Improving Cable Thinning System Productivity by Modifying Felling Phase Operations

Two methods of felling were tested in a thinning operation to determine if Scandinavian techniques in manual felling could be applied successfully in combination with a cable yarder for thinning in young stands of western hemlock and Douglas-fir. The study results suggest that manual felling productivity was much lower using the Scandinavian techniques, although subsequent yarding productivity was improved by more than 170% when compared with yarding production after conventional felling operations. Cost estimates developed during the study suggest that productivity improvements in the yarding phase reduced the cost of processed logs delivered to roadside by more than $2.50 per ton for the Scandinavian system.