Winch-assist or tethered logging technology is rapidly being adopted by the forest industry across the western United States to replace conventional and dangerous manual tree falling in cable logging areas. Although the safety benefits of the technology are widely acknowledged, the effects of tethered mechanized timber falling and pre-bunching on the subsequent cable yarding operations have not been thoroughly investigated. We...

Cable-assisted (or tethered) mechanized harvesting has recently been introduced to the Pacific Northwest of the United States, and is rapidly being adopted by the forest industry. However, potential environmental impacts, productivity and cost of the new harvesting systems have not been well-assessed. This study aims to examine the effects of cable assistance on soil compaction, system productivity and cost through a field-bas...