The crew from VM West recently brought in a new machine to assist with the steep slope logging work that is taking place in NN Basin. They purchased a T-Winch that works to tether machines so that they can more easily lower and climb the slopes as well as reach further down into the Basin on each pass. These machines operate via remote control and look like something out of a Sci-Fi movie. Most of the machines that are working have an integrated winch system that is already used.  The T-Winch allows them to reach further down to the toe of the trails which their integrated winch system was unable to do with one cable length.  It also allows the operator the option to tether and drop down to terrain that may bench out a bit where they can then unhook from the cable and move freely in this area below.  For the machines that don’t have an integrated system built in, they now have a winch system that they can also use. Tethered machines travel lighter on the environment and burn less fuel when operating.  VM West is breaking out all the tools to get the trail network cleared.