Just gossuping

I grew up in the woods, I was named after the woods (Forrest Wright), and grew up in in logging country. I was born and raised in Sandpoint, Idaho and started logging when I was 16 years old for my close friends. I cut timber on and off for the next 8 years and then got a mechanic job at a saw shop were I currently work.
 Working in the woods is a magical thing for me dont quite know how but it is where I find peace even while working with drunk missfit loggers. My first logging job (legit) I was 19 and had many chainsaws, (oh yeah, I collect chainsaws too) Mabie 9 or 10 if I can remember right. I used both major brands of chainsaws Husqvarna and Stihl in many different sizes for different cutting styles and needs. I always have a small limbing saw, and at least 2 mid size felling saws (70cc) with full wrap handles. I also always carry along a big saw 93cc and bigger for cutten big old growth timber.
That first job I started out thinning a small patch of white fir and cedar for a private guy. I worked 9 hr days, got a paid 1 hour lunch and learned to run a john deere 450b cat skinner. It was winter time so the work was very wet but I loved it. I had to fell and limb the trees then skid them out to a landing and limb and buck them into 12, 14 and 16 foot lenghs that would fit on the modifyed 2.5 ton chevy c-60 truck. My boss would load the logs with a john deere tractor with forkes on it; VERY SCARY. Somtimes the logs would come off the forks when the truck was almost full and the log would roll off the truck on the other side.
 The next few years I found my self gyppo logging and also doing some custom hazard tree removal. The tree removal job never worked out too well because I couldn't afford brodform liability logging insurance. I started working for a yarder crew in Idaho that never paned out because the boss was a drunk. He hired me to be a yarder engineer on his Skagit SJ5 swing yarder. I never got to run this machine due to the fact that their was not enough wood on the ground to skid, so he put me down in the brush to cut out corroders. He liked my strip layout and had me felling instead of running yarder, which was fine by me cause I love cutten. That job only lasted 3 months before I quit due to getting tired of being yelled at by a drunk bullbuck.
 I was again back to self imployed and doing almost anything to make a buck. That is when I started cutten a selling firewood by the cord. I bought me an old chevy 1 ton pickup and started firewooden. I normally average 1 cord a day. That includes looking for the wood, felling it, skidding and bucking and finally splitting and loading. Firewood is a lot of work no matter what people tell you. I have had 4 or 5 trucks for firewood and the skidding and hauling task takes a toll on the drivetrain. I almost never make any money firewooden due to the cost of food, and breakdowns.
 My years out logging on and off with gyppo outfits I have found that I enjoy the pace of cat and skidder logging but also like yarder jobs because the day goes by faster. My last logging job was felling for a yarder in eastern Washington. There was alot of cedar and big lodgepole on that job. Cedar is a bastard to fell due to the softness. The hinge wood usually breaks off before the face cut closes somtimes causing the tree to swing out of the lead or if the cedar is really dry I have seen them go over sideways while trying to wedge them over.
 Now I am the shop foreman at a small engine mechanic shop. I like this job because I get a steady pay check BUT the quality of my life has gone down the tube. I enjoy breathing fresh air daily and listening to Detroit diesels screaming. I enjoy the rain and like working in it, as it is a natural cooler so I can work harder.
 Watching Ax men brings me back to logging even though I am just sitting on the coutch. Seeing Dwayne getten all riled up is just like what happened with many crews I have worked with. I cant find enough words to say how much I enjoy watching Ax men or any other logging show.  
 Thank you Mike pihl and his funny but hard working crew. Hopefully I can once again get back to my dream: LOGGING