The Working Forest and Its Dead

Barkskins

This flow traces the human cost of timber extraction through successive accidents, deaths, and adaptations among logging families.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

René’s Fatal Cut René’s Fatal Cut from "Barkskins". René’s Fatal Cut A Familiar Hazard René dies while cutting, struck by an ax and later scalped for a bounty.

René’s Fatal Cut from "Barkskins". René’s Fatal Cut A Familiar Hazard René dies while cutting, struck by an ax and later scalped for a bounty.

René’s Fatal Cut A Familiar Hazard René dies while cutting, struck by an ax and later scalped for a bounty. Labor as Inheritance His death foreshadows the risks that will shape the lives of his descendants in forestry.

A River Driver’s Death A River Driver’s Death from "Barkskins". A River Driver’s Death A Jam Breaks Franceway attacks a key log holding a river jam, trying to release the trapped timber.

A River Driver’s Death from "Barkskins". A River Driver’s Death A Jam Breaks Franceway attacks a key log holding a river jam, trying to release the trapped timber.

A River Driver’s Death A Jam Breaks Franceway attacks a key log holding a river jam, trying to release the trapped timber. The Price of Delivery A log crushes him, illustrating that lumber markets are supplied through dangerous human labor.

Pollo’s Amputation Pollo’s Amputation from "Barkskins". Pollo’s Amputation Cable Failure A taut haywire snaps while Pollo stands too close to its bight, severing his foot.

Pollo’s Amputation from "Barkskins". Pollo’s Amputation Cable Failure A taut haywire snaps while Pollo stands too close to its bight, severing his foot.

Pollo’s Amputation Cable Failure A taut haywire snaps while Pollo stands too close to its bight, severing his foot. Survival in the Camp He recovers slowly and becomes a cook, demonstrating how injury reshapes a worker’s place in the industry.

Blony’s Climbing Death Blony’s Climbing Death from "Barkskins". Blony’s Climbing Death A Dangerous Stunt Blony climbs a Douglas fir and plans to stand on its top after cutting it.

Blony’s Climbing Death from "Barkskins". Blony’s Climbing Death A Dangerous Stunt Blony climbs a Douglas fir and plans to stand on its top after cutting it.

Blony’s Climbing Death A Dangerous Stunt Blony climbs a Douglas fir and plans to stand on its top after cutting it. A Fatal Split The spar breaks and traps him, and the crew buries him within the fallen tree.

A Life Outside the Woods A Life Outside the Woods from "Barkskins". A Life Outside the Woods The Survivors’ Decision Lobert returns home unbroken, while relatives keep losing sons to distant camps and machinery.

A Life Outside the Woods from "Barkskins". A Life Outside the Woods The Survivors’ Decision Lobert returns home unbroken, while relatives keep losing sons to distant camps and machinery.

A Life Outside the Woods The Survivors’ Decision Lobert returns home unbroken, while relatives keep losing sons to distant camps and machinery. A Different Future The family’s later descendants move toward forestry science, restoration, or mechanized work with different risks.

At the end of René’s life

During Jinot’s early logging years

During mechanized logging in the West

After Blony begins topping spar trees

After the deaths of Blony and Molti