Saturday kicks off the 35th Buckley Log Show at the Buckley Log Show Grounds on River Avenue. The annual Log Show parade starts the festivities of the two-day event, beginning Saturday at 10 a.m. The actual show begins at noon Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday.
Saturday’s events are:
• Speed Climb — Participants climb a 75-foot tall spar tree and ring the bell in a timed race.
• Obstacle Bucking — Contestants start at the base of an alder log, run across poles lying across the log-rolling pond, return to the starting point and then saw through the alder log. The time stops when the chip hits the ground. The top six times compete in the finals Sunday. The combined times from both days determine the winners.
• Horizontal Block Chop — Contestants stand on a 10-inch alder log, lying horizontally on a mount, and chop through the log. Half way through, the chopper reverses positions on the log to finish. The top six times compete in the finals Sunday and the combined times from both days determine the winners.
• Choker Setting — Participants carry a choker over a designated course and set it at a pre-determined log, attaching the knobs of the choker into the bell for a qualifying time.
• Double Bucking — Contestants, working in teams of two, saw through a 12-inch alder log, starting with the saw buried to a depth of the teeth in the log. The time stops when the chip hits the ground.
• Ax Throw — Contestants throw an ax at a 4-inch bull’s-eye, worth five points, from 20 feet. Their axes must have a 6-inch blade or less, weigh 2 pounds or more and have a 21-inch handle or longer. They have one trial throw and then three competition throws.
• Splicing — Two-man teams intertwine wire strands into an eye in a length of cable using Marlin spikes and hammers. The top six teams compete in the finals Sunday, and those combined times determine the winners.
• Hot Saw Limited — Contestants use their own stock-power saws to cut through a log.
• Modified Hot Saw —Two-man teams cut through a log using double-ender chainsaws or chainsaws with expansion chambers. This event earns no points, and a trophy goes to the fastest time.
• Hot Saw Unlimited — Contestants use any modified saw they want to cut through a log. No points are awarded, but a first-place trophy goes to the fastest time.
• Tree Topping — Participants climb a 75-foot spar tree and saw through the top notch in a 7-inch log. The time stops when the chip hits the ground.
• Single Bucking — Contestants saw through a 10-inch alder log using a cross cut saw for the best time.
• Standing Block Chop — Participants chop through a 10-inch vertical log on a stand, first on one side then through the opposite side. The top six times compete Sunday.
• Obstacle Pole Bucking — Contestants start at the base of the main log, pick up a chainsaw, race up a pole and saw approximately halfway through an 8-inch alder using the top of the bar and then the second half of the alder using the bottom, race back down the pole and returns to the starting log.
• Ma and Pa Bucking — Male and female teams of two saw through a 12-inch log. The time stops when the chip hits the ground. The top six times advance to Sunday.
Sunday’s events:
• Wrapper Toss — Contestants set and secure three binders — chains or wire ropes — over a load of logs. The time stops when the binders are secured and a flag is posted at the back of the load.
• Crew Relay — Logging crews in teams of six compete against each other in a relay including choker setting, standing block chop, ax throw, double bucking and power saw bucking. The crew with the fastest time is awarded “best crew.”
• Obstacle Choker Setting — Contestants start at the base of a pole perched over the log rolling pond and set a choker between designated points on both ends of the pole.
• Log Rolling — Two contestants test their balance on a cedar or fir log in the log rolling pond while trying to eliminate their opponent in three falls using a variety of tactics.
