GASoline71
'cause chicks dig scars
I was asked to volunteer for a project that the Airfield Manager here at the base had dreamed up to help out some of our sailors here in the local community.
There are numerous stands of "problem trees" that we have on the airfield here at NAS Whidbey. Trees that interfere with RADAR reception, and stands that hold wildlife (deer, coyotes, avian species) that can cause hazards to aircraft in flight and on the runways.
So I was the lead sawyer on this deal, and had 2 other guys that brought saws that went out and took down almost 250 trees today. Most were no bigger than my wrist on the ground. We then picked through the ones that would be good Christmas trees (or "Charlie Brown" type Christmas trees. LOL
), and give them to some of the sailors families whose loved ones are deployed. Mostly to the Mom's whose husbands are gone on deployment. Not saying that there aren't Dad's whose wive's are gone too. But most of the families were the Mom's that would like a tree, since Dad is gone. We are giving the trees away tomorrow morning.
We are even goin to deliver some of them to the Navy Housing areas so the families that can't get to the trees... the trees will come to them.
They might not be the best lookin' trees for Christmas... but heck... they are free. So I hope to make some families Christmas a little nicer this year.
We hope to make this an annual event. We kicked off the deal with a catered meal that my boss paid for. He totally suprised us when he did that. So we had a lot of fun today.
I even got to put on a little falling clinic for the 2 guys that brought their saws. There were some bigger hazard trees that my boss wanted down so I was asked to show them how I do it. I have never cut a tree down in front of 15 people like in a "classroom" environment. Thank god my undercut lined up with my gunning cut perfectly... The one picture where all you can see is my back through the brush is where I was getting the tree ready to bring down. I was swamping out the lower limbs and underbrush. The gal that was takin' pics with my camera didn't get any of the cuttin' like I asked her too. She said she was too busy watchin', and forgot to snap any more. 
Good times & enjoy the pics!
Gary
There are numerous stands of "problem trees" that we have on the airfield here at NAS Whidbey. Trees that interfere with RADAR reception, and stands that hold wildlife (deer, coyotes, avian species) that can cause hazards to aircraft in flight and on the runways.
So I was the lead sawyer on this deal, and had 2 other guys that brought saws that went out and took down almost 250 trees today. Most were no bigger than my wrist on the ground. We then picked through the ones that would be good Christmas trees (or "Charlie Brown" type Christmas trees. LOL
), and give them to some of the sailors families whose loved ones are deployed. Mostly to the Mom's whose husbands are gone on deployment. Not saying that there aren't Dad's whose wive's are gone too. But most of the families were the Mom's that would like a tree, since Dad is gone. We are giving the trees away tomorrow morning.We are even goin to deliver some of them to the Navy Housing areas so the families that can't get to the trees... the trees will come to them.
They might not be the best lookin' trees for Christmas... but heck... they are free. So I hope to make some families Christmas a little nicer this year.
We hope to make this an annual event. We kicked off the deal with a catered meal that my boss paid for. He totally suprised us when he did that. So we had a lot of fun today.
I even got to put on a little falling clinic for the 2 guys that brought their saws. There were some bigger hazard trees that my boss wanted down so I was asked to show them how I do it. I have never cut a tree down in front of 15 people like in a "classroom" environment. Thank god my undercut lined up with my gunning cut perfectly...
The one picture where all you can see is my back through the brush is where I was getting the tree ready to bring down. I was swamping out the lower limbs and underbrush. The gal that was takin' pics with my camera didn't get any of the cuttin' like I asked her too. She said she was too busy watchin', and forgot to snap any more. Good times & enjoy the pics!
Gary
