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CORVALLIS - Pole climbing, logrolling and ax throwing are among the featured events as forestry students from throughout the West compete at Oregon State University during three days of old-time logging events from April 3-5.

Collegiate teams from six states will compete for the Association of Western Forestry Clubs Regional Meet Championship. The all-day competition begins at 8 a.m. daily with events scheduled at Cronemiller Lake near OSU's Peavy Arboretum along Highway 99W, about five miles north of Corvallis.

All events are free and open to the public, but there is a half-mile hike on a steep dirt road to the lake. For access information, contact the OSU Research Forests recreation office at 541-737-6702.

The annual meet, which is held in a different region each year, pits OSU against logging teams from California, Colorado, Montana, Idaho and Nevada. The OSU team is the only logging sports team in Oregon, said Matt Beaulaurier, OSU logging sports team captain.

"Thursday starts off the competition with water events such as birling (log rolling)," said Beaulaurier, who is majoring in forest engineering.

Saturday will feature a second heat of many events, as well as the vertical speed chop, jack-and-jill buck, and the ax throw finals.

Speed, accuracy and safety are hallmarks of the events, Beaulaurier said.

Academic prowess comes into play in a number of technical events; including wood identification and estimating lumber yield from timber stands.