[LEFT]I’ve been busy, there’s a reason. Monday evening my house took a direct hit from what is called a “mountain microburst.” These are extremely dangerous downdrafts, can be as small as 5 feet in diameter. When they hit land the energy moves outward in waves of very forceful air. I happened to be in the pasture with my dogs when it hit. The first sensation is in your ear drums then you are tossed about. In my case I was knocked backwards and landed on my back, my dogs got blown into the fence. All of us are Ok, no physical damage done to us but this microburst took out a beautiful, bushy, large, blue spruce tree and tossed it at my cabin as if a giant hand grabbed the tree by its roots and yanked it out of the ground.
There is damage to the cabin windows, kitchen wall, and roof.
I’m busy with clean-up, dealing with insurance agents, setting-up removal operations, contracting for repairs to the cabin. As posted, I’m busy.[/LEFT]
SnG - Sorry to hear. Please repost pics.
[QUOTE=Jetryder223;109625]SnG - Sorry to hear. Please repost pics.[/QUOTE]
Jetryder, me and mine got out easy, look what happened in Texas.
I well realize it’s two different storms, two entirely different environments.
I’m confused about " repost pics," are these photos not showing-up?
All things considered it could have been much worse:
I can see them fine. Glad you’re ok. Thank goodness you weren’t in the way of the tree!
SnG,
Scary aren’t they! I was cutting firewood in the Stillwater years ago and looked a cross the valley at a strange disturbance. When I realized it was a wall of wind racing towards me I ran for the tractor! Luckily it was close and I dove under it and the dogs followed soon after. The trees all bent over and the tops started snapping off. Who knew that those five dogs could get that close to me!
My wife at the time came home and gave me shit when she found me on the porch sipping an early afternoon cocktail. I just looked at the dogs and gave her a shrug…
[QUOTE=Swampfox;109633]I can see them fine. Glad you’re ok. Thank goodness you weren’t in the way of the tree![/QUOTE]
Odd, all I see are 3 little grey boxes with a red x in them.
I have heard of microbursts but never knew they could damage houses like that.
Glad all made it uninjured there shipmate, but sorry for the damage to the homestead…all this happening when you have a bum knee!
Endeavor to persevere out there John…we’re all here with you in spirit
Wish I lived close by I’d come over and help. Don’t aggravate your knee out there.
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;109670]Wish I lived close by I’d come over and help. Don’t aggravate your knee out there.[/QUOTE]
Yep, I could probably drum up 20 cadets from my deck willing to spend a Saturday putting things back together.
[QUOTE=mtskier;109636]SnG,
Scary aren’t they! I was cutting firewood in the Stillwater years ago and looked a cross the valley at a strange disturbance. When I realized it was a wall of wind racing towards me I ran for the tractor! Luckily it was close and I dove under it and the dogs followed soon after. The trees all bent over and the tops started snapping off. Who knew that those five dogs could get that close to me!
My wife at the time came home and gave me shit when she found me on the porch sipping an early afternoon cocktail. I just looked at the dogs and gave her a shrug…[/QUOTE]
Your encounter is interesting and a tad frightening, eh mtskier. Always though the Stillwater, tumbling down and through the Absaroka - Beartooth Mountain Range, was misnamed. It’s a wild one. So you lived outside the Absaroka, that’s excellent prairie land. Years ago I did visit, took my horse and rode the trails.
About my encounter with the angry banshee, when it hit my house my horses were all ready in the barn. They knew shit was about to hit the fan - and it did. We all are most fortunate, no one was hurt, you always can repair damage to buildings, but animals (that means humans too) bleed. :eek:
My wife and I were walking the dogs, 3 labs, and a freak windstorm hit.
Trees started falling all around us and we ran for cover in a neighbors garage too wait out the windstorm.
Walking back to our cabin we saw trees down everywhere, next to houses and in the road.
At first look our cabin looked untouched but as we turned up the driveway there was a huge hemlock right on top of my truck.
The three was a 7top of the tree was 2 feet from the from door of the cabin,
I’m glad that you and all of your four leg friends are safe. Hopefully you can get your home fixed up quickly.
This is just what you needed on top of your knee problems. I hope your stash of Spirits and Cigars survived!
Damn brother, hope everything works out. Hopefully the insurance company won’t shit on your head.
Go easy on that knee! Glad you’re ok. Here in the good ol Tidewater it’s warm and sunny. But that will soon fade to a dismal muggy heat.
[QUOTE=Tugs;109686]I’m glad that you and all of your four leg friends are safe. Hopefully you can get your home fixed up quickly.
This is just what you needed on top of your knee problems. I hope your stash of Spirits and Cigars survived![/QUOTE]
Thanks Tugs ~
It rained all day and that’s good. We are going to try and save the tree. I hired a dam good man for the job. He has a plan, used it before, says it works. He will trim off the lower branches, trim the sides, have two of his powerful winches at the ready, some cables and slings available. Before he removes the tree he will auger-out what he calls a “big ass cabbage hole” for the tree’s remaining roots to grab hold of. His son is bringing up lots of fresh dirt. When it’s all set-up he will have two cables connected to heavy duty winches, a big sling across the tree’s center of gravity using my not so big-ass winch, a guide cable attached to the tree which his son will take directions from his Dad. He will lower the tree into the cabbage hole, use railroad ties to shore-up the foundation. Then fill in the hole with dirt and rocks. and finally attach three “securing logs” at a 45 degree angle spaced apart by 120 degrees. More railroad ties to secure the tree’s roots will be put in place on top of the now filled-in hole. He told me the tree will be smiling and so will I.
Now, after THAT operation, work will take place on the damaged roof and kitchen side. I hired a well respected roofer and carpenter for that job.
As far as me and my dogs, we were most fortunate. We were not hurt except I have a sore rump, My ass hit the the ground before my back but my knee was not hurt. Talk about lucky!
Cigars and whiskey were safe. I’m puffing on a great Kristoff and enjoying my Makers. Life is good.
ya all considered, things could have been far worse. Glad you are ok! Take care of the knee…
[QUOTE=Sweat-n-Grease;109713]Thanks Tugs ~
It rained all day and that’s good. We are going to try and save the tree. I hired a dam good man for the job. He has a plan, used it before, says it works. He will trim off the lower branches, trim the sides, have two of his powerful winches at the ready, some cables and slings available. Before he removes the tree he will auger-out what he calls a “big ass cabbage hole” for the tree’s remaining roots to grab hold of. His son is bringing up lots of fresh dirt. When it’s all set-up he will have two cables connected to heavy duty winches, a big sling across the tree’s center of gravity using my not so big-ass winch, a guide cable attached to the tree which his son will take directions from his Dad. He will lower the tree into the cabbage hole, use railroad ties to shore-up the foundation. Then fill in the hole with dirt and rocks. and finally attach three “securing logs” at a 45 degree angle spaced apart by 120 degrees. More railroad ties to secure the tree’s roots will be put in place on top of the now filled-in hole. He told me the tree will be smiling and so will I.
Now, after THAT operation, work will take place on the damaged roof and kitchen side. I hired a well respected roofer and carpenter for that job.
As far as me and my dogs, we were most fortunate. We were not hurt except I have a sore rump, My ass hit the the ground before my back but my knee was not hurt. Talk about lucky!
Cigars and whiskey were safe. I’m puffing on a great Kristoff and enjoying my Makers. Life is good.[/QUOTE]
Let us know how it turns out. Rebricking a boiler sounds simpler … Glad all is okay with you and the beasts. U & F from Bremerhaven.