The paper is a preliminary report on operational efficiency in timber skidding and some characteristics of uphill and downhill skidding of softwood by using a universal mobile tower yarder Wanderfalke U-AM equipped with a radio operated, fully automatic carriage Sherpa U. Work study of skidding indicates that the efficiency in downhill skidding can be as much as 17% lower and operational costs up to 20% higher than for uphill skidding. It is pointed out that proper work preparation is of essential importance, as it helps to minimize damage to standing trees.
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