High-Lead Yarding Costs in the Southern Appalachians

Abstract

Abstract An analysis was made of the time devoted to the various work-and-delay elements of a high-lead cable logging operation. A comparison of the resulting costs per unit volume with those of a conventional logging system shows that in spite of inefficiencies, the cable system is competitive, with a difference of only $2.85 per Mbm (Doyle rule) between the costs of the two systems. With better preplanning of sets, better crew organization, and more experience with the equipment, the cable yarding costs can be expected to decline, making it a viable alternative to conventional logging in the Southern Appalachians.