The crew from Miller Timber has started clearing out dead standing timber from our slopes that have been impacted by the spruce beetle. This crew uses specialized Ponsse machines made in Finland. We are using two pieces of equipment for this project. One is called a harvester and the other is a forwarder. Both machines are able to utilize a winch assist system to climb and descend steep terrain that normal machines could not access.

The harvester machine is able to fell the tree, remove the branches and cut the tree into 18′ lengths (CTL). The harvester can easily control the felling direction of the tree helping to minimize damage to adjacent green trees. The forwarder then loads the logs with a grapple into a self-contained bunk. Once loaded, the forwarder can deliver the timber to a deck site further down the mountain where a logging truck can be loaded to haul the timber to market. The forwarder minimizes impacts to soils and vegetation by carrying the logs off the ground, unlike a skidder that drags the logs over the surface to the deck site.

The trail and road detours are in place to keep public away from these logging activities. Please be sure to spread the word and use the CT/CDNST detours while these timber operations are in place.