How can I create this text effect in Illustrator?

[Big Swifty 23]

I'd like to create this text effect. Perhaps using a different, but similary weighted font. I need to use accent pronunciation symbols (Ô and Ē) that are not included on any similar available font I've found. It's only for five different letters, one of which appears twice. I have a decent treeline vector file to work with. Because it's only one short word I'm fine with the idea of creating each letter as shape and then placing them side by side. But I would need to use the text tool even if to create a shape based on a single letter because I lack the skill to create any kind of detailed shapes and I'd like to try this with a specific font in mind.

I'm more familiar with Photoshop, but if I'm doing something relatively simple and only using already existing vector files and text I can usually manage in Illustrator. The menu and tools are just not as familiar to me as they are in PS. To make things interesting I'm using a friend's computer where Illustrator is in Spanish, so somewhat detailed intstructions of what needs to be done would be appreciated so that I can consult a video tutorial if need be.

[Monika Gause]

So what you can use is an opacity mask:

It's important to have the tress in front of the text before creating the mask. Object > Arrange > Bring to front

[Big Swifty 23]

Thank you so much. This worked for the most part. Not sure if I'm crazy with the results, but that has nothing to do with the technique and can be improved on if spend more time with it.

One thing I did notice that is different is that using this technique confines the tree layer to within the text. If you notice the original image I posted ("EXPLORE") some of the tree tops go above where the top of the letters would be on every letter but the E. I'd be curious to know if there's an easy way to do this in addition to what I've already done. I tried copying one of the trees and putting it outside of the mask, which worked as far as extending the tree top over the top of the letter, but it also went outside of the boundries of the letter elsewhere. I guess I could use the eraser tool on everything but the tree top, but maybe there's a cleaner way of doing this?

Thanks again for the response. Super helpful.

[Monika Gause]

You could hack that by just drawing some shapes on top of the letters before making the mask. Use the rectangle tool or just the blob brush. Just make it fit vaguely. It will be masked anyway.

[Big Swifty 23]

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

You posted the same question in the Photoshop Forum.

[Big Swifty 23]

Yes. Because I'm way more familiar with PS and this is just a draft to see if I like the look. I wasn't sure that even if I got a response I'd be able to do it in Illustrator since it's not a familiar program to me, but if I could do it in PS and I liked it than I would make the effort or just have someone else do it for me.

I hope posting in both forums looking for two potential ways to do this with two different programs wasn't breaking forum rules or anything like that. Apologies if so.