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About The Dalles chronicle. (The Dalles, OR) 1998-2020 | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2020)
4 | Hood River News . The Dalles Chronicle COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE Northwest Tree and Trail has been serving the Gorge for nearly four years. Hanging Out: Specialized harnesses provide quick access and egress from the job site. Jim Drake photos conservation, cont. that investment. If you remove some of the exterior, then the tree can focus its energy on the parts that are going to produce benefits.” Tree doctor Even Baker’s frequent hand saw and chainsaw inter- actions are planned to provide optimal tree health and structure. “If I make a cut, it’s more like how a scalpel works. I can do it at the right spot, so it’s more likely to heal faster. If a branch rips or breaks off, it’s harder for the tree to heal than a cut. It’s just like how our bodies’ skin would respond,” Baker said. “You get rid of branches that are competing against each other, or ones that aren’t structurally sound. You look for and create a better structure for the tree. This will increase the longevity of the tree and avoid breaks and damages due to weather.” Baker says that Northwest Tree and Trail takes low impact and sustainable tree maintenance techniques seriously, and that working with homeowners and landowners on specific goals for the tree’s longevity and health is just as important as the actual work. “A lot of being low impact and sustainable has to do with the tree species and goals, for example in our business we don’t like to do what’s called ‘topping’ trees, where you make big cuts that are making trees shorter than they should be. If you prune during the dormant season you’re less likely to bring disease in that’s gonna bring insects in,” Baker said. “Most of the sustainability has to do with proper tech- niques and fitting the ultimate goals with the situation, it can result in lower maintenance and the tree is going to survive longer. Improper pruning, or over-pruning, can make a lot weaker limbs, because the tree tries to grow certain limbs really quickly, which is not really sustainable,” Baker said. Baker also stressed the importance of all the factors that go into replanting, such as soil preparation, drainage and site location. “I help a lot of people figure out what the best species is for replanting, depending on goals, site location, soil prep and feeding, and soil pH. Will it put roots into your founda- tion? It’s more about helping people make those kinds of decisions. I try and give local landowners and homeowners good options for around here. It’s possible to get really good native species plants around here, but it’s also really up to the owner,” Baker said. Tom McCall Trail One of the first projects Baker worked on when he arrived in the Gorge was connected with the local Tom McCall Trail. “I worked for a local trails contractor here in the Gorge, and it was the first project I worked on here. I helped them put in 50 stone steps on that trail, it was great. I love that trail, it’s one of my absolute favorites in the Gorge,” Baker said. When Baker isn’t busy climbing trees, he’s usually outside trail running, biking, skiing and simply running around with his dog. “I remember one year I actually helped put three new bridges in Forest Park, in Portland, one of which we got an award for. I helped them because I can climb trees and I set up zip-lines to be able to bring in equipment. It’s interesting work because a lot of times you can’t get vehicles into these places, and we need to bring in pieces of the bridge by hand. It’s a specialized way to accommodate these structures,” Baker said. No limits Is there any limit for how far one man can climb up a tree? “Not really, I just use a longer rope. It’s a risky job. My main safety concern is being able to get out of the tree, quickly and efficiently. It’s really important to have an exit strategy when working in these trees. If I get attacked by a yellow jacket nest, I need to rappel down quickly. My ropes and harness allow me to move around the canopy of a tree efficiently,” Baker said. Thinking of getting a Loan? THINK LOCAL! KAYLA COLWELL JESSICA BOREN JEFF SACRE STEVE WOLF Sr. Mortgage Specialist Sr. Mortgage Specialist Production Coordinator Production Coordinator NMLS-140302, MLO-140302 OR NMLS-114305; WA MLO-114305 541.436.2662 541.436.2662 Ext. 2703 jessica.boren@directorsmortgage.net kayla.colwell@directorsmortgage.net 541.806.1556 541.490.2897 jsacre@directorsmortgage.net swolf@directorsmortgage.net 541.436.2662 Call Today! directorsmortgage.net Information deemed reliable but subject to change without notice. Qualifying buyers only, subject to credit approval. This is not a commitment to lend. Call for Details. Consumer Loan License NMLS-3240, CL-3240. Tonya Brumley, Armando Quintero, Jared Barnes, Travis Davis, James Gibson, Scott Ellickson, Alan King, Aaron Westfall, Will Hart. Proudly serving our customers for 160 years Service Line 1-800-422-4012 24 Hour Emergency Line 1-800-882-3377 nwnatural .com Locally Owned & Operated Serving Hood River County & Wasco County, Oregon and Skamania County, Washington Northwest Tree and Trail LLC 1767 12th St #110, Hood River, 97031 Phone: 1-503-716-6630 E-mail: NWtreeandtrail@gmail.com se habla español L-R: Kelli Marshall, Irene Gutierrez de luna, Lisa Goade, Laury Wymore, Betty Whitney, Erin Huseby, Tami Blake, Emil Derdowski, Tiff any Andersen, Julie Andersen, Kate Stevenson, and Chrissy Benton Not pictured: Randi Condon and Lari Gederos Katzenstein Personal service is the heart of our business 1535 Bargeway Rd | The Dalles | 541-370-2345 www.columbiagorgetitle.com Ca bin et r y / D e s ign / Co u nte r to ps ( 5 41 ) 35 4 -1 8 00 w w w.a lle n sfin ewo o dwo r k in g.co m 21 6 Ca sca de Ave n u e, Ho o d Rive r OR EG ON CCB #129 07 5 WAS H I N GTON #ALLE N F W 9 97 J Q 541.436.2662 Ext. 2703 BUSINESS REVIEW
