Some women build homes. Some build businesses. Emily Garlough helps preserve living things that have stood for generations.
As the owner of Missoula Tree Preservation, Emily has spent the last 15 years climbing, pruning, and caring for trees across western Montana. While many people assume tree work is simply about cutting trees down, Emily sees it differently. She's built a career around protecting the urban canopy, educating homeowners, and advocating for the trees that shape the communities we call home.
From wildland firefighting to running her own business, Emily's path has been guided by curiosity, grit, and a deep appreciation for working with her hands. Today, that same mindset carries her hundreds of feet into the canopy, where she finds purpose not only in the work itself, but in preserving something that will outlast us all.
The Interview
Can you introduce yourself, who you are, what you do, and where you’re based?
My name is Emily Garlough and I’ve been an arborist since 2010. I started my tree climbing business, Missoula Tree Preservation, in 2014 and we work primarily in the Missoula valley.
How did you get into this line of work?
I started climbing trees after a few seasons as a wildland firefighter. I knew I loved working outside running chainsaws but was ready for something new. I landed a job on a fuels reduction crew and one day the boss asked me if I would climb and take down a tree that was next to a cabin. I had no idea what I was doing but I put the spurs on, cut the limbs off one by one, and blocked out the firewood. The rest is history.
How did you first hear about Red Ants Pants? Do you have a connection to the brand?
I first heard about Red Ants Pants close to 20 years ago when I was working on a thinning crew. It was hard physical work running chainsaws, dragging brush, and stacking piles for burning in the spring. The other woman on the crew wore Red Ants Pants every day and loved them. I remember having lunch with the crew one day and laughing about how my legs were constantly covered in bruises. She looked at me like I was crazy and told me I should get some real work pants. I bought a pair after my next paycheck and never looked back.
What makes a good pair of work pants in your world?
A good pair of pants can work as hard as I do. If my pants are doing their job, they’re protecting my legs from banging around in a tree. I want the pants to take the abuse rather than my body. Sometimes I feel like I’m wearing my Red Ants Pants armor when I’m in a thorny or difficult tree to prune. If my pants are thrashed by the end of the day, but I’m not covered in cuts and bruises, they’ve done their job.
Favorite Red Ants Pants piece?
GSD’s. I started off wearing OWP’s but found them to be too thick and cumbersome for tree climbing, as it requires a fair bet of flexibility and movement. I switched to Arborwear Tech climbing pants for years and while the flexibility of the tech fabric was great, my legs often took a beating from the thinner fabric. The GSD’s are a great combination of a pant that will work with me but also protect my legs from abuse.
What's always in your pockets?
Melted chapstick and dirty earplugs. And sawdust.
What drew you to this kind of work, and what's kept you in it?
Arboriculture is a pretty unique line of work. I didn’t even know that being a tree climber was a job until my mid 20’s. What I love about my work is that it has a lasting impact on the urban canopy that we all enjoy. At this point, I doubt that there’s a single street corner that I can stand on and not see at least one tree that I have climbed. A lot of people have chainsaws and can cut down a tree, but being a climbing arborist provides an alternative way to preserve the trees around us.
Is there anything about your work or your path that people might find surprising?
While I don’t need any formal education for my job, I got a Masters Degree in Forestry from the University of Montana. Both of my parents were public school teachers and they drilled in me that having an education was important, even if it wasn’t a prerequisite for what I wanted to do.
What are you most proud of in your career so far?
I love how present tree work has taught me to be. I have an active mind and am normally very easily distracted. Swinging around a tree with a chainsaw and a thin rope really makes me focus. Not only on the potential danger right in front of me, but on tiny things like a bee that might live in a paper hive on the other side of the tree, or a curious squirrel that might live in nest with babies high above, or a crack in a stem that might compromise my tie in point. When I’m up in a tree I’m not thinking about running errands or what’s for dinner. I’m observing everything around me from the amount of new growth on a fir, to the signs of drought stress on the edges of a maple leaf. Hours can pass and I’m totally present. It’s a great way to rewire my brain.
What's one piece of advice you wish you'd received earlier?
Be yourself no matter what.
Why does supporting brands like Red Ants Pants matter to you?
I love supporting a company that shares my values. They care about people. They care about hard work. They care about the environment we all share. Wearing their pants makes me stand a little taller. And a really fun part of wearing Red Ants Pants is when you unexpectedly see someone else wearing them too. It’s like being in a secret club or having a secret handshake. There’s usually a laugh or a high five or a smile that makes you feel like we’re in this together.
How do you hope to inspire the next generation of women?
Just showing up each day, comfortable in your own skin, is a radical way to inspire the next generation of women. Being yourself and not selling off parts of yourself to fit in is a powerful message to send.
Is there a mentor, teacher, family member, or friend who has had a lasting impact on your life?
My first boss Kathy owned a tree care company called Out on a Limb in Seattle. One day I was really wearing myself out in a tree and she yelled up at me to ‘Climb like a girl”. Initially I was mad because we say ‘doing it like a girl’ to mean we’re doing something wrong or poorly. But what she meant was to use my body intuitively and climb the way my body wanted to move, rather than muscling through each job the way the men were. ‘Climbing like a girl’ became synonymous with climbing smarter, not harder. She was a mentor to me in many ways, but those words always stuck with me.
Best piece of advice for the Anthill community?
Make time to play. Laugh and seek people and experiences that bring you joy. We can so easily get bogged down with work, other people’s problems, the weight of the world, you name it. Remind yourself that it is ok to enjoy life and you don’t have to take yourself too seriously.
Who helped shape the person you are today?
My mom and dad. Solid Midwesterners who are both steady and kind and humble.
