minimize the distortion and or damage to the log while allowing the logs to be stacked one on top of the other in a nesting relationship for shipment referring now to fig4 and 5 a block diagram illustrates by way of example only the various steps of one embodiment of a packing process 400 which may be followed to minimize permanent deformation of the logs 100 while preparing them for shipment in accordance with the present invention in one embodiment a compression hopper 500 is provided with an open frontal region 502 allowing the logs 100 to be inserted therein a compression or bailing plate 504 is positioned thereabove and adapted for compressing the properly aligned logs 100 for subsequent securement referring specifically now to fig4 the packing process 400 comprises the following steps assembling logs 100 for purposes of packing the shipment in step 445 providing a compression hopper 500 in step 450 situating individual logs 100 within the hopper 500 in step 455 bending and shaping the logs 100 to conform with pre aligned bent portions within the hopper 500 for example bending the logs into generally u shaped and or j shaped configurations to align the logs 100 one against the other in a serpentine assembled fashion in step 460 actuating the compression plate 504 fig5 in step 465 to compress the aligned logs 100 into a desired level of compression for example compressed to around 60 of the original diameter suitable for shipping and handling applying securing bands or tethers about the compressed logs 100 in step 470 to form a packaged assembly ready for handling assembling up to around.