September 19, 2001

Our Field Trip to a Logging Demonstration
Hosted by the Pacific Logging Congress, near Vernonia, Oregon, 9/19/01

picture by Sarah picture by George

They are very careful about the soil. They try not to damage it for the trees. They are very careful for everything they do. Like when they cut down trees they planted five more just for one tree. Ryan One machine they use is the machine to cut down the trees. . . . The machine is red and it has a saw at the bottom of it, and when it chops down tress it has four grabbers: two on each side. So when the machine cuts it down it grabs the tree before it falls. The machine turns around and drops the log in the pile behind it. The machine is really cool actually. The machine is very big and fun to watch knock down the trees. Debbie

My favorite machine was the grappler. It had a small hook and it was sort of like a fishing pole. It would cast out, catch a tree, and reel it in.

Marcus

The coolest machine was the one that cut down trees. First a saw-blade cut down the tree. Then it went through a hole in the tractor and cut all the branches off. That one was the coolest.

Libby

picture by Libby picture by Marty

We stopped, and there was a huge machine in front of us. They showed us how it worked. The worker turned on the machine and we watched as it ground up logs into bark chips. . . We kept going, and we watched a helicopter take off. It flew and came back with a tree tied on the string that was hanging on the back of the helicopter! It was cool. Samantha The cut-off-branches machine was when they would pull a tree and put it in with branches and it would cut off the branches to make lumber. Brighton

A helicopter had a long cable that he hooked logs on to get them out of canyons and where the trucks can't get to.

Jacob

I found out that they have to replant how many they cut down. They can't chop down any dead trees or cut any trees by the water.

Chance

There were three cool things that I saw when I went to Vernonia Longview Fibre. One was a machine that grabbed the trees and trimmed them. It measured them and cut them.

Conrad

picture by Cameron

We depend on trees for almost everything. Without trees we would die. Trees help our water. When they fall they make pools so fish can rest. They make our paper and our houses. George The helicopter was pretty cool. It was moving trees from one place to another. The helicopter can move about ½ ton. Marty

I learned about a machine they use that instantly cuts the wood into wood chips. I learned that every tree they cut down they have to plant 2 trees after that. We learned about a machine called the Monster, it cuts down and places trees on trucks.

D. J.

They were sort of telling us that cutting down trees is bad, which I do agree on, but they were cutting them down anyways! But I enjoyed the hike and watching some guys operate these big machines. I also really, really liked getting the free food and stuff.

Sam

The hard hats felt really weird and they give you a hot head. I didn't like them because they look tacky. But they do protect for the most part.

Sarah

picture by Brighton picture by Conrad

I hiked up hills and on gravel, but I'm used to it because I live in the mountains. I also had a small lunch that I ate on the bus. Heather Some people know a lot about trees. Some people can tell just by looking at it how old it is just by hugging it. You should always wear boots, working clothes, and most of all a hard hat. Sadie I liked the way they sent the helicopter to go and get the trees over to the workers. I really liked it. . . I liked the guys that were nice to us. Jessie

There was a machine that would pick the tree up and scan it. Then it would move some of the tree through and trim it with blades. Then it would cut that piece off and do the same with the rest. Another machine would grab the cut down trees and move them to the side of the road. It used a big claw to grab the trees.

Dustin

This field trip was OK. I liked the machinery. It was really neat. Also the trucks and the guides.

Evan

One of the ways to move a tree is with a helicopter. They have a big long cable and as they drive over trees that have been cut they pick them up and move them place to place.

Katie

picture by Samantha picture by Kara

Making bark chips can be very difficult if you don't know what you're doing. First you chop the limbs off of the tree, then you put them in a special machine that makes it into barkchips and hauls them away. Devon Did you know that a Douglas fir won't grow unless it has full sunlight? Not all trees won't grow without full sunlight like the Douglas fir. Also, there are 35,000 redwood trees that are protected. When trees are grown in mostly sun the faster it will grow. Most of the time a Douglas fir would be planted in a clear cut area. That is most of what I learned on Wednesday. Kara

The machinery at the companies make it safe because there's nobody on the ground. It's also safe because they have culverts so that erosion doesn't occur.

Nicc

The day was long but it was so cool when they gave us donuts. . . . They had all kinds of cool things to see like the trees getting knocked down. And it looked safe. The workers looked like they had fun, too.

Amanda

picture by Marcus picture by Nicc

When a machine is near a stream or water they have to stay 100 feet away! Or else they will fall in. One machine will push itself up to get the dirt out of the wheels. Another machine will lift a log and carry it on a string and will drop it where the shredder is. Jolene One of the things I learned is how they got logs they couldn't get to. They have this machine that has a long pole and has a rope attached to it and at the end of the rope there's a claw. They swing the rope around and around then let it go. It goes flying and when the claw lands it clamps shut. Then they pull it up. Cameron

What I learned on the field trip is how they make paper and watch how they cut down trees. Then we had some free stuff, like water and stickers.

Josh

The people have to wear a helmet, boots, and warm clothing. They use a helicopter to carry the logs to places. And I think everyone should stay at least 300 feet away from the equipment.

Christopher

I thought they were killing wildlife but really they're kind of saving it so I shouldn't jump to conclusions like that. Really it's cool that none of it goes to waste. And the bark chips smelled really good and the people were nice.

Teonna

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