In the rugged mountains of Wyoming, a group of skilled laborers known as tie hacks carved out a legacy that shaped the American West. From the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, these workers—often Scandinavian and Irish immigrants—felled trees, hewed timber, and crafted railroad ties that fueled the expansion of the nation’s railroads. Their backbreaking work not only supported the transcontinental railroad but also left an indelible mark on Wyoming’s cultural, economic, and environmental history. This 2,000-word guide explores the story of Wyoming’s tie hacks, their techniques, their lives, and their enduring impact on the state’s logging industry, with a nod to the challenges facing the timber industry in 2025.
Who Were the Tie Hacks?
Tie hacks were specialized timber workers tasked with producing railroad ties—wooden beams essential for laying tracks. Each tie had to be precisely cut to standard dimensions: 8 feet long, with a width and depth of 7 inches. The work required strength, skill, and endurance, as tie hacks labored in remote, mountainous forests through harsh Wyoming winters. Many were immigrants, particularly from Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Ireland, drawn to Wyoming by the promise of steady work. Their cultural influence, from Scandinavian woodworking techniques to Irish storytelling, enriched the communities they built.
The tie hack era, spanning roughly from 1867 to 1952, coincided with the construction of the transcontinental railroad and subsequent rail networks. Wyoming’s vast forests, particularly in the Bridger-Teton, Bighorn, and Medicine Bow National Forests, provided ideal timber—lodgepole pine and spruce, which were durable and abundant. The tie hacks’ contributions were critical not only to railroads but also to World War I, when ties supported the transport of troops and supplies.
The Tie Hack Process: A Labor of Precision
Tie hacking was a meticulous, labor-intensive process that demanded both physical prowess and technical expertise. The workflow involved felling trees, shaping ties, and transporting them to railroads, often over treacherous terrain. Here’s a detailed look at each stage:
1. Felling and Limbing
Tie hacks began by selecting trees—ideally 11 to 16 inches in diameter at breast height, capable of yielding one to six ties. Using crosscut saws, two men would fell a tree, then limb it with double-bitted axes. Each hack was assigned a strip of timber, about 200 feet wide and up to half a mile long, where they cut an 8-foot-wide skid road to haul ties. An experienced hack could produce up to 25 ties per day, a testament to their efficiency.
2. Hewing Ties
Once felled, trees were hewed into ties using broadaxes. The tie hack would score the log, then shave it into a rectangular shape, ensuring precise dimensions. This craftsmanship required a keen eye, as ties had to withstand the weight of locomotives. The artistry of tie hacking is evident in the smooth, hand-hewn surfaces still visible on surviving ties found in Wyoming’s forests.
3. Hauling and Stacking
Ties were hauled using horse-drawn sleds called “go-devils,” which could carry up to 50 ties per trip. Hauling occurred in winter and spring, when snow made sledding easier. Ties were stacked along rivers or flumes until the spring thaw, when they were ready for transport. This seasonal rhythm shaped the tie hacks’ lives, with intense work in winter followed by the dramatic tie drives of spring.
4. Tie Drives and Flumes
Transporting ties to railroads was a logistical feat. Ties were floated down rivers like the Green, Hams Fork, or North Platte, guided by skilled “river rats” who waded icy waters to prevent log jams. In areas with steep canyons, such as the Tongue River, wooden flumes were built to channel ties downstream. Tie drives were perilous, with workers using pike poles and dynamite to clear obstructions. These events were also community spectacles, with families gathering to watch the ties float to railheads.
5. Splash Dams
In some areas, like Muddy Park in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, splash dams were used to transport ties. These temporary dams, built from earth and timber, created reservoirs that, when released, propelled ties down streams to rail construction sites. Splash dams were an ingenious solution to Wyoming’s rugged terrain, saving energy and time.
Life in Tie Hack Camps
Tie hack camps were self-contained communities, resembling small towns with cabins, commissaries, cookhouses, and blacksmith shops. Camps like Johnson City on North Cottonwood Creek housed up to 300 families, complete with schools and medical services. Life was isolated, with workers skiing or hiking to camps in winter, but it fostered a strong sense of camaraderie.
- Daily Life: Tie hacks worked long hours, often in subzero temperatures, but evenings were spent in communal activities like storytelling, music, and card games. Scandinavian traditions, such as woodworking and sauna-building, were common, while Irish hacks brought lively folklore.
- Women’s Roles: Though tie hacking was male-dominated, women played vital roles in some camps, cooking, managing supplies, or even hewing ties. During World War II, women were employed in camps like the one on Little Flattop, skiing in and out to support the war effort.
- Economic Impact: Camps relied on local ranchers and merchants for supplies, boosting Wyoming’s economy. The tie industry also contributed to the state’s road network, many of which are still used by recreationists today.
Key Regions and Operations in Wyoming
Wyoming’s tie hack industry thrived in four main regions, each with distinct operations:
1. Bridger-Teton National Forest
The Bridger-Teton was a hub of tie hacking from 1867 to 1952. Charles Delony’s 1867 contract with the Union Pacific Railroad marked the start, with camps along the Green River producing ties for the transcontinental railroad. The Standard Timber Company later dominated, operating in Cottonwood Creeks, Horse Creek, and LaBarge Creek, where a major village was established in 1937. Evidence of cabins and debris remains in these areas.
2. Bighorn National Forest
Tie hacking in the Bighorns focused on the eastern slopes, with operations peaking from 1860s to 1933. Flumes along the Tongue River and splash dams facilitated tie transport. The industry employed hundreds, many of Scandinavian descent, whose cultural influence persists in local communities.
3. Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest
The Carbon Timber Company operated in the Sierra Madre and Medicine Bow Mountains from 1906 to 1912, using flumes and splash dams to float ties down the North Platte to Fort Fred Steele. The Wyoming Timber Company took over until the early 1920s, leaving behind flume ruins and cabins.
4. Hams Fork and Kemmerer Area
The Hams Fork River supported tie hacking for the Oregon Short Line railroad, built in 1881. Ties were floated downstream to Kemmerer, where coal mines also demanded mine props. The Union Pacific consumed 1.7 million ties annually in the early 1900s, driving competition in the region.
The Decline of Tie Hacking
The tie hack era waned in the early 1940s due to several factors:
- Technological Advances: Mechanized sawmills and treated ties reduced the need for hand-hewn ties.
- Depletion of Timber: Over ten million ties were cut from Wyoming’s forests, depleting accessible stands.
- Economic Shifts: World War II redirected labor, and post-war infrastructure favored other materials.
- Environmental Challenges: Fires, litigation over worker deaths, and road disputes in the Bighorns hastened the industry’s decline.
By 1952, tie hacking had largely ceased, but its legacy endures in Wyoming’s forests, where cabins, flumes, and the Tie Hack Monument near Dubois stand as tributes. Erected in 1946 by the Wyoming Tie & Timber Company, the monument honors the workers’ craftsmanship and resilience.
The Tie Hack Legacy
The tie hacks left a profound mark on Wyoming’s history:
- Cultural Influence: Scandinavian and Irish immigrants integrated their traditions into Wyoming’s cultural fabric, from woodworking to community festivals.
- Economic Contributions: The industry provided stable employment and supported local economies, with camps driving demand for goods and services.
- Environmental Impact: While tie hacking fueled development, it also depleted forests, raising early concerns about sustainability. Today, the Wyoming State Forestry Division manages 263,000 acres of forested state trust lands, balancing harvest with conservation.
The Timber Industry in Wyoming, 2025
In 2025, Wyoming’s timber industry faces challenges but also opportunities. Only two large commercial sawmills remain—in Hulett and Saratoga—with a third in Evanston. These mills struggle with limited timber access, high transportation costs, and slow tree growth, which can take a century in Wyoming’s arid climate. Jim Neiman, CEO of Neiman Enterprises, warns that his Hulett mill may close without urgent action.
Recent policy changes under the Trump administration aim to revive the industry. An April 2025 order by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins declares an “emergency” to boost logging on 112.6 million acres of national forest, streamlining permitting and bypassing some environmental reviews. The U.S. Forest Service is tasked with increasing timber production by 25% within two years. Proponents argue this will reduce wildfire risk and stimulate rural economies, but critics, like The Wilderness Society, call it a giveaway to private industry that stifles public input.
Despite these efforts, industry insiders doubt a return to the tie hack era’s scale. Infrastructure, like flumes and camps, has vanished, and regulatory uncertainty discourages new mills in towns like Afton or Dubois. Wyoming’s forests, while abundant, are often too remote or slow-growing to support large-scale logging profitably.
Preserving the Tie Hack Legacy
Efforts to preserve tie hack history are ongoing:
- Monuments and Museums: The Tie Hack Monument and museums like the Grand Encampment Museum showcase artifacts, photos, and stories.
- Archaeological Work: The U.S. Forest Service and groups like the Alliance for Historic Wyoming document sites like splash dams and cabins, ensuring their preservation.
- Public Engagement: Talks, like Dave McKee’s 2022 presentation on Medicine Bow tie hacks, educate communities about this history.
Visiting sites like the Bridger-Teton or Bighorn National Forests offers a glimpse into the tie hacks’ world, where remnants of their labor endure.
Conclusion
Wyoming’s tie hacks were more than loggers—they were artisans, immigrants, and pioneers who shaped the American West. Their hand-hewn ties supported the railroads that connected a nation, while their camps fostered communities that enriched Wyoming’s cultural heritage. Though the tie hack era ended in the 1940s, its legacy lives on in monuments, cabins, and the roads we travel today.
In 2025, as Wyoming’s timber industry navigates new policies and challenges, the tie hacks’ story reminds us of the resilience and ingenuity required to thrive in the state’s rugged landscapes. By preserving their history and learning from their sustainable practices, we honor these unsung heroes and ensure their contributions endure. So, visit the Tie Hack Monument, explore a forest trail, or delve into a museum exhibit—and discover the hard work and timber that built Wyoming’s past.