Time to yell “timber” to Portland’s tree-hugging record

Jessica Buxbaum Jul 1, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Time to yell “timber” to Portland’s tree-hugging record</h1>
                <h2><p>More than 2,000 people embraced their tall, branchy friends in Nepal’s capital last month, breaking what had been Portland’s year-old Guinness World Record for most people hugging trees simultaneously. This weekend, Portland tried to but failed to to replant its reputation as the world capital of tree</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/jrb211-humboldt-edu/">Jessica Buxbaum</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>More than 2,000 people embraced their tall, branchy friends in Nepal’s capital last month, breaking what had been Portland’s year-old Guinness World Record for most people hugging trees simultaneously. This weekend, Portland tried to but failed to to replant its reputation as the world capital of tree huggers. Only 599 huggers participated in this Saturday’s attempt, about 400 less than last year’s record setting event. “It’s not about the record at this point,” organizer Damon Schrosk told<a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/07/portland_tries_and_fails_to_br.html?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org#incart_m-rpt-1"> The Oregonian</a>. “It’s about people having a good time and learning about the nonprofit groups we had.” Sounds like something a coach tells Little Leaguers after a tough loss: You played a great game, Portland! — E.W.</p>
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More than 2,000 people embraced their tall, branchy friends in Nepal’s capital last month, breaking what had been Portland’s year-old Guinness World Record for most people hugging trees simultaneously. This weekend, Portland tried to but failed to to replant its reputation as the world capital of tree huggers. Only 599 huggers participated in this Saturday’s attempt, about 400 less than last year’s record setting event. “It’s not about the record at this point,” organizer Damon Schrosk told The Oregonian. “It’s about people having a good time and learning about the nonprofit groups we had.” Sounds like something a coach tells Little Leaguers after a tough loss: You played a great game, Portland! — E.W.

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By Jessica Buxbaum

Crosscut editorial intern Jessica Buxbaum recently moved to Seattle from California where she studied political science at Humboldt State University and worked on the university's newspaper and magazi