Our ridge pole is the largest log in the entire structure (approx 1 ton). To support it we bolted two ridge pole support logs (RPSLs) to the front and back walls. Then we temporarily clamped two lifting poles to the RPSLs to give us lifting points. In this shot our friend Rick is riding the pole up the wall as it is being lifted by a 2 ton chain hoist I rented for the occasion. Now it's not necessary to ride the pole up, Rick is just the sort of guy who likes to add a little flare to his life.

With our handly truck winch attached to the other side we were able to pull the log over once it overbalanced and get it seated on top of both walls. We kept sliding the log down until it was in position and then we moved our lifting points up to our temporary lifting poles.

Between the truck winch and our chain hoist it went up easy as pie. We had been smart enough to predrill the holes for the rebar and mark the rafter positions before we lifted the ridgepole. This made things a lot easier later on. It took an entire day but amazingly everything worked as advertised.