Treewalker Services brings unique approach to tree care in Grand Marais

After more than a decade away, Philip Klobuchar has returned to Grand Marais with a unique approach to tree care, launching Treewalker Services, a business that combines ropes, physics, and a fearless approach to heights.

“The clients are usually surprised when you show up with a bunch of ropes, pulleys, and web slings,” Klobuchar said.

Klobuchar, a 2008 graduate of Cook County High School, recently moved back to the small town with his wife and two children to start his business. Over the past decade, Klobuchar lived in several states across the U.S., gaining experience in a variety of professional roles. In recent years, while living in California, Klobuchar discovered carpentry while working on unique homes, homesteads, and cabins along the West Coast. He was also part of a local fire department and worked closely on several of California’s wildfires.

“That sort of segued into the tree world that I’m more involved in now,” Klobuchar said. He then moved to the Twin Cities to pursue an arborist certification through the International Society of Arboriculture.

Treewalker Services offers multiple services for home or business owners, including pruning, clearance, tree removal, and fire safety and mitigation. Klobuchar said his business approach differs from other tree-cutting businesses in that it is “rooted in preservation” and education for homeowners.

Rather than using large equipment, Klobuchar shows up with rope, a handful of pulleys, a safety harness, and various other smaller pieces of equipment. “I can do a lot of it myself,” he said.

“You can really move a lot of heavy pieces of wood and use friction devices to lower it gently so that it’s not just coming crashing down on somebody’s yard and putting big holes in things,” Klobuchar said.

With his ISA arborist certification and in-field professional experience, Klobuchar has learned that improper pruning cuts on a tree can create defects or weak points that, years later, can contribute to the tree breaking during severe weather events. “I feel like that’s the most common problems that I see is that it wasn’t structurally cared for beforehand, and then within 10 years, it became a much larger problem.”

To learn more or contact Philip Klobuchar at Treewalker Services, call (530) 739-3754 or email treewalkerservices@gmail.com.

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Treewalker Service owner Philip Klobuchar about his new business, advice for homeowners related to tree care, and more. The audio from the interview is below.

Kalli Hawkins November 4, 2025