Four Leaf Logging Ltd. has been operating in the Interior for over 24 years but last year Ian was looking to broaden his horizons and move into a more challenging working environment. " Working in the Interior timber can get a little monotonous and since my nephew was working on our other TK732 with the Gilbert 3024 I thought I’d head to the coast", explained Mitchell. With the amount of second growth timber being harvested on the Island steadily increasing, Mitchell could see the opportunity for an experienced operator and a good machine to gain some steady work. Since this was a new opportunity for Mitchell he started a new company called Hellraorn Creek Logging & Consulting Ltd. and contacted Bill Lusted, Branch Sales Manager at the Finning Dealership in Castlegar to find a used Timberking and not just any Timberking either, Mitchell had done his any Timberking either, Mitchell had done his homework, he homework, he was looking for the mammoth TK1127T.

A long time Finning client and committed Caterpillar owner, Mitchell was looking for the biggest and toughest machine on the market and it wasn’t long before Finning had located a machine for him. That was only one part of the solution though because Mitchell wanted a felling head of equal stature to go with his new machine. Mitchell wanted a head that could be as flexible and productive as possible. Unlike the Interior he knew he would be working in timber that varies greatly in size, is at least 10 taller and is located in very different operating conditions. Again Mitchell looked to his Finning dealer for answers. When it comes to big felling heads the new kid on the block is the massive Gilbert 3028 hot saw felling head with a 28" capacity and an impressive gear/hydraulic driven rotator. The 3028 is considerably light for its size weighing in at about 7,400 lbs which makes a huge difference when falling downhill. This head combined with the TK1127T makes for a monster machine that gave Mitchell the tools he needed to get established on BC’s West Coast.

When Mitchell arrived on the coast he immediately found work with well-known Island loggers Lemare Lake Logging, Coast Logging, Koprino Logging and now with TD Carter Holdings. Mitchell mainly works small business sales between 10,000 and 50,000 cubic meters and he’s been keeping very busy. When I ran into Mitchell he was working on a 10,000 meter cutblock for TD Cater Holdings at Horne Lake on Vancouver Island. As I pulled up to the roadside Mitchell was fueling up his machine and discussing the days work ahead with Carter supervisor Ron Summer. et and Greysen Contracting’s Phil Dunn who would be running the processor for this job. As Mitchell fueled up his machine we had time to talk about many aspects of the logging industry but the main topic of conversation was TK1127T and the Gilbert 3028. Mitchell had put just over 1,000 hours on the Gilbert head and couldn’t say enough good things about it. From its massive 28" capacity to its gear driven rotator, the machine had lived up to all his expectations and more. Mitchell has worked with Gilbert to make a few minor modifications to the 3028 including putting in some cushion release valves on the grab arms to make them smoother to operate and increasing the size of the head tilt hydraulic cylinders. "These were small modifications made by Gilbert which are now standard features on their heads, so the machine is easier to use in the varied conditions." explained Mitchell. Mitchell also plans to hang another 1,000 lbs of counter-weight on the back of the Timberking to balance the machine a bit better for downhill felling for grapple yarder settings
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From left: Ron Summerflet, Ian Mitchell and Phil Dunn

"At a time when you have to really keep production up and costs down, the Gilbert sawhead has delivered real results, my average production has gone up by about 100 meters per day in larger timber", explained Mitchell. Mitchell went on to explain "I’ve been running bunchers for over 18 years, and there’s a lot more to it than just getting the tree on the ground. With this sawhead I can get stumps right down to the ground and that makes it easier for everyone who comes in behind me especially the yarders, which means less damage to equipment and increased production for them as well." Mitchell also pointed out the teeth on the disc are closer together than other heads so it makes cleaner cuts which, in turn, results in less bad log lengths for the processors because the eye on the processor can find the log end a lot easier. It’s clear the Gilbert 3028 has won over Mitchell, and it’s not hard to see why, when a piece of equipment has such a dramatic effect on the bottom line.

Mitchell processes about 800 to 1,000 cubic meters a day depending on conditions and has been working all over the island. "I’ll tell you one thing, if you can run a feller buncher on the north end of the island and be productive, you can run it anywhere, it just doesn’t get any tougher" noted Mitchell. A seasoned veteran with over 30,000 hours of operating experience Mitchell knows what he’s talking about and watching him crawl up the near 50 grade, methodically felling and stacking the timber it’s easy to see why he chose the big machine. "It’s almost impossible to train guys on feller bunchers on the coast, the terrain and the timber is just too varied. It’s better to get a good guy from the Interior and then train him to work on the coast or find a really good hoe-chucker who’s used to working in tough settings" Mitchell explained. A few years ago Mitchell even spent three months down in California helping an Oregon falling contractor who recently bought his own Timberking for falling in second growth Redwoods. I got to know him through another logger and he was just making the transition from hand falling to mechanical fall so I just sort of helped him get going" says Mitchell.

As we chatted about life in the forest industry, Mitchell proved to be a bright light in a sometimes-gloomy industry. Upbeat, experienced and a true believer in the logging industry Mitchell is here because he enjoys the challenges of working in the forest industry. "Logging is a great job, I love it. My son broke in on the Timberking and now my nephews are working with us at Four Leaf Logging ensuring the company will be around for many years to come", explained Mitchell.