1...2...3...up he goes! “Widow Makers” are an ever present source of danger. What is a widow maker? Imagine an old dead limb 120 feet up in the tree breaking off and falling straight down like a giant silent spear. Some of the limbs on these large old trees can be up to one foot in diameter! But even the small ones falling that distance can kill. One bump of the skidder and many a widow maker has been turned loose. A hard hat doesn't cover much and only deflects smaller branches and debris.