OAKVILLE, Wash. -- "With a winch and a log arch, a small guy can do about everything," Ken Lallemont said.

The Game of Logging, which he instructs, involves working with small-scale tools available to the small forest owner.

James Peet, a small forest owner who assisted Lallemont in the four-day course at Wild Thyme Farm, described some of the gear necessary for harvest:

* ATV: Peet recommended a minimum engine size of 450cc. Four-wheel-drive, independent suspension and a stick shift give best control over the vehicle. Racks make it more versatile for carrying hand tools, and a winch on the front can help extract trees or the ATV. Adding a 2-inch hitch mount on back adds the ability to haul other equipment.

* Log arch: Different sizes are available for different needs, Peet said, and tire size and tread should suit the terrain and soil conditions. A large arch can extract up to 1,100 pounds of log, "similar to what an ATV can handle." It's safer to move a log with an arch than to drag it along the ground, he said. It also leaves a cleaner log.

A junior arch can move smaller logs by hand, or it can hold up the rear end of a longer log being hauled with the large arch.

* Chain saw: The right size is one that suits the job and that can be handled safely, Lallemont said. Keeping the chain sharp and maintaining the motor require continual attention.

* Logger's tape: This tape measure is specifically designed to keep on the belt and determine where to buck the log.

* Safety gear: A hard hat with safety visor and ear protection are the starting place, Lallemont said. "You'll lose points in my class anytime you're without any of these."

Chaps protect the legs and feet, especially when cutting. Gloves and steel-toed shoes add necessary protection.

In most wooded areas, bear protection is critical, Peet said. He recommended carrying bear spray and a loud air horn to repel the animals.

-- Steve Brown

Online

www.atvsafety.org/