Christopher Hoyt Austin, Certified Arborist (PN-1809A) and owner of Hoyt Arbor Care LLC, has been working with trees for more than 25 years. His experience comes from a combination of Studio Art studies in college, ornamental tree pruning in Sequim, WA, climbing in the Tongass in Southeast Alaska, and training with the International Society of Arboriculture. Chris now travels as a consulting arborist to promote the safety, health, longevity, and beauty of trees.  Hoyt Arbor Care LLC is licensed and insured—ready to serve.

Texas (682) 808-0036.

Alaska (907) 988-4546

Background

Chris began his training as a high climber and technical rigger in 1986 with Whitestone Southeast Inc. on Chichagof Island. In 1988 & 1989 he was a crew-hand on a commercial seiner in Valdez. From 1989-91’ he attended Wheaton College, Massachusetts to study art. Combining his artistic perspective and tree experience, Chris started a tree & landscape company, Happy Valley Pruning, in 1998 in Sequim, Washington. He focused on orchard pruning, ornamental tree care, and tree preservation. Here he was able to utilize his love for art and trees as he specialized in hand pruning fine Japanese maples.

In the year 2000, he joined the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA isa-arbor.com), obtained the Certified Arborist credential (PN-1809A), and joined the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the ISA (pnwisa.org).

By 2007 Happy Valley Pruning had grown to seven employees serving Sequim, Port Townsend, and Port Angeles, WA. A highlight of those years was being invited by a local consulting arborist to be a part of a team working to maintain the health and vigor of a very old Pacific Madrone (one of the largest of its size at the time) in Port Angeles, Wa.

One advantage to living in Washington state was attending the local workshops hosted by the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the ISA. It was at one of these events that he learned from Dr. Alex Shigo, (former Chief Scientist for the USFS) how to “read” the external indicators that reveal the presence of decay in trees. During this time Chris was invited to teach pruning workshops for the North Olympic Fruit Club in Clallam, and Jefferson Counties, and one for WSU.

In December of 2011, Chris sold Happy Valley Pruning and moved with his family to the remote wilderness of southeast Alaska to operate summer youth camps and teach life skills. Through the following years to 2024, Chris owned and operated Sonlight Contractors, combining construction and tree service work in Southeast Alaska. He also did Tree Risk Assessment for the local tourist destination port near Hoonah, AK.

As new infrastructure has been built to accommodate the increase in the number of tourists coming to Alaska each summer, so has the need for Tree Inspections. Chris added the ISA TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification) in 2020.

Today, Hoyt Arbor Care LLC, specializes in Tree Risk Assessment with operations in the Dallas area in Texas and in Alaska.

Chris in Alaska

Acting in a film 2021