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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.
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E-mail: NWtreeandtrail@gmail.com
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