Forestry Friday … Remembering Gilbert Murray

Posted on April 24, 2015 by foresterartist

Gilbert Murray

Gil Murray’s life ended twenty years ago today. He was the final victim of the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski. Gil was a Registered Professional Forester and leader in the California forestry profession. When I first met him, he was head forester for one of our local competitors. He was later hired to lead the California Forestry Association, a promotion that led to his death. Gil was deeply respected in the forestry community as a man of the highest character. I tip my hat to Gil Murray.

Forestry Friday … Weather Station

Posted on April 10, 2015 by foresterartist

The anemometer measures the wind speed and direction.

California is into the fourth year of drought. Wildfire is on our minds in the natural resources community. Hazardous fire conditions are just around the corner and we are already preparing. The state and federal agencies have a system for predicting high fire hazard conditions, and tracking weather and fuel moisture is at the core of it.

A portable weather station.

We utilize local weather stations on our timber lands to get pin point fire weather conditions. Our research department installs them. Some of these stations are permanent and some are mobile. The mobile stations, like the one shown above, can be relocated as needed. We put these at active logging sites so we can measure accurate on site fire weather conditions.

fuel moisture stick, fuel moisture, wildfire, fire weather

The fuel moisture stick measures moisture content in forest fuels.

Years ago, we used mechanical anemometers to measure wind speed, and fuel moisture sticks weighed with a scale to measure fuel moisture. During the summer season, measurements were taken on the hour by someone on the logging crew. When conditions became severe enough, operations were shut down for the day.

With today’s technology, we have the ability to monitor conditions continuously and have the data transmitted to our office. Changes in fire conditions can be spotted in real-time and radioed to the logging crews. We can collect much more data with the new weather stations than ever before, and respond to changing condition accordingly.

The Ponderosa Fire.

The weather stations won’t eliminate wildfire, but they do assist the logging crews in avoiding being the cause.

Forestry Friday … Feller Buncher

Posted on April 3, 2015 by foresterartist

A speed chopping contest between Oregon State University and Shasta College students. Logging sports like this were inspired by how it was once done.

Every time I see a news report where the reporter says loggers “chopped” down trees, I want to bang my head against the coffee table. Loggers haven’t chopped down trees since chainsaws took over the job in the 30’s and 40’s.

chainsaw, logger, logging, faller, falling, felling, bucking, limbing

Using a chainsaw to limb a Ponderosa pine tree.

Chainsaws are still on every logging job, but now they share much of the tree falling duty with the feller bunchers. These machines look more like something from Star Wars. It’s not what most folks would expect on a logging job.

feller buncher, falling, felling, cutting, timber, loggers, logging

The disk on the front of the feller buncher is the saw blade. This type of saw head is called a “hot saw” because it runs constantly.

This machine is working on a fire salvage operation from last years wildfires. They cut trees all day long.

They grab the trees when they cut them. The trees are then stacked up in a “doodle” for the skidders to take to the log landing.

Life is a lot different for the loggers these days. Working in an air-condition cab is a world away for the days of axes and misery whips.

This tree shear is another example of tree cutting technology. Don’t worry, we let her go.

March 21–International Day of Forests

Posted on March 23, 2015 by foresterartist

Linda Martin Andersen invited me to write a guest blog. Come check it out!

A Writer's Playground

“March 21–International Day of Forests” with guest blogger, Tim Livingston.

I can’t think of anyone I’d rather hear discuss International Day of Forests than Tim Livingston. He’s the forester artist who blogs here: https://theforesterartist.com/

Here’s Tim with lots to share…

International Day of Forests

International Day of Forests is a day designated by the United Nations to promote the importance of trees and forests in our lives. A worthy cause in my book for sure. In the United State we’re fortunate to have a mature forestry profession. I feel blessed to be a part of it.

In contemplating what this day means to me, I reflect back on experiences that I’ve had. I have only practiced forestry in the United State, but I’ve had opportunities to interact with forestry professionals from other countries a few times during my career.

Once, we were visited by a group of forestry professionals…

View original post 414 more words

Forestry Friday … Protecting a King Sized Salvage Job!

Posted on March 13, 2015 by foresterartist

The King Fire devastated almost 98,000 acres in the Sierra Nevada, east of Sacramento. Our company lost 18,000 acres of forest. Lately, I’ve had opportunity to spend time in the burn area. There is a lot of work being done by our foresters, biologists, botanists, and others to protect the resources so the timber can be quickly salvaged in an environmentally sensible manner. Most people never get to see what is done to protect the soil, water, cultural resources, and wildlife. In the gallery are images of just some of the work being done.

Hundreds of millions of board feet of timber were killed in the King Fire. Once killed, the wood begins breaking down. It is a race to harvest the trees before their value is lost.

The fire started September 13th. So many organisms died during the fire, but life is beginning to return in sprouts of green.

All foresters are painters of a sort. Give them a can of spray paint and you’ll get instructions for the loggers all over the woods. These instructions are for the placement of rock in a rolling dip. The dip helps drain water from the road and the rock minimizes muddy water running off.

Ponderosa pine, forest, forestry, King burn

This was a young Ponderosa pine stand of trees lost in the fire.

Blue marks on these trees and blue flagging deliniate a stream protection zone. Even though there is currently no water in this little draw, equipment is restricted from it. This is to minimize soil disturbance next to a waterway.

ELZ means “equipment limitation zone.” These zones are used to keep equipment out of areas to avoid excessive soil disturbance.

winter period, forestry, logging, salvage logging

Many roads in sensitive areas are rocked. This is done to avoid muddy runoff during the rainy periods.

Roads are rocked coming in and out of stream crossings. Bridges are often upgraded and culvert pipes are up sized to handle greater runoff, which is a common affect following large fires.

habitat retention area, wildlife, forestry

Patches of dead trees are left scattered in the burn. These trees provide habitat structure for cavity dwelling wildlife.

Archaeological sites identified in the burn area are protected.

The fire didn’t kill all the trees within the burn. We retain trees that will likely survive the fire damage. High risk trees are removed.

Skidding salvage logs to the landing.

Georgetown, salvage logging, King Fire, forestry

A load of salvage logs roll through the tiny community of Georgetown.

There is a lot of preparation that has to be done prior to logging. It has taken a large team of resource professionals to get the job done on a project this size.

Just for children a picture book about wildfire and the forest rehabilitation that takes place after a fire. Check out, Firestorm In the Forest.

Forestry Friday … Continuing Education

Posted on March 6, 2015 by foresterartist

I’m in Sacramento today listening to a talk on amphibians and reptiles. It’s part of the program at the 2015 CLFA Spring Conference. CLFA is the California Licensed Foresters Association.

Continuing education is important to keeping up on new developments, rules and news involving California forestry. Personally, the most valuable part of the meeting is a chance to visit with friends and fellow professionals to catch up on what’s been going on.

The theme for today is all about wildlife, very interesting stuff. Foresters deal with wildlife issues every day. Often, we are the eyes and ears for the biologist. The forest management decisions we make affect wildlife and this information is vital in our process.

It’s the last presentation before lunch. I’m looking forward to that!

Trinity Alps

Posted on February 25, 2015 by foresterartist

That’s my view today.

Forestry Friday … The Forestry Institute for Teachers

Posted on February 20, 2015 by foresterartist

Forestry Institute for Teachers

If you are a teacher, then you may be interested in this program. It is a week long session that involves camping in cabins, woods tours of logging operations, a mill tour and many other sessions involving natural resource subjects. It is an intense week and you get to meet resource professional from across the spectrum.

Forestry Institute for Teachers on Facebook

I taught a forestry class for many years at the Shasta County location. After a break I was back last season. I don’t know yet if I’ll be back this year. I highly encourage interested teachers to sign up.

“A Ghost in the Forest”

Posted on February 3, 2015 by foresterartist

“A Ghost in the Forest” is auction ready! Thank you to Mary for the excellent matting and framing.

Usually, I don’t donate original art. However, this cause is near and dear to my heart. So this is the original going on the block. If I did my job right, the bidders will come ready to bid! This is one item among many being auctioned to raise money for forestry education. The auction is Friday, February 6.

This auction is a fund-raiser for the Education Fund of the Sierra Cascade Logging Conference. The money goes for forestry education for local students. It supports Education Day for hundreds of local 4th graders to tour the conference. Mary, of Sneaking Bliss, gives a presentation to them each year. This was her post from last year’s tour, Sierra Cascade Logging Conference Education Day. The money also supports the local college logging sports team, scholarships and a Spring woods tour for students, among other things.

Sierra Cascade Logging Conference, Education Day

Mary delivers her presentation to my nephew’s 4th grade class, from a couple years ago. My nephew was volunteered to help out.

I’ve include a progression of the painting in the gallery shown below. Click on the images to enlarge.

“A Ghost In The Forest”, is auction ready! Thank you to Mary for the excellent matting and framing.

Steam Donkey, pen and ink, pen & ink, pen, drawing, watercolor, WIP, logging

The ink outline on the steam donkey was done with a Lamy All Star extra-fine point.

Steam Donkey, pen and ink, drawing, pen, pen & ink, watercolor, watercolour, logging

Steam Donkey work in progress.

I did the black shading with the Yuretake No. 50 brush pen. Then started detailing with a Staedtler 0.05 pigment liner. It has a finer line than the Lamy extra-fine tip.

The donkey detail is mostly complete.

steam donkey, steam yarder, Willette Steam donkey, Willamette Iron Works, pen and ink, pen, drawing, watercolor, WIP

Steam Donkey, inking is complete.

I soak the paper in the bath tub. The water was room temperature. Be sure to test your inks for running before you use this on an important piece.

Two minutes on the timer for soaking 90 lb paper. It came out a little too saturated. I should have used cold water. For 140 lb paper I soak for seven minutes in cool water.

stretching watercolor paper, Steam Donkey, pen and ink, pen & ink, pen, drawing, watercolor, WIP, logging

You need a very clean surface, because the sheet goes ink down. On go the stretcher boards.

Staple it to the boards. Snug it as you go, but not overly tight or the paper may rip when it dries.

stretch watercolor, Steam Donkey, pen and ink, pen & ink, pen, drawing, watercolor, WIP, logging

Use a paper towel to mop up excess water. Don’t push down or you’ll damage the paper. A feather light touch is required.

I elevate the mounted paper for good air circulation. Even drying makes for a nice tight stretch. Let it dry naturally. Using a heater or blow drier can cause ripples in your paper. It should thump like a drum when dry.

Steam donkey, wip, watercolor, watercolour, mixed media, pen and ink

The color is going and the background is developing. I’m well into the awkward phase and the quality of the photo doesn’t show very well.

One Step Closer. The forest is coming along.

“A Ghost In The Forest, completed and framed.

These images are included in my previous posts with more information about the real steam donkey and the art process.

https://theforesterartist.com/2015/01/31/steam-donkey-wip-and-the-last-submission/

https://theforesterartist.com/2015/01/29/forestry-friday-a-trip-to-the-woods-and-more-steam-donkey-wip/

https://theforesterartist.com/2015/01/25/steam-donkey-wip-update/

https://theforesterartist.com/2015/01/23/forestry-friday-steam-donkey-wip/

Forestry Friday … A Trip To The Woods and More Steam Donkey WIP

Posted on January 29, 2015 by foresterartist

The color is going on and the background is developing. Time to grow a forest. I’m well into the awkward phase and the quality of the photo isn’t very good.

It was a perfect day in the woods. I was visiting a more modern logging crew.