Remembering brush cutter glory days

With the FS250 now deceased, a walk today went to places where the former brush cutter achieved great victories.  Here is a pic showing a young birch grove.  Two years ago, these trees were being drowned in the shade of young quaking aspen.  One tank from the FS250 cut the aspen out of the area, then some lopping and transport up the hill turned the aspen into boxes of kindling that burned in the last few weeks.  This is just one of many spots where very severe birch-aspen competition has turned into birch dominance, thanks to the FS250.

Trails can be seen in the snow, even though winter walking is not as common as during the more intense work seasons.  With the trimming spools and cutting line, the FS250 created and maintained our walking trails, which spread like a web from the house.  Expansion of the trail system is always a consideration, and we know the FS250 found much glory clearing our way.  It's amazing what just a few minutes of work can do to transform weedy areas into walkable terrain.

And many baby red oaks are turning into adolescents because of the FS250.  The oak on the left had no shot in 2012 without a big reduction in weeds blocking the sun.  The oak still faces lots of competition from birches in the neighborhood, but just look at him now, about 12 feet taller!

Yet, a forest manager's work is never done.  When the new brush cutter arrives, the vital tool has years of work ahead.  We can't wait for the snow to melt!