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There is lots to do on my farm, and I got started within a week of moving out here. I decided my first tasks would be to clear the path down some old forest roads I discovered on my property. The trail goes back a good mile into the woods, I walked it at first as many trees fell over the years blocking the way in a vehicle. I decided to come back a few days later with my truck, a reciprocating saw, and a chainsaw if I needed it.

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My truck is back in its element being out in the woods. Its a badass truck, a 3.0L turbo diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee, its lifted and has a steel bumper with internal 10,000 pound winch. I have driven it down many miles of forest roads over the years, but finally now it drives out on my own roads. Soon this truck will just live on the farm, and not driven on county roads. This is because I have modified the truck so much over the years it will not pass inspection here in Virginia. Instead of retrofiting it for "things" I just decided to let the tags expire and it will be a farm truck. I plan on buying another truck soon, a pickup to be the truck I drive around out on the county roads and such.

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I found some interesting things out in the forest such as markers, they started at 1 with no bullets in it. Then number 2 had a few more, 3 was pretty shot up and 4 got a big ol hole blasted into it... no idea who did this, way before I was here.


As I left the forest I returned home to load up and head over to the local hardware store. I wanted to buy a Husqvarna rancher 20" but they were out of stock. But they did have have any left, so I settled on a Craftsman chainsaw.. Hope its any good.

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Well I was let down shortly after getting home. As it was missing vital fluids to operate it. The package came with 2 stroke oil in it, which I bought a larger bottle of in addition to what it came with. And sure enough what the little 2 stroke bottle Craftsman came with was not enough, only 3/4 to fill a 5 gallon gas container. But what was even worse was the chainsaw did not come with any bar oil. And I did not buy any when I was at the store for the chainsaw, assumed it would come with some. I thought my previous Husqvarna came with a small bottle to get you started. So I assumed the competitor would be doing the same.. NOPE!


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> I got to pet a doggo in line waiting to pay for my stuff, it was a happy dog. It made the drive to buy bar oil worth it.

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Had to use a dab of 2 cycle oil from my new bottle as what Craftsman gave me was not enough.

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Next morning we load up my truck and hit the road, my partner @lovely.logic joins me and watches my back out in the forest for any curious bears. I also carry my .357 on my hip if I need to scare it off. Though I hear the ones around here are big pussies, unless its a mother with their cub then I should yell at them to get their attention to scare them off. Mothers are always more dangerous, but if they know your there they will avoid you.

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We drive a little ways down a rugged road, which leads into a small clearing into the forest. It quickly starts to close around us and I found myself running over stumps around corners.. lol my truck is a tad big, need to clear out the stumps but will do that later on with some other tools.

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Where the forest meets the rugged road leading into my property @lost.ryulincoln and I set up a trailcam and captured a bear roaming around. It pawed at my camera for a bit and then left.

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My A/T tires held up well, but I think I am going to put some mudders on it before my tags expire. Feel like these A/Ts may let me down at some point.

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Road noise will no longer be as issue as I will not be on roads anymore.. lol but they did fine for this task.

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Some of the trees were small and my saw made quick work of them.

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It was a slow process, but something that needed to be done.

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Heres one of those signs, I saw them every few hundred feet or so.

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I used two different sized blades on my saw. One for lobbing small branches and the other for the main trunks.

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The road was just wide enough for my truck but I think some corners need some work as I had to cut over hard to get around a few spots.


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The process was to pull the truck up to the downed tree, lob off its smaller branches so it does not drag so bad, cut it down the middle if needed and haul off sections until the road is clear.

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As I do my work out in the forest I look over my shoulder once in awhile, glad my partner came along to watch out for me as well. I told them to blow the horn on my truck if they see something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHrlpr09hcE

>Heres the bear I saw around where I was working. Local hunters tell me its not dangerous, as long as it knows your there.

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Got a bunch of sawdust on me clearing those trees, lots of pine needles and stuff fell on my.. no ticks though! phew...

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I cleared around 7-10 trees from the road, and it will be an on going process. As storms come through new trees will surely fall. 

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Some of these trees look like they have been down for many years, fungi is growing all over the main trunk.

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A few of the bigger fallen trees were wedged into live trees. So they just hung there after I cut it.. lol

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Another tree down, I can now progress to the next downed tree.

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I was amazed this whole time I did not need the chain saw, my little reciprocating saw did great. Though I did bend a few blades.. oops.

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With every tree cleared I got deeper into the forest, it was just us and the wild life.

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Once I cleared out all of the trees until the road turned into a game trail I headed back home. A few water crossings later and my wheels were caked in mud.  So I washed them off and called it a day. 

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