Cutting trees at Pulpit

[wmelo]

Saturday I talked with our Pulpit neighbor and he accepted to cut the rotten trees in our area for FREE.
However, I think we should
a) Expand the scope and see if could also cut the bushes in front of the pad
b) Pay or buy a token of appreciation for his services.

Normally, the club should do it. However, if money is an issue (it is always an issue), I am proposing we contribute.

Thoughts? Ideas?

[mingram]

That's fantastic! Thanks Walt! I'm sure the club would reimburse you for a gift. We can bring some tools to cut bushes the next time we go there.

[dbodner]

Is this the neighbor across the road from the parking area? Larry Harnish? If he does something worthy of appreciation, I could add him to the Christmas gift list, even if only for a year. I have his address.

The Pulpit currently has $2,059 in the bank. It spends approximately $500 per year on taxes and gifts. Another year or two, and we'll have to reinstate the $15 per person Pulpit fee paid by CHGPA and MHGA. But, that's down the road.

[markc]

There's a big difference between cutting down one large dead tree in the parking area (and, I assume, the wood will be of interest to our neighbor, as he's probably got a wood burning stove?), and clearing the scrub trees and such that are starting to get high below launch.

Dare I suggest a club-organized site maintenance effort? That's what has been done in the past when the trees have started to become a concern. The cost is obviously minimal when you do it yourself

Or do we no longer have the numbers/interest to pull that sort of activity off?

[bustedwing2]

Easier to do it before the leaves grow.Another 4 weeks and the temp will be closer to comfortable for work party and snake movement will still be minimal.Do we have 10 or 12 volunteers? Mark me as #1.

[Ward Odenwald]

I'll help.

[silverwings]

Include me.

[wmelo]

I may be able to help depending when you are scheduling this activity. If I am not in conditions of helping, I will at least bring beers to my fellow pilots who are doing the work.

And, yes, it is the neighbor across the road from the parking area. I would "vote" to include him in the next x-mas list (at least for 1 year)

[A.Lloyd]

I'll help.

[markc]

Count me in*

Provided that there will be a scheduled/planned date (with, possibly, a thunderstorm/drenching-rain backup date).

I'm not a big fan of those "Well, let's have a work-party... Unless it turns out to be a great flying day! In which case we'll postpone until the next weekend". They just never seem to get critical mass.

Yeah, I know! Totally *sucks* if the day of that work-party turns out to be the one decent flyable day in forever. But hey, gotta suck it up, we can't fly if our sites aren't maintained right?

Many-hands/light-work/yada-yada With enough of a turn-out, might be able to get the work done *and* fly!

MarkC

*Caveat: I have a trip planned for the weekend of Apr 7-8, can't make it then.

[XCanytime]

Need to do it before the ticks and the snakes wake up. I'm in. Bacil

[bustedwing2]

So if we start chopping about 11am or noon,with 10 or so people and later sunsets we should still be able to do a late day flight if it's flyable.Anybody care to suggest a date and start to plan?

[Blaine]

I’m in

[XCanytime]

How about next Saturday March 24th? Bacil

[bustedwing2]

Works for me,with a foul weather date for sunday?

[Joe Schad]

I won't be back until evening of 24th. I will help with any other site cleanup, Dickey Ridge, Woodstock etc.

Joe

[markc]

Shoot, should have looked closer at my calendar... I can't make Sat March 24th, and Sat/Sun Apr 7th and 8th. All other weekend dates clear through May.

[wmelo]

Guys

I saw what needs to be done. It seems to be a major task. I don’t want to get hurt by poorly handling the equipment. In addition it may be necessary to cut down until the border.


Would not be better to have them professionally cut?

Jon B. also gave a good idea: what about raising the pad ? Would not it be less expensive & practical?

[markc]

I think we've done three truly serious "haircuts" of the trees and brush below the Pulpit launch since I've been flying. Handsaws. Chainsaws. Loppers. The whole nine yards. Lotsa people involved.

So this would be the fourth... Figure an average of about once every 5-6 years or so?

Yeah, you gotta be careful when doing maintenance in a boulder field. But it ain't rocket science. And nobody has been hurt in all the work parties that I know of.

The cost of hiring someone/some-company to do all of that work? Oh man.... We're talking major bucks!!!

And _raising_ the level of the PG/HG pad between the ramps??? OMG, that would be a huge expense, quite likely way beyond the funds that CHGPA has right now.

I realize that our demographics are changing, and that pilots might not have personal experience with clearing a site. But that really is the most effective option, provided that we have the numbers to pull it off.

So let's select a date and get the job done. Maybe a Doodle Poll would be a good idea, so that we can find a weekend that works for as many pilots as possible?

[wmelo]

ok I will be glad to help.

[Ward Odenwald]

Here’s a March 7th 2010 image of takeoff that should help define what area below launch needs to be cut/trimmed. With a little imagination (sorry for the poor resolution), one can see the cleared boulder field below the rocks next to launch. The second copy highlights the area that needs to be cut if we want to bring it back to ~2010 conditions. By cutting down/trimming the trees within the triangle, I believe that we will improve the launch.

However, if you’ve had issues launching from the Pulpit, don’t blame the trees, as no amount of tree trimming will cover for sloppy techniques. Aggressive wings level takeoff runs with controlled angles of attack are essential, with or without the greens-keeping.

I agree with Mark, if we can enlist the help from PG pilots, we can do this without outside contractors.

Ward

[Eric]

Maybe a two-day weekend affair? Maybe a fly-in? I won't be able to make it both days, and I can't do a lot of heavy lifting. But I'll help however I can for one of those days. I still have free flying plans in my future despite being majorly distracting by white water kayaking right now. Mainly, I'm incentivized to know you guys are comfortably enjoying probably one of the best if not the best site CHPGA has.

Rally for the bird people!

[silverwings]

Ward, thanks for posting the pictures. In addition to cutting the area in the triangle, I thought there was also need to trim/cut some of the outer trees that have grown higher over the years. Who in the club have working chain saws? I have a gas powered pole saw. We could also rent some chain saws if necessary.

I think we should wait for a period where the snow is gone because maneuvering around rocks/bolders with snow could be dangerous.

[markc]

Just reviewed my post : "This would be the fourth" Hah!

Make that: The fourth big Pulpit effort since *I* have been flying. I have no doubt that there have been many more, prior to when I got into the sport. Heck, Ward and John M may have participated in some of them!

[bustedwing2]

I have a chainsaw. Those who have physical challenges can do easy stuff with loppers,machetes and pruning saws.A lot of that stuff is 2 inches diameter or so.Maybe also dig out the fire pit,it's kind of full.