Off Topic ~ Lumber Prices~

[Ron Smith]

We were out in the Coast Range of the Cascade mountains. Just cruising logging roads and doing some shooting. A common weekend outing for us.

This is a favorite stop and have a sandwich spot.

This is Private, not Federally managed, timberland owned by Roseburg Timber Co.

It is very common for private timber company as well as Forest Service roads to be blocked to prevent access by motorized vehicles. This is a stop gap to prevent erosion and forest fires in vulnerable areas.

Note the 10-12' high by 25-30' square "slash pile" dozed up to block access. They have also dug out a "tank trap", 20-30' across and 10-15' deep to make sure. They dug it so deeply, that a nearby natural stream was diverted and now runs through it. Approximately 10-12' across and 4' deep.





After all of the time and expense to block the road. They install a very well engineered vandal proof, expensive gate. Redundancy at it's zenith.



And then they realize that they may need access to the area for fire crews, in the event of a fire.

So, they sure don't want anybody parked in the way, just in case.



Ever wonder why lumber and timber products are so expensive? A great example of Timber Dollars at work.

[lew1]

So how did you get around the blockages ??

[apis mellifera]

Being employed by the government and traveling in areas just like that, I can tell you that around here that gate is far from vandal proof. I've seen gates made from rail road ties and 8" pipe ripped apart. Local people believe they have a right to use private corporate/government land as their own. Unfortunately, they don't offer the courtesy of not littering and being mindful of what their four wheelers do to the surroundings. Around here, that gate would be cut down and sold for scrap and there would be multiple trails around the trap. With enough speed, even an S10 will get over one of those piles!

[lugerholsterrepair]

Like any good lock, it only keeps the honest people out. Jerry Burney

[Steinar]

Good luck finding a way around it Ron!
Here in Norway, we have something called "allemannsretten", wich basically allows everyone to camp and hike everywhere. Including all private land. However, it is forbidden to use any form of engine driven vehicle off roads anywhere without special licence. But blocking a timber road like that, is just silly.. as long as there is no damage done to the nature by driving on it.

[hopscotch]

Unfortunately over here, people consider it their 'right' to dump their garbage,stolen cars, washers, paint etc. etc. on these rural properties. If the gate wasn't there and some 'idiot' drove into the ditch, they would sue Roseburg Lumber for a small fortune because there is a "road' there and nobody had told them not to drive into the ditch.
Just like the Post Office has to put up signs when it rains here to tell people the floor is wet so if they fall, they have been warned.
It would be nice if over here we could use the forests as they do in Norway, but because of a few, sadly these areas have had to be gated off to the public.

Joe Evans

[lugerholsterrepair]

Morgan, Here in Norway, we have something called "allemannsretten", wich basically allows everyone to camp and hike everywhere. Including all private land.

If the general public could come onto my land and camp I would not call that private land.

Jerry Burney

[wlyon]

After 32 years as a Federal Forester I have seen our public do just about anything to our land that can be done. Years ago the 10 % that ruin it for all of us was small in numbers. Now the 10 % are many. Respect for many things is gradually disappearing. I wish I knew the aswer for returning to the good old days, but I don't. We can only expect to see more land closed off. Bill

[Steinar]

Jerry, well.. not private land, as in a small property outside a house. But if someone owns a large piece of land, that's the case.
Most farms have some for forrest connected to it, like my farm does. It is perfectly legal for anyone to camp and hike there. Sometimes I see people with tents within my property, I don't mind at all.. Everyone is welcome as long as nothing is left behind when they leave. For fishing or hunting they need to purchase a license from me, but I only charge for the hunting.

Back in the days (up til the 1970's) it was quite common to dump anything everywhere here in norway, as long as it was away from sight.. glad things like that has improved! I have had a heck of a job removing rusty oil barrels etc.. The biggest problem today is the deep tracks from heavy equipment, wich stays for hundreds of years.