Logging Update

"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion) 10/08/2019 at 10:41 • Filed to: None

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The property next to ours is getting logged, and it’s certainly a mixed bag for us. The noise at 6:00am is unbearable. And the land I’ve been walking for 11 years, following old roads, game trails, and working in new trails here and there; it’s unrecognizable in a lot of places.

But it’s not all bad. Depending on what happens with the land next, we’ll still be able to use it some, and there will be new opportunities to make new trails if they let me. We might even buy some of it, who knows?

One thing I do know is there will be one more house now on our road, just next to ours, maybe 250' away. They cleared a lot yesterday and WOW. It’s probably 2 acres of just total clearcut. I guess that’s what the owner wanted, but damn.

our view is still better

One side effect that I’m not sure the landowner is aware of, is her now-unobstructed view of a trailer park and an industrial area . It wouldn’t have been hard to avoid that, but in fact, I think they’re going to cut even more on the left side. It was very foggy yesterday so you couldn’t see it... but I could have told them.

They haven’t been too close to our property line yet, but they’re going to come over and cross our property to get at some downed trees at the neighbor’s house on the other side - all with express permission . I spent a long time with the guy this morning, and he’s going to take out some pesky trees of mine on his way by , that are worthless but also tall enough to block our view partially. A clump of trees that would take me probably 40 hours to clear myself, will be gone in 10 minutes with the feller-buncher. And they’re going to level out a path across our existing clearing, to use to pull some logs out from the other neighbor. Free landscaping work! And free tree work!

Like I said, it’s not all bad. I just can’t wait for this to all be over.

I painstakingly maintain our view by selective cuts - whatever comes above the horizon. I want to see the distant mountains, nothing else nearby is worth cutting for. And with the clearing done to our north, we just might get a much better view that way than we’ve ever had. I think I’ll know by this afternoon.

Below is what we have already, to the south and west. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > functionoverfashion 10/08/2019 at 10:59

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Oops... (on their view)

Ash78, voting early and often > functionoverfashion 10/08/2019 at 11:28

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Reminds me of the stuff I read about in parts of Western NC and East TN: People buy expensive land up on mountains with amazing views of the valleys and farms below . Property values go up. Property taxes go up. Zoning boards allow farmers to sell to developers. Farm becomes subdivision. People up on the mountain are now pissed :)

Brickfoot Ginger > functionoverfashion 10/08/2019 at 11:45

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I don’t get it either.  Move to the woods, cut it all down for view and huge lawn.  Why the crap do you want a huge lawn.  I know I have a half acre of grass to mow, and I would not make it bigger.  Give me trees.  But I know people are coming.  This town has maintained a population of about 100 for a long time, but now that we’re a world class Mtn bike destination, I don’t know.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Ash78, voting early and often 10/08/2019 at 11:47

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The more camping I do, the more I consider buying property in western NC. Then I consider the hassles of owning vacation property, and forget about it. I did once ask one of those “mountain community” developments if I could buy a lot and park a trailer there periodically instead of building a home. They were not amused. Now I wouldn’t even want a trailer, just my tent, but I’d rather roam around.

Ash78, voting early and often > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 10/08/2019 at 12:05

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Hahaha, me too! I specifically asked if I could just pour a concrete pad and tow a trailer there for occasional weekends. Virtually all of them have the same answer: You are required to build something permanent with 12/24 months. So you can’t be a land speculator and you can’t even tow a tiny house there. Forget it.

But there are still plenty of spots all along the ridges in NE AL, North GA, and places like that where you can buy a piece of land and do whatever you want. Just not in those fancy planned communities that NC loves so much.

A quick example is Cloudland Canyon in NW GA. Lots of homes are built along the cliffs just outside the park, but you might drive 30 minutes each way for any retail or civilization:

functionoverfashion > Brickfoot Ginger 10/08/2019 at 12:50

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Where is this world class mt bike destination you speak of? Don’t worry, I won’t come and buy up land to develop haha I just want to go biking. 

functionoverfashion > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/08/2019 at 12:51

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I was just up there and the owner came down to see the cut. She’s like “oh I guess you can see the uh, mobile home park, huh”

Yeah. ‘Tis what happens when you cut half your property down. You can see stuff. 

Brickfoot Ginger > functionoverfashion 10/08/2019 at 13:19

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Copper Harbor, MI.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > functionoverfashion 10/08/2019 at 13:29

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LOL

How soon will they be planting some trees?

functionoverfashion > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/08/2019 at 14:06

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Well, ironically, she said “go ahead and cut some more” to that side. I *think* (and she thinks) that putting the house back far enough on the lot, where it’s level and reasonable to do so in the first place, will keep her from seeing that. I wouldn’t have cut another leaf, but hey. Every bit she cuts on that side has the potential to open up views for us as no cost to us. So... 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > functionoverfashion 10/08/2019 at 14:12

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Is her house getting closer to yours, then?

functionoverfashion > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/08/2019 at 14:44

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Not really - the lots are longer east-west, and the views are to the west. She’s talking about pushing it “back” (east) away from the bank, tucking it back against that tree line. More or less.

I expect the cutting will be done when I get home, so it should be interesting. Tomorrow they’ll be dragging logs across our property. I’d really like to be there to see a gigantic skidder rolling by about 100' from our house. I’m sure the kids would like to see that too. I’m also very nervous about it, for no particular reason - it’s downslope from our yard. Still. This equipment is BIG.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > functionoverfashion 10/08/2019 at 15:01

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Oh yeah, my little guy would flip. Love watching modern logging equipment - just incredibly efficient.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Brickfoot Ginger 10/08/2019 at 21:49

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My cousin bought a house on 6+ acres, and the first year legitimatly had to take several trees down. Has a bit over an acre of grass , plants grass where he took the trees down . “why don’t you just keep rough and mow it every few weekss” No I can’t do that. keep in mind he lives in the middle of no where. then a year takes down some more and plants another 1/4 acre. like wtf is wrong with you?! .