In the diagram shown below, the skyline must be lowered to the ground so that the clamp may be set by hand. The skidding line is pulled out be hand to the chokers around the next turn of logs.

Live skylines may change the length of the skyline during the turn. The opposite is a standing skyline which is set for the turn and, in some case, for the entire yarding of the timber along a particular skyline road. Today, most yarders operate in the live mode, regardless of the actual configuration (e.g. running, shotgun) and the type of carriage.