Will Koomjian

Portland, Ore.

Age: 28

Years on Job: 6

Will Koomjian is totally comfortable halfway up a Douglas fir that's swaying 10 feet off center. "It gets you in the gut, but you learn to enjoy it," he says. Koomjian's day job is pruning trees for Peacock Tree Preservation, but in 2007, he co-founded Ascending the Giants, a nonprofit that documents the world's biggest trees of each species. Koomjian has climbed such record holders as a 144-foot, 800-year-old Sitka spruce in Oregon's Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge. "If you want to understand a tree, you have to go into the canopy," Koomjian says. "People think it's simple, but in fact, it's extremely complex structurally. It's kind of like a secret world."

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1. Rigging

To climb a tree, Koomjian launches a throw line and hoists himself up using tree-climbing rope and, if the tree is tall, a cammed ascender. He uses rope for balance and positioning within the canopy. "A skilled tree climber can stand on branches much too small to support his weight," he says.

2. Saddle

Koomjian sits in a German-made climbing saddle. "The treeMotion is a sports car of a saddle," he says. "It's light, snug and extremely responsive." A cord called a bridge connects independent, adjustable loops around the thighs, allowing Koomjian to shift his weight easily. "The bridge is long and low on the body, so it gives you greater range of motion than traditional saddles," he says.

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3. Clothing

Koomjian's canvas pants have pockets that sit below the saddle's straps so he can reach them. A lightweight (0.84 pounds), sturdy helmet—designed to withstand significant top and side impacts—­protects his head.

4. Chain Saw

To trim branches, Koomjian uses a Stihl MS 200 T chain saw. At 7.9 pounds, the 2.1-hp machine is the best he's found for his job. "For power per ounce, it's very efficient," Koomjian says. A breakaway attachment allows the saw to fall free of its lanyard if the tool gets snagged. "Better to drop a saw than have a big piece of falling wood throw you off balance," he says.

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