[sapva]

Have three large downed trees on my local trail, all 2.5 - 3+ ft in diameter. Two with the root plates at 90 degrees, one at 60 degrees hung in the fork of another tree. Have no idea what to do with the hung tree, scares the crap out of me (maybe re-route the trail). The other two pretty sure I can remove, but I've never released a 20' root plate. Any tips or advice?

 

[Cotharyus]

Sawyer training. Tree work is dangerous. Training will give you the know how to deal with such things, and understand whether you want to mess with it or not.

 

[epic]

I think if I were you I'd just re-route.

 

[bsieb]

Or at least reroute until such time as you have the resources to deal with
big trees.

 

[sapva]

Or at least reroute until such time as you have the resources to deal with big trees.

Yes, will probably re-route for now. It will take me at least a few weeks to get the two that are not hanging. May only get one if I don't figure out a way to release the biggest one lying 4' off the ground at the root ball. Not much time left before it will be too hot and humid to ride.

 

[sapva]

Sawyer training. Tree work is dangerous. Training will give you the know how to deal with such things, and understand whether you want to mess with it or not.

Do have some training, and enough experience to know it's pretty risky. Think I'll try to find someone with more experience than me, if nothing else to confirm that I should just let it be.

 

[cjohnson]

I had a down 10" tree with a relatively small root ball, approx 2' across. I made my first cut approx 15' from the root, cut through, and the tree flipped upright. Where is still stands. I have a 15' tall stump.

Scared the heck out of me.

 

[Cotharyus]

Do have some training, and enough experience to know it's pretty risky. Think I'll try to find someone with more experience than me, if nothing else to confirm that I should just let it be.

Kudos. This is exactly what I mean. I've attacked situations like this before. Sometimes a cut some distance from the root will allow the tree to stand back up, leaving you a stump. Other times it just lays there. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to have a mini-X handy to fix it. Other times, yes, rerouting is not just the fastest, but also the easiest, and the safest.