 The toughest trees to fell with an axe are not only dead-standing but also frozen like this giant popper. In order to follow it where I want it to land I have to take a big giant notch out of the front side and leave myself a hinge. The axe I'm using is an antique Emerson and Stevens made in 1910. The head weighs three and three-quarter pounds and the handle I carved out of an ash tree. I swap over to the back side of this popple tree to work on releasing the tension on the back of the tree so it falls where I want it. And it's important that I go through evenly leaving myself a hinge for this dead popple to fall. And here she goes, don't forget the altimber.