The Cal Poly Logging Team has been on campus since around 2017; however, it was only this year that I, a junior, decided to investigate it for myself. What I discovered was a supportive and shockingly large organization whose numbers are growing every year.
Every Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., a diverse body of students gather at the Logging Unit, tucked away in one of Cal Poly’s many agricultural fields and surrounded the pervasive smell of freshly cut timber. I had the honor of being invited to one such practice for my research, where I watched new recruits try their hand at events such as Axe Throwing, Jack and Jill, and Chopping.
Over the course of the afternoon, I became acquainted with several of these events, as well as the loggers themselves. Many asked whether I would like to try climbing a 60-foot pole for Speed Climbing, a common logging-sports event, which involves racing an opponent up a vertical, ground-staked log while wearing spiked boots for traction. Luckily for me, I was able to politely decline, as I had not filled out the safety forms yet.
While the club as a whole was immediately welcoming — especially Emma, the team dog — I found particular joy in speaking with the women’s logging team. Its members make up a small but decidedly crucial part of the club. These women not only support one another, but seem to truly adore each other, and they were all more than willing to bring me into the fold.
1. THERE ARE MORE WOMEN IN LOGGING EVERY YEAR
Almost every woman I spoke with was able to point to another woman who referred her to the club. This kind of connection appears to be a large part of why more women are joining every year. I had the honor of speaking with a few of the female officers and longstanding members, including Amelia and Libby, who were responsible for bringing quite a few of the new women in.
Libby said that when she first started, she was one of maybe six women on the team. At the practice I attended, I found myself surrounded by nearly 16 women, including four new freshmen who joined this year.
Female loggers continue to grow in numbers, reflecting a broader shift within the forestry industry. Since the first women’s logging event in the 1960s, women have been setting records and establishing themselves in the sport. In fact, three women just set a new record at the Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wisconsin, this year.
2. IT CAN BE INTIMIDATING
Despite this growth, joining a largely male space can still feel daunting. According to Fiona, one of the new freshmen who was enjoying her third trip out to the Unit when I spoke with her, it can be intimidating to be surrounded by so many men at practice. However, the general consensus among the women’s team seems to be that the men are not so intimidating once you get to know them.
Amelia said there has always been a great “vibe” at competitions: everyone cheers for each other, man, woman, or otherwise. The events are also largely the same for both the men’s and women’s teams. The only difference is Speed Climbing, which has a lower line for women to climb toward. Other than that, women carry the same weights as men, run the same distances, use the same equipment, and are held to the same standards.
“Mostly people just compete with themselves,” Amelia said.
The goal is to beat your last time or distance, and training is self-paced.
Libby also told me that, because there are still fewer women than men on the team, it can be easier for women to attend competitions during their first year of logging. The club is also a great opportunity for members to network, allowing more women to break into the forestry industry each year. Recruiting more women, she said, is a clear priority for the team.
3. STRENGTH AND PRIDE
In a conversation with the female officers, we discussed what it means to be a female athlete in a field where women make up less than 20% of the demographic.
One officer took a positive spin on my question, stating, “The lack of representation of women really makes me value the strong women that I’m seeing in my life even more… It makes me super proud to be surrounded by such strong women.”
The pride these women feel for their sport and for each other is palpable. It became clear to me in the three hours I spent with the team that women’s logging has come a long way since it first began in the 1960s. The Cal Poly Logging Team is committed to furthering that legacy — one new recruit, competition, and Friday evening at the Unit at a time.