Description

ANNOTATION: In this study, two units, one on steep slopes and one on gentle slopes, were harvested using variations to conventional harvesting systems in northeastern Washington. On the steep slope unit, cut-to-length processing and forwarding were observed on the steep slopes in small diameter timber. Adjacent stands were harvested using the cut-to-length processor and a feller-buncher, but were transported to the landing with a cable yarder. On the gentle slope units, cut-to-length harvesting at 40-foot trail spacing was compared to whole tree harvesting, a unit felled mechanically but processed at the forwarder trail, and a unit felled by hand but processed at the trail when trail spacing was set at 130 feet. Comparisons are made between production and cost for these system variations. Harvesting costs on the gentle slope units were significantly less than on the steep slopes. Whole tree harvesting was the least costly system. On steep slopes, the lowest costs were observed with the cut-to-length processor and forwarder, followed by the costs of cable yarding and bunched logs uphill. The processing and bunching provided by the cut-to length processor appeared to improve production of the cable yarder when handling small timber.