USFS chain saw class
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
USFS chain saw class
For those who are an-aware; There is a chain saw safety class this weekend, conducted by the USFS in Edinburg, VA. So far, there will be only 3 club members in attendance. You DO NOT need a chain saw OR have any previous chain saw experience to attend. Just 7" leather boots, gloves, obvious safety gear. If you're holding out, because it may be a good weekend to fly, forget it. No chance of that. It would be better to have more volunteers to clear sites & slots. Think about it.
Re: USFS chain saw class
Pre-requisites are also first aid and CPR training, which I don't have. Another thing to put on the to-do list. Thanks in advance to you and the others representing our flying community. This is very important!
Re: USFS chain saw class
Matt, those are NOT pre-requisites for ATTENDING the course. They are ONLY needed to get signed-off for the course after you get the First-aid & CPR.
Re: USFS chain saw class
Cameron checked with Jay: there is room for one more in the class (ie Matt). Getting First-Aid cert later will enable you to get the NFS saw cert after doing the course.
Re: USFS chain saw class
We all got certified. Top notch instructors and excellent safety tips and tricks made the course worthwhile and fun.
- Gary gettin' it done!
- Gary and Mike tag team
Re: USFS chain saw class
Nice job guys! Thanks for representing us. I'm sure your attendance will be favorably noticed by the USFS.
Dan
Dan
Re: USFS chain saw class
The course was provided by the NFSF for the purpose of giving proper instruction in the safe use and thus certification for using a chainsaw on NSFS lands in this area.
The others attending the course were guys using trails for horseback riding and bike riding and who were actively involved in keeping those trails cleared. Another fellow obtained certification so that he would be permitted to down and cut dead trees for firewood.
At every opportunity, Katie Donahue (District Ranger for the Lee District), Cameron, Wade and Jay expressed appreciation to the people attending the course for the help they provided in maintaining those parts of the trails and lands that they used, work that the staff readily acknowledged they would never be able to keep up with on their own.
One takeaway that I had is that these are people very dedicated to the work they do, for what the NFSF provides for the public. Jay and others also travel around the country helping out with clearing trees at fire locations and disaster areas. Good people all.
Anyone who might have the opportunity to take this course, anyone who thinks they might sometime pick up a chainsaw, would be well served to take this course. Although I’ve always had respect for chainsaws, I have a helluva lot more confidence and thus comfort in using one and I expanded what I feel comfortable doing with one.
An aside, Jay could be the brother of the Gardinator in look, manner and humor, so yeah, as Matt said, it was also an enjoyable two days.
The others attending the course were guys using trails for horseback riding and bike riding and who were actively involved in keeping those trails cleared. Another fellow obtained certification so that he would be permitted to down and cut dead trees for firewood.
At every opportunity, Katie Donahue (District Ranger for the Lee District), Cameron, Wade and Jay expressed appreciation to the people attending the course for the help they provided in maintaining those parts of the trails and lands that they used, work that the staff readily acknowledged they would never be able to keep up with on their own.
One takeaway that I had is that these are people very dedicated to the work they do, for what the NFSF provides for the public. Jay and others also travel around the country helping out with clearing trees at fire locations and disaster areas. Good people all.
Anyone who might have the opportunity to take this course, anyone who thinks they might sometime pick up a chainsaw, would be well served to take this course. Although I’ve always had respect for chainsaws, I have a helluva lot more confidence and thus comfort in using one and I expanded what I feel comfortable doing with one.
An aside, Jay could be the brother of the Gardinator in look, manner and humor, so yeah, as Matt said, it was also an enjoyable two days.
garyDevan
Re: USFS chain saw class
Lowes sells Husqvarna brand helmet sets ($49) and lightweight chaps (36" , $60). The chaps we used in the course were not lightweight. Wade rolled his eyes when I mentioned the Lowes chaps, possibly because lightweight or Husqvarna <g>? There is more on the Husqvarna website but the same ASTM and ANSI standards as on the Lowes chaps. The chaps recommended in the course meet a USDA Forestry Spec and are designed to clog the saw. There is no mention of this feature in the Lowe's chaps! There is lots out there for foresters (forestry-supplies.com) and arborists (http://www.wesspur.com/chaps/chaps.html).
Hopefully we will get to use our honed sawyer skills without bloodying the accompanying apparel!
Hopefully we will get to use our honed sawyer skills without bloodying the accompanying apparel!
Re: USFS chain saw class
Mike, and anyone considering the chaps things, I just did my own web-trek and it looks like the going price for USFS approved Specification 6170-4F chaps is in the $130 price range.
I still haven't found any with the leather fringes I want, but I'm going to keep looking. Let me know if you run across some. I'd prefer a light buckskin color, but I'll settle for a medium brown. Any kind of silver bangles would be a real bonus. I'll google "chaps bling".
p.s. 'cut up and moved a section of a fallen tree that has been blocking the path in the park behind my place for a year and a half. 34 inch diameter 120 year tree. I was feeling very manly til the wife told me "take a shower, it's BO".
I still haven't found any with the leather fringes I want, but I'm going to keep looking. Let me know if you run across some. I'd prefer a light buckskin color, but I'll settle for a medium brown. Any kind of silver bangles would be a real bonus. I'll google "chaps bling".
p.s. 'cut up and moved a section of a fallen tree that has been blocking the path in the park behind my place for a year and a half. 34 inch diameter 120 year tree. I was feeling very manly til the wife told me "take a shower, it's BO".
garyDevan
Re: USFS chain saw class
how boring...
Re: USFS chain saw class
don't take that out of context <g>
Re: USFS chain saw class
"boring", as in tree felling technique, no worries I got it. 'actually used it from the side to get the trunk down to a manageable thickness as well as checking the soundness of it's insides. I really got a lot from that course, those guys knew their stuff.
[renumeration from USFS will be expected if used for promotional purposes]
[renumeration from USFS will be expected if used for promotional purposes]
garyDevan