A week ago today we were on our way home from a visit at the Bruder Bear Resort. As we drove north from Riggins, we noticed the wind was blowing. REALLY blowing. As our trusty Explorer crossed the bridge over the Salmon River just south of the White Bird grade I wasn't sure I could keep it on the road and I could only imagine how the 18-wheeler behind me was going to make it. All the way up the grade we were blown and buffeted. I was afraid to drive in the outside lane and kept to the left passing lane. By the time we arrived in Grangeville, my hands were sore from clenching the steering wheel, but we made it and I was thankful.
When we finally arrived home, it was dark and we unpacked and headed for bed. When I got up the next morning, Dan had left for his Thursday morning guys Bible study and he'd left a note on the counter saying the wind had broken one of our hybrid poplar trees! I looked out the dining room window and this was the scene:
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| Poor broken tree! |
We had no idea the storm was so widespread. From Riggins to Spokane and north there were downed trees and downed power lines. Our power had been out; we'd noticed blinking clocks when we'd gotten home, but it was back on. We heard that there were people without power until Sunday!
But now we had our work cut out for us. Or at least Dan did. It was still windy on Thursday, so Friday morning Dan put in a call to his buddy Dennis and together they worked out a plan.
If you look carefully at the above photo, you can see Dan's blue shirt as he climbs the ladder to attach a cable to the upright portion of the tree. The other end of the cable was attached to the rear of our pickup off to the right. Dennis ran the chain saw as Dan kept tension on the cable. When the cuts were just right, Dan pulled with the truck and...
WHAM! Down came the main tree followed by the broken top. Now all that was left was the cleanup. Lots and lots of cleanup. But we had help.
Lots of help!
And now we have a big empty spot in our back yard where once a mighty poplar stood. (Come back tomorrow for the story of our trip to Bruder Bear's.) ♥
So -- are these the kind of poplar trees that would just grow back? Or are these special?
ReplyDeleteCutting down a broken tree is dangerous. Glad you had know-how.
Yes, it could grow back, but we don't think we'll do that. Perhaps a maple will replace it, but whatever we do it will have to wait to next spring for best growing conditions.
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