A very nice day here in western Montana. Was the weather good enough for me to get into the Beta Site without the SxS? Well , here is last week:
And here’s the same thing today:
So, I’m gonna call that a yes.
First thing I gotta say is – getting the Milwaukee M18 chainsaw was not the worst idea I’ve ever had. Does it do everything a gas saw does? Probably not. But where it absolutely shines is for ‘touch ups’ and quick jobs. The situations where you’re driving along, turn a corner, and theres a lodgepole pine crossing the road. Hop out, grab the Milwaukee, zip zip zip, and youre done. Lightweight, no fuels to mix, no muss, no fuss. It’s just handy. And even though it has a grip safety of sorts, I like that I can pull the battery when Im done and the thing becomes absolutely harmless unless you drop it on someone.
After cutting a buncha downed timber, I had put down the saw and was moving the cut pieces when I slipped and took a backwards tumble. And somehow, in the tumble, without even being aware it happened, my glasses got snagged off my face. Trying to find your glasses, when youre not wearing your glasses, is a major pain the posterior. I had a set of prescription sunglasses in the truck, but was I in the truck? No. I was well away from the truck. After about fifteen minutes they were found. So, since the Beta Site likes to teach me lessons here’s the two I learned that day: first, the dorky safety strap for the glasses is going to have to become a thing. Second, I need to keep a spare pair in the pack that I’m carrying around when I’m off doing this sort of stuff.
While I was up there I also moved the Monovault that I left up there a few weeks ago. Since I could get in with the truck, I tossed the Monovault in the back and took it further into the property and relocated it. In a few weeks, I’ll be burying one of these and that’ll serve as my hidden stash until I get things built.
Another thing I did while up there was to grab some water samples from the creek. Be nice to see whats in the water up there before I make any plans around it.
And, finally, I am in discussions with a surveyor to get the place pinned and marked so i know exactly where I can and should not be doing stuff. Good fences make good neighbors and all that jazz. I have no intention of putting up any fencing at the moment, but I very much want a definitive answer to where the borders are so I don’t inadvertently violate someone elses property. It ain’t gonna be a cheap process but its gonna be a buttload cheaper than fixing an encroachment problem at a later date. And, most importantly, I want to know exactly how much of that creek is on my side of things.
All in all, a good trip. I found out the most important thing I needed to know: that the conditions now are such that I can get the truck into the property. This means that I can now start shifting a goodly amount of material to the Beta Site…supplies, tools, etc. Also, Im thinking that maybe next week I’ll bring the camping gear, which needs to get stashed out there anyway, and stay out there for the weekend. Explore the property at my leisure, say hi to the bears, that sorta thing.
Sounds like you had a great day!
I’ll second the approval of a battery chainsaw. Never thought I’d like one until I got one. Mine is a Worx brand, and does double duty as a polesaw if the long handle is nearby. Are they perfect for everything? Nope. But like you stated, for brush/ limb clearing, storm cleanup, and a bunch of other small jobs, they’re fantastic. And mine with the pole means I can trim limbs without needing a ladder… not something to underestimate when you’re out in the woods. Guy I knew as a kid was out trimming trees from a ladder. Not sure what happened, but the ladder came down with him on it. He said it was a long crawl back to his truck with a broken leg. Just one of those things that always stuck with me, chainsaws are much safer when the operators feet are on the ground.
Hey Commander! Love your site… rare commenter but fellow long term life-enthusiast.
RE: Glasses. Learned back in my Infantry Days the HARD WAY about those. Was wearing my civvie glasses, at night, while roaming the ‘back 40’ so to speak… mind you these were NOT the Army Issue unkillable Rape-Prevention Goggles issued to us…. we were out on a winter field problem when my gear got smashed to Hell and gone. (as I recall a VERY large chunk of ice dislodged from a tree and smashed me in my face, breaking my “Sally Jesse Raphael Come-Fuck-Me Glasses” as my Boss jokingly called them)
Said aforementioned boss, my senior NCO (E-7) assigned a PV1 (lowest ranking Private E-1) as my “Seeing Eye Private” as I was a Corporal (E-4P (promotable) and ‘dummy corded’ him to me like a compass or NVG for the remaining 4 days until we got back to the rear where I could get my backup eyeballs so to speak… I WAS Blind AF by normal standards…
Ever since I make sure I have multiples of multiples of Glasses, even after getting my real lenses replaced (cataracts due to burn pit exposure) I still need glasses for close-in work and EXTREME long distance with Iron Sights.
I recall reading somewhere that Teddy Roosevelt was so concerned about losing his glasses in battle that when he went up San Juan Hill he carried no less than a dozen pair.
CZ,
Congrats on getting things done at the Beta Site yesterday. I have been in the same situation with eyeglasses. Wound up getting cataract surgery a couple of years ago. Absolutely changed how I see. I went with new lenses that allow me to not wear glasses for distance viewing. In actuality, they allow me to see better close in. I still use glasses (like right now as I type), but I was amazed at how much better I can see. now it is just cheap readers that I pick up at CVS or Walgreens. At 75 I can use all the help I can get.
On a side note, I just saw that Rawles is changing how often he will be posting.
At age 41, had lasik surgery to correct 20/450 sight in both eyes, and it was a freaking miracle – 20/20 out the door in 1/2 hour. But, I needed cheaters thereafter.
At age 66 had cataract surgery, which got me back to 20/40 for distance, and still left me needing cheaters. Now, at 68, still stable vision, and I have cheaters scattered across the house and in my vehicles.
Glasses have been the bane of my existence since the 4th grade.
Kurt
Where does that tank come from ? I need one also and we are going to Indiana next week full and coming home empty .
Our new aloha site is another 60 mi n of zoo town and we are doing a windmill pump with a. Buries reservoir uphill .
I’d like the 1500 gallon version and shipping will be nuts .
Jess
Dang there are a lot of us Montana folks in here.
Yea we could have quite the party Brother…
Surely by now you’ve seen these for Milwaukee batteries. But if not…https://www.amazon.com/Converter-Milwaukee-Battery-Regulator-Terminal/dp/B0CQJDXV76
Looks like bunches of people are offering these. Not all have a fuse. Not all have an on-off switch.
Nice. I just bought this: https://amzn.to/42rOCCH
Regarding water tanks, there are some at Lowes, Home Depot and Tractor Supply. Check their website if you are close to one of them.
Regarding getting your land surveyed, I surprised that you could even buy a piece of land without a survey. I know a bank wouldn’t finance it and the abstract title office around here would insist on one. I think normally the seller pays for the survey.
It is much easier to post no trespassing signs when you have a survey! Although On X allows you to get close.
The advantage of a modern survey is you will get stakes in the ground. Ours relies on a large rock, a 24-inch oak tree (now larger) and a barbwire fence that hasn’t been maintained for at least 60 years. I usually find he barbwire by tripping on it. Thankfully, it is only on one side of the property.
When I was talking to the surveyor, I mentioned that OnX show the borders of the property and in his experience how accurate was the OnX. He said that they were accurate to about 30′. However, I will say the one survey marker I have at the corner of the property comes within probably a dozen feet of where OnX says the corner is. But…I need the most accurate data possible before I do anything that might impact or affect the neighbors property.