CUT, SPLIT, STACK AND STORE

Our first campers finally arrived.  They were a small group of young men and women with four adult leaders.  They were a good test of the facilities, and were the first to raise the Stars and Stripes for the season.

They wanted to do some kind of service project during their stay.  One of the leaders came prepared with a chain saw and offered to cut down and block some dead trees and have the campers stack the wood near the main fire pit.

  Two dead pines were pointed out not far from the main lodge.  Scott put on his overalls and went to work.

 He dropped one tree right next to the fence but bringing down the other one in a good place was a challenge.  It was suggested he tie a rope to it to make sure it fell without hitting any out buildings.

The young men were eager to use their muscles to pull down the tree.

 The girls who were carrying off sections of the first tree stopped work to see what would happen next.

 One of the camp managers had a better idea.  He sent the kids out of the way and brought in our big green John Deere.

 With a roar of diesel smoke the tree went over.

 Scott trimmed off the branches while the ladies watched.

 Meanwhile DH, a long time scout master, was checking the guys to see if they were current on their axe yard skills.

 Soon there were chunks of tree arriving at the wood shed.

 Our designated splitter was a young man from their school football team.

 In no time at all the wood was cut, split, stacked and ready for their evening campfire.