Brian Bartow reaches out to touch the end of a log, which was the finish line, in the obstacle pole competition on Saturday afternoon at the Loggers Jubilee in Morton.
Dennis Cahoon of Chico, Calif. watches his axe fly toward the target during the Loggers Jubilee axe throwing competition on Saturday afternoon in Morton.
Sporting soccer cleats with custom-made sharp spikes attached to the bottoms, competitors battle each other in log rolling, or birling, competition to end Saturday's events at Loggers Jubilee in Morton.
The crowd in the east-side bleachers covers their ears as David Moses Jr. of Snoqualimie slices through a log during a heat of the hot saw competition at the Loggers Jubilee in Morton on Saturday afternoon.
While standing on a plank nearly 7 feet off the ground, Branden Sirguy of Port Angeles chops away at a log in a heat of the springboard chop competition at the 71st Annual Loggers Jubilee in Morton, Wash. on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013. Dozens of competitive loggers from across the Northwest traveled to Morton this weekend to battle for the title Bull of the Woods. Loggers competed in up to 13 events, including axe throwing, speed climbing, and birling.
Most cities and towns across Lewis County have held their summer celebrations already, but Morton is just getting ready for its annual event that brings thousands into its friendly confines for one weekend.
The Morton Loggers Jubilee takes place this Thursday to Sunday across Morton, featuring a variety of events that pay tribute to the town’s logging heritage and transforms Morton into a citywide festival. Billed as “The Granddaddy of All Logging Shows,” the competitions that bring people together from all over the world — including New Zealand and Canada — take place Saturday.
From ax throwing to choker setting, log rolling to speed climbing and tree topping, Morton’s history as a logging mecca in East Lewis County is on full display starting at 2 p.m. at the Jubilee Park, with gates opening at 12:30 p.m. Event co-organizer Linda Mettler, who along with her husband, Sonny, have managed the event for 36 years, said she expects a larger than usual turnout for this year’s parade, which starts at 11:30 Saturday morning.
“We had seen a bit of a lull, but now we’re seeing a bit of a resurgence in people coming out and bringing their equipment,” Mettler said. “It really brings the older style of the trucks and equipment that are indigenous to our area.”
The general public is also invited to take part in several competitions. The lawnmower races prove to be highly competitive each year, Mettler said, with the bed races usually the most humorous and whimsical.
“The lawnmower race on Friday night is kind of like a homecoming night for a lot of people here,” Mettler said. “The weekend is for a lot of the tourists, and people really like to see the bed races. It’s teams of four girls that push a bed down Main Street with a guy on the bed — and some of the teams really get into it.”
The annual street dance is a longstanding tradition, and will take place on Main Street from 9 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday, with music provided by the Brian Green Band.
The Loggers Jubilee has gained exposure on national television before, and it will this year too, with a crew from cable network AXS TV visiting Morton to document the events of the weekend.
“They wanted to see the lawnmower races, and now they’re going to stay the weekend,” Mettler said.
Mettler said all money raised from the Loggers Jubilee goes back into the community, particularly to help with youth programs in the area.
Registration is are still open for several Loggers Jubilee events. For more information, including prices and complete schedules of each event, visit www.loggersjubilee.com.
