Fixing a Dutchman & Hung Tree - Dangerous Fells

Trees do not always fall the way you intend them to. A tiny piece of loose wood in the notch or an overcut face often creates a Dutchman. This creates a block in the notch that temporarily stops the notch from closing and prevents the bottom of the tree from moving. The top of the tree continues its fall, and the fulcrum of the trunk magnifies the force at the base of the tree until the trunk rips in two, starting at the bottom and shearing up the length of the tree. This catastrophe is called a barber chair, and it can lever the base of the tree straight up in the air 20 feet or more before it comes crashing down. Another dangerous situation to watch for is a tree getting hung up on other trees when it falls. Getting a cut tree to pull loose from the canopy requires careful attention and steady nerves.