On an October day in Plumas National Forest, Alex Lemnah traverses the canopy of an incense cedar nearly 100 feet off the ground, listening carefully for the sound of a branch snapping under his feet.

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 ...

The body draped over the upper branches of the red oak does not move. An unseasonably warm November breeze frees leaves from the tree, fallen foliage swirling around the group that has gathered around ...

I needed to check for wasps, snakes and scorpions ...