Tree Work at Johns Rest Cabin

By Robert Fina

A tree fell on the roof of Johns Rest Cabin, located on the Entry Run Tract near Stanardsville, Va. Tract manager Mark Walkup visited the cabin and shared photos with me.

Shown was a 13” diameter black walnut which had uprooted and fallen onto the cabin roof. The fork of the falling tree caught in a standing tulip poplar adjacent to the cabin, which reduced the impact to the roof, but this also partially uprooted the poplar so that it was now leaning over the cabin (photo 1). 

One fork of the walnut broke off on impact and rolled off the roof, causing minor damage to the metal roofing, and breaking several porch roof rafters. The other fork, remaining attached to the main trunk, extended across the entire roof and beyond the far side (photo 2).

PATC Tree crew members, Robert Fina, Justin Loyd, Steve Phillips, and Russ Strosnider were joined by Ruth and Mark Walkup. We met at the site the Sunday morning of the big snow storm. Thanks to the timely intervention of the cabin coordinator Ben Danforth, the renters had been safely redirected to another cabin.

Having assessed the situation, unpacked a truck load of rigging and saw gear, and having completed a safety review, we got started on setting up the gear (photo 3).

One rigging line, connected to a grip hoist, went over a block set high in an adjacent tree. This was our crane to lift the tree up off the roof (photo 4). 

Once the tree was slightly lifted off the roof, Russ cut the tree free from the stump. To get the stump out of the work area, a second grip hoist was connected by chain to the stump (photo 5). Steve, barely breaking a sweat, ripped the stump from the ground, and it was subsequently rolled out of the way.

The second hoist was then attached to the butt of the log to pull the fork of the tree off the poplar, and off the cabin roof (photo 6).

The curvature of the branch over the roof, as it was lifted, caused it to roll and threatened the roof ridge cap, so Ruth and Mark connected a Maasdam rope puller to the upper part of the log to counter this sideways swing (photo 7). 

As we continued to lift, we discovered the tree wanted to slide towards the butt rather than lift straight up, a defect caused by the lack of a spar tree directly above the lift point.

The remedy was to add an additional rigging line to anchor the butt of the log. The line was attached to a friction bollard, so the line could be paid out in a safe, controlled manner to allow the butt to slide, when pulled by the second grip hoist, away from the cabin (photo 8).

Lifting continued with the log clearing the peak of the roof. Mark slowly paid out the Maasdam line, allowing the log to gently swing over the roof peak and chimney. Unfortunately, the log also rolled a bit during this operation, creating an abrasion situation between the butt anchor line and the tree (photo 9).

Good coordination among the crew here was crucial as three different hoists and the friction bollard were all in action at once.

Once the log was fully clear of the cabin, it was lowered to the ground and bucked up (photo 10).

Phase two of the operation was to take down the tulip poplar leaning over the cabin.

Setting a pulling line halfway up the poplar, the lifting line from phase one was used as a pulling line for phase two, to pull the poplar back into an upright position so it was no longer leaning over the cabin (photo 11).

Justin, Russ, Steve, and Mark relocated the other grip hoist and a redirect block up the hill away from the cabin to which was connected a second pulling line. The goal being to make sure the falling tree fell away from the cabin, into the only open area available. To keep the butt from kicking off the stump and into the cabin a few feet away, the Maasdam was set up and attached to the butt to create a restraint.

With Mark keeping the Maasdam line taught, and Justin, Steve, and Russ operating  both of  the grip hoists providing gentle tension, Robert executed an open face felling cut, and the tree dropped neatly into its lay (photo 12).

Robert and Russ bucked up the fallen trees while Mark, Ruth, Justin, and Steve broke down and packed up the gear (photo 13).

And we all, with the exception of Russ, who drove straight into it, made it home before the snowstorm hit.

Many thanks to the tree crew, Ruth and Mark Walkup, and cabin coordinator Ben Danforth.  And thanks also to Henry Horn, who over the years has budgeted for most of our rigging gear, of which we used every piece on this project.