Photos: Climbing Competence

Nathan Patrick, a junior at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, reaches for a scabbard and handsaw in the “working climb” portion of the Massachusetts FFA arbor skills career development event Thursday at Look Park in Florence. Above him, judge Cam Woodward, a safety coordinator at the Bartlett Tree Experts’ Northampton office, makes sure the climbs are done safely. Five schools from across the commonwealth participated in the annual test of skills hosted by the horticulture/forestry program at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING

Jakob Ladue, a sophomore at Pathfinder Regional School in Palmer, sounds the horn 30 feet up a tree at Look Park in Florence during the "speed climb" portion of the Massachusetts FFA Arbor Skills Career Development Event on Thursday, April 14, 2022. Ladue made the climb in 2 minutes 45 seconds. Five schools from across the commonwealth participated in the annual test of skills hosted by the Horticulture/Forestry program at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School. —STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING

Jakob Ladue, a sophomore at Pathfinder Regional School in Palmer, scales a tree at Look Park in Florence during the “speed climb” portion of the Massachusetts FFA Arbor Skills Career Development Event on Thursday, April 14, 2022. Ladue made the 30-foot climb in 2 minutes 45 seconds. Five schools from across the commonwealth participated in the annual test of skills hosted by the Horticulture/Forestry program at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School. —STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING

Brayden Carlin, a sophomore at Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative in West Springfield, undertakes the “working climb” portion of the Massachusetts FFA Arbor Skills Career Development Event held at Look Park in Florence on Thursday, April 14, 2022. —STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING

Jeff Lacoy, right, an arborist representative at the Bartlett Tree Experts Northampton office, prepares to lift Nathan Patrick, a junior at Pathfinder Regional School in Palmer, into a tree at Look Park to take part in the Massachusetts FFA Arbor Skills Career Development Event on Thursday, April 14, 2022. —STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING

Nathan Patrick, a junior at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, secures a second safety rope before reaching for a scabbard and handsaw in the “working climb” portion of the Massachusetts FFA Arbor Skills Career Development Event held at Look Park in Florence on Thursday, April 14, 2022. Above him is judge Cam Woodward. —STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING