The Vermont Cable Yarder

In 1982, a prototype standing skyline cable system was developed and demonstrated in several locations around Vermont. The system was designed to extract low quality trees from the forest leaving the better trees with more room to grow. Lifting trees from the forest with aerial cables eliminated potential soil compaction, erosion, and damage to the best trees that were left to grow. Also the system required much less power and about 1/7 the amount of fuel than conventional ground skidding because no heavy machinery had to be driven via indirect trails into the woods. This system would have been commercially viable if it had been used to access high value timber that was inaccessible to conventional equipment, but the goal was to improve forests by removing low value trees. It was nearly economically viable for extracting low value trees, and would have been profitable if there had been a way to be compensated for the net present value of increased future value of a carefully thinned forest.
This said, the system had several shortcomings. To save cost, the skyline was stored on a wooden reel which was very time consuming, but with a little more money the system could have been fitted with a powered skyline storage drum. The dual winch drums were controlled by clutches and brakes with one drum paying out cable while dragging the brake and the other winching in. With considerably more money, it would have been worthwhile to develop a system that would have allowed much smoother and faster sychronized winch operation without the need to drag brakes and feather clutches. Setting up the system took a considerable amount of planning and time, and required skills that few people had. A report on the project is available at archive.org/st...
Now, 35 years later, with advances in technology, a semi-automated skyline system could be developed that would be easy to set up, simple to operate, and less expensive.

[@therealjosephpowell]

If only they could have seen what they had on west coast and in the European alps. Northern Italy, Switzerland, Austria, eastern France and most of the Baltic nations have small Yarders that handle relatively big wood. It’s great to see someone trying to be innovative with what they have and based off the desire to do it right and considerate of impact.

[@davidfenton3910]

Thanks for sharing Gerry. Beautiful, an efficient minimal impact technique.

[@4hawk9]

Thanks David. With advances in microprocessor controls, we could now make a much more efficient, lower cost system that could be set up and operated by one person.

[@davidfenton3910]

That's great to know. We're currently selling and I would like to work with timber as a 1 man operation when we move. I would be happy to put a prototype into action using your experience to minimise experimental errors in getting a working system. I suppose you're looking to use remote machine operation and auto drop while the one man rigs from the harvest site. I've got your web site for wheeled hand tools and may get in touch in the future. It could be a satisfying experience getting a challenge like this to function well. (Addition: I have an Environmental Science and education background))

[@jimhere1]

Basically a running skyline

[@khrystree9233]

Exactly what i am doing in UK k