Weblog: Ospika: Third and fourth shifts
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Things have settled into a routine at this point. Because we're so far over the estimates for finishing the blocks, we're now working 5 days on/1 off, and working an extra half hour every day.
One of our crew members left due to injuring his knee, though he may be back if it heals. Apex will pay for the flight (which costs around $120) to Mackenzie to see a doctor, but they don't pay for the flight back to camp.
I've just been upgraded to level 3 on the pay scale ($125/day), a bit later than quite a few people. I'd say I'm performing on the low side of average. One guy is at level 5, and some are at level 4 now. I'm getting better, but more slowly than I would like. Some days are really good, others are pretty bad. I wish I had more consistency. But I maintain my energy for longer, and this shift it was only the 5th day that my energy level was really low.
We finished block 407 (which was around 100 ha) on the second day of the fourth shift, and went on to another block that is 65-80ha (I keep hearing different numbers). All the crews are on this block, and they wanted it done by the end of the shift, but we didn't quite make it. We're just about done and should finish it by tomorrow afternoon. After this there's one more block left at Ospika, which is around 100ha. The estimate is that it will take 3.88 days to finish. It's the closest block to camp so far (6km, compared to 30km for the previous one), and we'll be leaving at 6, and working until 6:30, which means we'll working be on the block between 11.25 and 11.5 hours every day. This week is going to be very, very difficult. We're supposed to be heading back to PG on the 30th of the month.
One of the days, we all had to stop and remove the angle drives from our saws to inspect the shaft. That morning, six saws had broken down due to the same problem: something in the herbicide head was being melted by the heat and herbicide was leaking into the shaft. My saw was fine that day, but a few days later I noticed that herbicide was coming out ontop of my blade, instead of below it (the herbicide is supposed to coat the bottom of the blade), so I called over Vincent to take a look, and my saw had the same problem. I used Vincent's saw until lunch, during which time he took my saw and replaced the shaft. Apparently the cause is a defect in the manufacture of the herb heads, and there's nothing we can do about it for now, so it will continue to happen periodically.
I stopped using my chainsaw boots and am now wearing my hiking boots and gaiters instead. My feet are much more comfortable. They're still very sore by the end of the day, but I can work much longer before they start bothering me. I'm a bit worried that I might cut off my toes, because if I stick out one of my feet as far forward as it will go I can just touch it with the saw blade, so I make sure I never stick my foot out that far.
The phone works today!
Posted on Mon, 23 Jun 2020 at Ospika Camp, BC, CA (altitude 716m) (map/google earth)
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