Morgan Lisle
Arborist
A&A; Tree Experts, Pikesville
Salary --$52,000
Age --35
Years on the job --10
How he got started --After graduating from the Maryland Institute College of Art, Lisle needed a job but decided not to pursue art. Instead, he opted for a career outdoors, answering an advertisement for climbers at a tree-care company. "I didn't want to do art and be cooped up in a studio all the time. I was already into [being] outdoors and into exercise and fitness. This was really exciting."
He later took the written state exam to become a licensed tree care expert.
Typical day --Lisle's job is to prune or remove trees and shrubs. This often involves climbing into large trees to remove the branches using hand saws and chain saws. He a rope and harness system when climbing.
Lisle is crew chief for a team of about three. Most days start at 7 a.m. and end by about 3:30 p.m, weather permitting. While many jobs are finished in a few hours, others might require several days.
Removed limbs and branches are further reduced by chain saw before being fed into a chipping machine. Cranes are used to remove large sections of trees. The debris is taken to a milling plant where rotten wood, debris and wood chips are made into mulch. Leftover straight wood that's in good condition is made into lumber.
"At the end of the day you can see that you've done something and that's part of the appeal."
Training --Lisle learned tree care through on-the-job training and by the end of the first week he had climbed his first tree. "It was pretty exhilarating."
Danger --"It's all about managing the risks."
Trees --Except for a few ornamental and non-native species, he can identify just about any tree. Knowing a tree type helps determine the strategy for pruning it. For example, the American elm should only be pruned during dormant months, otherwise it's susceptible to disease.
The good --"Climbing. It's getting a different perspective everyday. Also, the people I work with."
The bad --"Sometimes [fellow workers] can be the best thing about a job and can be the most frustrating."
Job to remember --Taking down an oak tree that was at least 80 feet tall and 5 feet in diameter.
Philosophy on the job --"Safety is No. 1."
Extracurricular --Lisle said he enjoys rock climbing, but also routinely enters the annual tree-climbing competition of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. This year's event is scheduled for April 12 in Gaithersburg.
Nancy Jones-Bonbrest Special to The Sun