I’m a lumber jack and I’m OK!

Axes ready – you’ll have a wild time joining in with the woodland warriors

REVERED for their strength, work ethic and resilience — as well as those plaid shirts and lustrous beards — lumberjacks are sharpening their axes to show off their skills. Here are five of the best lumberjack-inspired adventures.

FESTIVAL VIBES

ONE of the largest international lumberjack gatherings takes place every July at the Lumberjack Bowl in Hayward, Wisconsin. Expect live music, food trucks, lumberjack games and 24 pro events, including axe throwing, chainsawing, log rolling, and scaling 90 ft cedar poles before hurtling back to earth. HOW: Three hours’ drive from Minneapolis. July 28 to 30, 2022, £18 adults, £11 children (lumber jackworldchampionships.com).

SPORTING CHANCE

PAULA DEEN’S Lumberjack Feud Show & Adventure Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is near Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s amusement park in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Watch champions chopping, sawing, climbing and log rolling in the show, and then try timber sports yourself at the adventure park. HOW: An easy drive from Atlanta, Nashville and Charlotte. Prices for show: £26 adults and £11 child; adventure park, £29 and £26 (lumberjackfeud.com).

CHOP, CHOP

THE art of axe throwing has made it out of the woods and into bars and arenas. Head to an urban Kick Axe Throwing bar (kickaxe.com) in Washington DC, Brooklyn or

Philadelphia, or book a lesson with one of the ‘axe-perts’ at The Deep Creek Axe Throwing Co near Deep Creek Lake in nearby Maryland. HOW: Deep Creek Lake is a threehour drive from Washington D.C. An ‘Axpert’ Session (1.5 hours to 3.5 hours) includes 30 minutes of instruction and costs £26pp. Minimum age is eight (dcladventures.com).

EXTREME ACTION

WOOD-CHOPPING has come a long way since the first competition