Morgan SX-704 grapple skidder – a modern skidder with dual function fixed boom grapple (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Life in Maine is a little bit slower than the rest of the country. People pride themselves on doing things by hand and using out of date technology – so-to-speak. My friend G.W. Martin believes in using animal power as opposed to gas powered engines to get things done around the farm. “The trick isn’t getting them to pull, that’s easy – it’s gettin’ them to stand still”. This morning as the sun was rising in Montville, Maine I was a part of the Back Woods Maine Mule Train. The log that you see in the pictures weighs approximately 2000 pounds, and the two Mules Bonnie and Olivia move it with no problem.

Everyone else in the area uses a machine called a Skidder, it’s basically a bulldozer with wheels and a claw. G.W. has used a Skidder before to haul wood, but he would rather use animals to get the job done. There is a lot to be said for doing things the old fashion way.