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spar tree

Lumbering

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

a clean, sound tree (from 90 to 200 feet high), topped, firmly guyed, and rigged with a high-lead or skyline used in hauling logs from the cutting area to the yarding area. [See pictures at high-lead system and skyline.]

See: high-lead,high-lead system,high-line logging,skyline

Quotations

1925

Preparing the "spar-tree" for "high-lead," or "sky-line" rigging, is the most spectacular and thrilling performance in the logging industry. A standing tree is trimmed of top and branches then strengthened with guys. With the pull coming from this altitude, the advantage over the straight ground pull is enormous as logs are lifted high in [the] air over all impedimenta.

1942

". . . You get in there and run a decent camp where spar-trees don't break and men don't get . blacklisted for no reason. . . ."

1963

Often the first tree topped is used only for a raising tree to raise the final spar tree.