Timber harvesting through the ages

A discussion with employees of the Giswil forest holding
(Mederenwald, 16.3.2023)

André Halter:

We’re here in Giswil’s Mederen Forest, and we’re carrying out thinning work. Three employees from the Giswil forest holding are here with a Welte skidder. We’re performing ground-based logging. The district forester and I marked the trees to be felled around a year ago, and now that it’s winter we’re felling the trees as planned. We’re mainly felling “moon phase wood” for a local carpenter who uses it for his houses, which are made completely of wood. We’re the carpenter’s main supplier, and each year we fell around 15,000 m3 of spruce and fir moon wood for this company.

Noel Riebli:

Usually I clean the log, especially because of the moss, which contains grains of sand that can dull a chainsaw pretty quickly. Afterwards, once I’ve determined the direction in which the tree will fall, I saw a bottom cut, which is a horizontal cut in the trunk. On my saw I have a sight line showing me exactly where the tree should land. I can see it right on this line. Then I make a slanted cut from above, and when these two cuts meet, a triangle-shaped piece is removed from the tree. This triangle, known as a face cut or directional notch, determines the direction the tree should fall. When I insert the bar of my chainsaw right into the back of the cut, I can see precisely where the tree should lay. Then I will make the final felling cut, which is slightly raised above the bottom cut, and that’s what gives it a tipping line. Then I give the tree a bit of a hinge. If I were to just cut it down, the tree would fall wherever gravity takes it. This is usually down into the valley. It’s always a bit of a trade-off. Not too much, because then it usually doesn’t work. But I can’t give it too little either, because if I did that the tree might simply get loose and fall wherever it wants. And finally, every time is different, like I said, it really depends; you take a good look when you’re examining the tree and ask yourself: do I have to set a wedge with an axe in the back? We have a skidder here, which means we can also do a lot with a rope. Wedging is pretty strenuous, especially if you have to do it for a long time. It’s very hard on the body.

Lukas Stutz:

I operate the W 130 Welte, a skidder with a crane. It also has a double-drum winch with 12 tonnes of pulling power on each winch. The machine weighs 17 tonnes and has a four-cylinder Volvo Penta motor. It’s important to keep a lookout around the machine at all times to ensure that no one gets injured, because the skidder has blind spots. Actually, you can see quite a lot, but you can’t see everything. You have to concentrate on what you’re doing. Sometimes you’re mentally but not physically exhausted in the evening. When I’m operating the vehicle I listen to the radio, unless the reception isn’t all that good out in the forest. Then I’ve got a USB stick with all sorts of music on it, everything from folk to hard rock.

Noel Riebli:

When we’re riding around in the skidder, we – meaning the operator and the people out doing the felling – all carry a radio. I’m wearing it here on my chest on my harness. It’s got a cable leading to an earpiece, so I can hear if they call me while I’m sawing. When it comes to workplace safety this is one of the most important things, especially if you go too far or you’re dragging and unloosing. Communication with the operator is extremely important.

Thomas Riebli:

The chainsaw is the primary tool for Noel and me. You’ve got to be careful with it, though. Keep the air filter clean so it runs properly. And then you have to sharpen the blade of course – the better it cuts, the easier and safer you can work. Then you have to pay close attention not to saw down into the dirt. And you have to really clean the tree where you plan on sawing. Yeah, that’s the most important thing.

Noel Riebli:

My grandfather worked in the forest for many years. Together with Thomas, in fact. My father also worked in the forest, and that’s what got me into this line of work.