Tree TrophyWith the able assistance of my brother Geoff, his boy Oliver K., and our friend David Thiel, I took down a fifty-foot tree several weeks ago.

Quite the adventure. I’m not a tree cutter by trade, but things worked out such that:

(a) here was this blue spruce, situated awkwardly close to the house, and eminently climbable;

(b) taking it down would add curb-appeal value to my property;

(c) I reckoned I could do the job with my own two hands and some help from trusted associates.

When I first ran the idea past Geoff — rig me up with climbing gear, start at the top, work my way down by sections — he laughed it off.

But pretty soon (this is a Jones trait) he was sketching a how-to diagram — multiple ropes, slings, carabiners — attach main rope here, tag rope here, sling here, carabiner here, cut here. Two ground men to work the ropes. I climb to the top, absolutely as high as I can go (forty feet). Reach up as high as I can with hand saw and loppers, cut away side branches from the crown. Secure the ropes and the sling, get everthing just so. Sling myself in place, extra-extra carefully. Take a deep breath. Rev up the chainsaw. Deep breath. Make the cut. The main rope runs through a slung carabiner, catches the weight of the cut section. The ground men work the ropes, lower the section. Climb down, gather my wits. Climb back up, repeat until done.

The idea grew, and in due course we did the deed.

Notwithstanding a fearsome moment or two (there are no atheists, forty feet up in the air — that’s twenty feet about the roof — hanging by a sling and rip-starting a chainsaw), all went well, we took down the tree without incident.

A realtor of my acquaintence gave the project a big thumbs-up for improved curb appeal, so all’s well that ends well.

The above photo is the trophy shot, the ten-foot crown section.
Back, from left: Karl, Geoff, Dave
Front: Oliver Kilgore

Oliver Kilgore Maki Jones

Here’s a close-up

of my nephew,

because he’s such great guy,

and because

I like being his uncle.