Featured Artifact - Climbing Spurs

This weeks featured artifact is a pair of iron climbing spurs from the Museums collection.             
          Climbing spurs were most often used by 19^thand 20^th century loggers to scale trees. These spurs are blacksmith made and consist of one strip of folded iron and have a sharped spur at the end.

          The spurs were attached to the foot and ankle using leather straps and were often worn with high boots to protect the leg while climbing. The climbing spurs were also used in conjunction with a flip-line (loop) that is passed around the tree and attached to the climber’s belt – a safety feature that allows the climber to work freely at height and prevents the risk of falling. 

          During a logging operation, the high climbers (often the bravest men) would scale trees for ‘topping’ which is a process of cutting down the tops of trees to make for easier felling - removing the top ensured the fall to be safer and more wind resistant. To complete this, high climbers would scale a tree up to 200ft high and then cut down 75ft or more off the top. Once cut, the climber had to hold on tight because the tree would sway up to 20ft in each direction from the impact of the fall! The climber would then make their way down the tree and begin cutting the log from the bottom with the rest of their logging group. 

For a great illustration of this amazing process make sure to watch the video below!