Kenny's Loggin: Preparing The Spar Tree

Sep 23, 2021 - 4 years ago

Preparing The Spar Tree
by Ken Wilson

A spar tree is the tree used as the highest anchor point in a high lead cable logging setup.

In early logging days, loggers used “spar trees” to anchor a high lead cable. The spar tree was selected for height and strength as it needed to resist the weight and pressure of the logs it would help move. Once a tree was chosen for this task, a logger known as a “high climber” would remove the tree’s branches, one by one, and remove the top of the tree in order to attach the block and tackle and cabling.

The spar tree was considered one of the most important aspects of logging, and became a symbol to many loggers in the early days.

Spar trees are no longer used, as they have been replaced by portable machines called Yarders, which are more mobile and can withstand more weight.

Ken Wilson worked in the logging industry in B.C. for over 50 years. Ken is a regular contributor to Supply Post newspaper with his column “Kenny’s Loggin’”, and resides on Vancouver Island, B.C.