Reopening Northern Colorado - Episode #2 - Bald Mountain Sawfest

Episode #2 of the "reopening noco" series was loooong overdue. But logistics prevented us from getting our saw class in over the winter months thus delaying our ability to run saws for the USFS in an official capacity. Well that changes on July 29-30 cause i'll be "bucking" certified. That means I can cut trees out of the trail, but not cut them down if they're standing.
I ran up bald mountain 517 in larimer county (just outside of red feather lakes) to see if the trail had been cleared or not, and ended up cleaning up quite a bit of what was leftover.
A quick fun day, figured we'd take you along. Once we have that saw class out of the way the real fun should begin as we can get back in on some of these additional closed roads and start cutting!
Happy 4th of July!

[@markreetz1001]

good work Justin. cleaning up after a fire is a tough job.

[@JustinKingOffroad]

Once we have our chainsaw certs end of the month, things can really kick off! It's been a looooong road to get here. Those classes are few and far between.

[@MaxZomboni]

It's great to see it getting opened up again. I just watched one of the first KZbin videos I have seen of a CDT hiker hiking the Continental Divide Trail loop through Rocky Mountain NP since before that fire. He had no problem getting through. But they still had the Trail Closed, No Access, Turn Around Now signs up.

[@sassinator21]

Nice work Justin! I’m gonna be heading up there this weekend.

[@gilbertarnold8666]

Great video thank you!

[@prophotos365]

Nice thanks for the view of the aftermath! Got word from a friend the WBDR from the Columbia River to Canada is open, but there were a lot of down trees that had to be cut out of the way!!

[@ColoradoAdventureClub]

We rode that last weekend. its crazy to see the burn

[@JustinKingOffroad]

Yeah it's nuts. The burn mosaic is crazy in parts how it skipped around.

[@ColoradoAdventureClub]

@@JustinKingOffroad Its nice to see that most of dead man is good and 970 and 956 are still alive!

[@howardmiller4631]

2nd loved your TFL cameo!!

[@JustinKingOffroad]

thanks!!

[@TwoFeatherChannel]

after a day of heavy winds will bring some more of those trees down

[@JustinKingOffroad]

For sure!

[@saimhaim]

Unfortunately made a campfire bonanza for "overlanders". Your doing the right thing, however we might want to think about keeping the idiots off the trails.

[@JustinKingOffroad]

Now that's funny lol!

[@laytonb7]

Also if you want a safety buddy when you buck or fell next time send a note…

[@michaelcook184]

You need your saw carb adjusted and rev it up before you start your cut on restarting when hot put choke on and take right back off this puts it on high idle will start easier good job on helping out opening trails

[@JustinKingOffroad]

this is some kind of 1st generation electronic carb. no adjustments. they discontinued this saw lol.

[@davidchapin8297]

It is really sad to see this. Glad you are able to get back out in the area. Just one question, where are your chaps? I know, I used a chainsaw for many years without them myself. However, now at 70+ years of age and having seen what can happen in an instant and what these new chaps can do to stop a chain I think they are necessary in all instances of using a saw. Just my personal opinion, not trying to tell you what to do. Have a great summer.

[@JustinKingOffroad]

hey david, i do have chaps. i use them in certain scenarios. my saw has anti-kickback teeth and i usually put myself in a position to where the saw can't get me even if it tried. i'll brace it or stand to the side. should i use them, of course. i've also ran saws since i was 15, so it's not my first rodeo. complacency gets you in the end, but we're good here!

[@andywilliment581]

Hi Justin, sad to see the aftermath of those forest fires. You don’t have to wait to be certified. Just watch a KZbin video and the you become an instant expert and can do anything. 😂😂😎🇬🇧

[@mtnshooter2487]

What ? No swamper ? lol and you need a dead and down permit to take it hm.

[@JustinKingOffroad]

if you're removing it from the forest you need a permit yes.

[@laytonb7]

Can this Certificate be had via Google Certs? JK. Thanks for your efforts on this …one day we will finally cross Athens up there!

[@JustinKingOffroad]

lol i wish i could record the process this friday/saturday but that's a no-go there.

[@gerardoe.barbaswelding6854]

you have work for me?

[@qdoggyrufruf]

Got any word on moody hill?

[@JustinKingOffroad]

i think they're still doing tree mitigation up there. was hoping to actually drive that route here soon and put eyes on it. we've got the codes.

[@qdoggyrufruf]

@@JustinKingOffroad awesome I'm hoping that opens back up soon. Best super close trail to foco. Thanks!!

[@JustinKingOffroad]

@@qdoggyrufruf 100% agree, one of my favorite trails cause i can be there in 20 minutes lol

[@laytonb7]

I’m guessing the updated word is flood damaged!

[@qdoggyrufruf]

@@laytonb7 do you know for sure? I'm about to just drive up there and see for myself