If a Tree Falls in the Forest, Will it Crush My Garage?

The caldera experienced high-wind microbursts last Wednesday. I can attest to the strength of the wind because it snapped the trunk of a forty-foot-tall fir tree and deposited it across the roof of my garage. My initial thought when driving up and seeing the problem was, “That tree doesn’t belong there!” Concern then set in as I rushed to inspect the damage to the garage. Fortunately the damage was minimal.

Confronted with the task of removing the tree without causing more damage to myself or the garage, I dashed over to Pat Ridley’s cabin. “Hey Pat, I have a forty foot tree lying across my garage. Can you take a look?” “Sure, let’s go.”

Assessing the scene, Pat began making a plan... “You’ll need my scissor-lift.”  Between rainstorms we secured the tree with logging chains to prevent it from shifting and causing more damage. Climbing into the scissor-lift, Pat and I hoisted ourselves to meet the top of the fallen tree. We cut away the tree’s top which was entangled in other pines. I then began cutting the tree into one-foot sections. Pat grabbed the heavy, wet rounds and threw them to the ground from our 30 foot platform.

Once we reduced the tree down to a manageable twelve feet in length, we secured the top of the log with a rope. Pat slowly lowered it down as I cut it into rounds while standing on its stump.

With the project completed, I have had time to reflect on how much I admire Pat. Seventy-two years old and he was standing beside me in the lift, catching those heavy sections of the pine and throwing them away from the roof to the ground. His knowledge helped limit the damage to the roof to a couple of hundred dollars. I felt like a student in his classroom and I appreciate the knowledge he imparted to me.

There are many individuals living in Island Park who harbor valuable knowledge. Don’t miss any opportunity to learn from those who have spent their lives in Yellowstone Country.