Five great places to watch the experts cut up in Oregon and Washington

Provide Outdoor Activities
Lindley Rust

Timber carnivals

BROWNSVILLE, OR

Brownsville Loggers Jamboree. Now in its 117th year, this is a real, old-fashioned loggers’ carnival, right down to the ax throwing. But chopping and sawing events are no less spectacular. Jun 20; free. Pioneer Park, Park Dr.; 541/367-3803.

BUCKLEY, WA

Buckley Log Show. Start the morning with the Lumberjack Pancake Breakfast on Saturday. You’ll need it ― just watching the fast-paced events might make you feel exhausted. Jun 26-27; free. Log Show Grounds, River Rd.;  www.buckleychamber.org or 360/897-8324.

NEAR DEMING, WA

Deming Logging Show. Loggers’ breakfast starts at 6 a.m. After seeing all the events, don’t miss the enormous machinery display, then hit the chicken, beef, and salmon barbecue. Jun12-13; $6. On Cedarville Rd., 10 miles east of Bellingham; www.demingloggingshow.com or 360/592-3051.

ESTACADA, OR

Estacada Timber Show. A pair attack an 18-inch block with axes in the two-man underhand butcher-block chopping event. In the springboard chopping event, sweat drips like rain as 12-inch blocks are hacked apart in 50 seconds. Jun 19; free. Timber Park, off State 224; estacadatimberfestival.com 503/699-0765.

NORTH BEND, OR

Oregon Bay Area Lumberjack Competition. The spar poles for speed climbing and tree top- ping tower 50 feet. At the “hot saw”events, souped-up chain saws tear into log rounds with startling speed. Jun 26; free. Mill Casino Hotel on U.S. 101, north of Coos Bay; 541/672-0757. ― Steven R. Lorton

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