"Grant Hadwin got a chainsaw and did something terrible"

So begins a fascinating story of idealism and uncompromising zeal, set on the bank of the Yakoun River in British Columbia. This is a story which leaves you wondering about the meaning of heroism, and of folly.

I'm not sure if the protagonist is Grant Hadwin or the singular golden spruce.

I recently carved a kayak paddle out of Sitka Spruce; I have a different feel for this tree now that I've felt how tough spruce fibers can be. I highly recommend this story and, thanks to the internet, it's available for preview on Google Books.