Tree climbing is an indispensable component of forestry work, serving as a vital means to access the canopy. In the Northwest, pine cone collection is one of the primary reasons for tree climbing.

Editor’s note: This is an edited excerpt from Lynda V. Mapes’ book, “The Trees Are Speaking: Dispatches from the Salmon Forests” ($29.95 hardcover), which will be published April 22 by the University ...