What's Happening to me?? A Tree Planter's Diagnosis

Chances are that over the course of a two month tree planting contract planters are going to get hurt. It's inevitable really, with the number of hazards that lie waiting in the untamed forests. Camp supervisors are trained to deal with these injuries, and planters are taught how to avoid getting hurt, and usually big injuries are few and far between, if they even happen at all. But there are smaller injuries and symptoms of tree planting that are commonplace, and although not particularly dangerous, can make life a little less enjoyable. I've put together a list of some common ailments that most planters have dealt with before.

Christmas Toe- Christmas Toe isn't as fun as it may sound. Everybody loves Christmas, but nobody likes Christmas Toe. Essentially it is a numbing of the big toes, caused by an excessive amount of walking on steep or uneven terrain. It typically happens to hikers who spend a lot of time hiking in extreme environments, but is found frequently in tree planters and other forestry workers. How did it get such a fancy name you ask? Because the feeling doesn't come back to your toes for about four to six months, or the time between the end of a tree planting contract and the holiday season. In my first year the feeling didn't come back until mid-February, seven months after I planted my last tree of the contract. It's not dangerous, and doesn't affect your balance at all, but it can be scary to a rookie planter not expecting it. Once you get used to it, it's a great conversation starter at parties.

The Claw- No this doesn't refer to an arcade game at the local Chuck E Cheese. The Claw is what happens when the fingers on a planter's hand used to pound the shovel into the ground all day long become difficult to extend, giving your hand a claw-like look. It's not painful but it does look strange, and can last about a week after planting. During the morning it is at it's worst, with fingers almost locked in a fist, but after stretching them for a bit the movement comes back almost entirely.


Cramps- Cramps aren't exclusive to the planting world, but they are a constant threat. The primary
cause of cramps while tree planting is dehydration. During the day, the temperature can rise above 30 degrees Celsius, and without clouds or shade planters are in the sun the entire day. Without enough water, planters can suffer excruciating leg cramps, which can put them out of commission for hours, if not the whole day. I remember my first year one of our best planters was so dehydrated at the end of the day that he had to lay on the floor of the bus because of the pain. The best way to combat cramps is simple: keep drinking.

If you've ever experienced something similar to any of these injuries leave a comment, I'm curious if anyone outside of the tree planting community can relate.