
Don’t trip!
Mind that log! It’s wet and slippery!
Careful! South.
*Groan*
Stop! Watch for trees!
*Crack*
It’s okay, I’m well enough away. Let’s keep going.
Oh! Swamp! No trees! Yes!
…This swamp never ends…
At least I’m not near falling trees.
Right, another block. More trees. Just have to get through it, and be careful of trees…
I’ve been in some pretty scary situations in my life. I’ve had people smash their cars into mine. I’ve worked with a lot of animals that haven’t always been so happy to have a human handle them, such as snakes and scorpions and tarantulas, or in the cases of a few dogs and horses, wanted to be told what to do.
The difference between these past situations and the falling trees, is I still had a level of control. When trees start falling around you, all you can do is be aware. There’s no way you can prevent the trees from falling. You can’t just pick them back up or hold them in place. You can notice if the tree falling near you and get out of the way.
The whole situation had this beautifully eerie feel to it. These trees, fully grown, were crashing to the ground, letting out a groan as they did so. It was like a part of the forest, this giant living beast, were dying. That made me terribly sad. At least now I can better appreciate just how dangerous forestry is…and still love it!