Fresh Christmas Trees

by Nick Coons
Dec 10, 2003

This past weekend, our family drove up to the Prescott National Forest to cut down and bring home our own christmas tree. Legally, of course. Each year, several thousand permits are issued to those that apply, and these permits allow you access to one of several forests within the state. You're allowed to cut down and take one tree under 10-feet tall, and cutting areas are marked on a map that is sent with the permits.

Acquiring your own Christmas tree is not something you do to save money. The permit is only $10, but gas money and an all-day trip must be taken into consideration. Cutting your own tree is an experience. We spent all day Sunday driving to Prescott, searching for an ideal place to cut for a tree, and finally made our way back home.

First, we attempted to decipher the barely-marked map that was provided for us so we could find a cutting spot. After several hours of driving on paved and hardly-accessible dirt roads, we found a lush area with a vast number of trees so dense it was difficult to walk around in certain areas. On the side of a mountain via a slippery hike, we found a beautiful Douglas Fir that I am now looking at as I write this. My parents located a Blue Spruce that would fit their house well. We strapped the trees to the roof of the Jeep with bungee cords and nets.

On our way, we stopped off for an inexpensive family dinner at Peter Piper Pizza. I played probably my first skee-ball game in years.

We arrived home around 9:00pm that evening, unstrapped our tree, trimmed to fit, and placed it inside our house. This ended a full day job, and the possible beginning of a new family tradition. And because the tree is freshly cut, it may remain green and moist well into February.