Tree trunks ride a cable car

May 24, 2024

teaser-bildLogging in rough terrain

The Belgenbach valley is sometimes steep and has only a few passable paths. However, the forest conversion envisaged in the project requires the felling and removal of the non-native spruce trees. More complex, unconventional methods have to be used for this, but they also offer some advantages.

The cable crane technique enables timber to be transported on steep slopes. For this purpose, a mast with cable winches is installed on the passable path above the forest plot, and a stable tree is used as the lower anchorage for the cables on the forest area itself. Depending on the length of the transport route, one or more middle stations (additional trees) are set up. A trolley travels along the rope with the hauling system and drags the timber up the slope, where the logs are delimbed, sawn and stored. In our case, distances of over 250 meters in length and around 90 meters in height are covered.

The procedure offers further advantages. As the system can be operated by window control, the forestry workers are spared long, steep paths. The forest floor is not driven over and the wood only touches the ground over a small area. This minimizes soil compaction, so that important soil functions such as water seepage and water storage are largely preserved. This is an advantage for all plants that are to rebuild the new forest after the forestry operation.

At the top below the treetops, the trolley travels on the tensioned steel cable

back to overview