Alex Barrett sent the following update to France Menk who asked that I share it with you. Don’t forget that you can see it for yourself on Monday, 2/6/23. – Lil

For our walk Monday- let’s park at the first landing area you encounter driving in Reservoir Road. There is a loader parked there- looks like a small log truck with a big crane on it- and some red pine telephone poles. I will get there early to direct traffic. My outback made it there no problem today in terms of height clearance. If people have lower-clearance vehicles, they can park out by the barn, but please stay to the side so log trucks can get by.

Also- people do NOT need snowshoes. We will be walking in skidder roads and even off them, the snow isn’t too bad. I would recommend yak trax or microspikes as a good option, however. But, it should be warm with softer ground than today!

Looking forward to Monday.

Alex

10 year growth increments on a red pine log. You can see the increased growth in the early 1980s when it was thinned- then, it slowed down again. Imagine how big the tree would be if we thinned it again in the 1990’s and 2000’s! And, look how fast it was growing early in its life- so amazing!

They have done a nice job retaining wildlife structures like this snag in one of the larger patch cuts.

Chris is using bridge mats to armor a smushy area along the haul road. These will be removed after the harvest.

The partially cut shelterwood in the red pine- looking down toward Walpole and the River. The snowmobile trail is to the left.