Skidder Bridge

 Even the flat flood plains of Southern Illinois present obstacles for loggers.  Creeks and old channels have to be crossed while dragging logs behind the skidder, so bridges often have to be brought to the job site, or built from materials at hand.

 The type of skidder actually determines when a bridge has to be installed.  Cable skidders can cross a stream with a load by free-wheeling the winch as the skidder heads into the creek, which leaves the logs on the creek bank.  After the skidder is on the other side, the operator winches the logs to the machine, and continues to the landing.

Grapple skidders must hang onto their load all the way from the stump to the landing, thus, bridges must be used to cross creeks on the site.

Click Here to see how the skidder can place logs for a bridge.