Through the northern part of the Headwaters forest flows Bell "Liberty" Creek, a residual riparian zone currently being helicopter logged by Pacific Lumber Co. The timber harvest plan will cut an area 300-feet wide, stretching for two-and-a-half miles directly along the creek. Earth First! activists have occupied the area for the last seven months, digging and burying dragons, cutting and stashing tripods and constructing tree villages. Last fall over 10 platforms were fully bridged together, including the 15-person love pod.
On April 20, the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) requested a temporary restraining order to stop logging. Humboldt county Judge Dale Reinholtsen, a former Pacific Lumber employee, denied the request on April 28. EF! activists began road actions with equipment lockdowns.
While exploring the northern section of the area, photographer Doug Thron found a nearly intact grove with two massive redwoods in its center marked to be cut. One was reported to be 17-feet in diameter and the other 12. These trees had been left standing on the steep slope because Pacific Lumber lacked the technology to remove them in years past.
A five-person crew went in the night before the cutting to find and protect the two massive trees. Climbing and setting platforms in the trees took all day. Bulldozers could be heard on the road 30 feet from one of the giants. After securing a line in each tree, the climbing crew slept soundly on the ground that night.
Chainsaws were their wake up call. Loggers had stealthily cut the rope on the largest tree before anyone could climb it. Fortunately, the rope on the other tree was safely out of the loggers' reach. They brought in the largest chainsaws manufactured (with 70-inch bars) and began to discuss how to fall the enormous redwood. In a spur-of-the-moment action, three women free-climbed into three smaller trees to keep the loggers from cutting the giant. Baffled, Columbia Helicopter's loggers spent the day scratching their heads and explaining that they were brought in from Idaho and Oregon solely for these two trees.
When the loggers left, the trees were set with web platforms and a walkway. Attempts have been made to remove the tree sitters, including one in which Pacific Lumber's notorious activist-evictor "Climber Dan" climbed to the 160-foot web. Once at the web, he couldn't figure out a method to remove the precariously perched activist. The loggers on the ground began to shout encouragement to Dan. He repeated that there was no way to safely remove the unharnessed occupant. The loggers became agitated and shouted commands to Dan, "Remove her tarp! Take her water bottle! For Pete's sake, Dan, take something! Take anything!" Climber Dan got angry and shouted furiously, "Idiots! Idiots! Idiots below me! Idiots above me! I'm surrounded by idiots! I'm coming down." He hasn't returned.
The tree sit remains in place. EPIC plans to sue to protect the creek. Road actions have been on-going and will continue until there is a resolution. To arrange your redwood eco-tourism travel packages contact Northcoast Earth First! at POB 28, Arcata, CA 95518; (707) 825-8911.