skidding

In forestry, skidding refers to the process of transporting logs from where they were felled to a sawmill or collection point. This is a crucial step in the overall logging operation.1

There are various methods for skidding:
* Ground Skidding: Logs are dragged along the ground using devices like tractors or trucks. A skidding trail is the path created by this process.123
* Cable Skidding: Logs are lifted off the ground and pulled using cables, either high above the ground (high-lead and overhead skidding) or along the ground (groundline skidding).1

Historically, oxen, mules, or horses were used to pull logs, especially in colder regions where logs were moved on sleds to frozen rivers for later transport. Modern logging employs more mechanized methods, including helicopters and balloons for log transport in some cases.1