The logger that pulled me out of the muck said that he would be happy to pull
me out again - so push it and see what you can do. I going down a wet and
somewhat "mucky" area mowing and knew that up ahead it would get much
worse, so I chickened out and turned around to go back on this trail. I probably
would have been better off raising the mower and going through the slightly wet
stuff.
The loggers didn't show up as they were having problems with their buncher,
and were trying to get it repaired at another site. After trying to pull the
tractor out with a grip-hoist, and having it only move a couple of inches, I got
on the tractor and was able to inch it out by working it back and forth using
the brakes and engine. It was a GREAT feeling having it up on firm ground. The
mower, however, was still on the other side of the ooze. The sun had set and
Cindy had arrived to assist me.
With 40 foot of chain and the now free tractor we went to work. Cindy climbed
out on the mower, hooked up the chain, and the mower "surfed" out
through the ooze like a boogie board. There was hardly any mud under the deck!!
We just hooked it back up to the 3-point and put it to bed for the night, high
and dry.
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I was "pushing it" and found some deep tracks
left by the skidder. |
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They were a little over a foot deep and at a slight angle. |
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In the foreground you can see where the water was only a
couple of inches deep. That's what it has always been in this area after
a heavy rain. |
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It always stayed quite firm, so I was really expecting no
problems heading back this way. |