For The Experience of Course!

Every year people ask me why Curtis and I bother getting a tag so we can cut our own Christmas Tree on Forest Service land. People proclaim, "You spend just as much on gas as you do buying one from a lot", "The tree is never as perfect as store bought ones", "It's such a pain" and finally "Fake tree's are so much easier!" My answer to all these statements is, "We cut down our own tree for the experience."

This year we had quite the experience! Mom Dudley and I both purchased tags this year so we all piled into the cruiser and headed toward Vernon. After about an hour and a half drive, we arrived at our destination. We pull out the map thinking it may be useful... it wasn't, so it was quickly set aside. I had wanted a fir this year because I love the shape of firs to Pinyon Pines. Off we went to the far end of the plot where the mountains were located. Just as we arrived I read the paper that came with the permits. It said that only Juniper and Pinyon Pine could be cut. No one in the car knew the difference between a pine and fir, but I did. And I could not in good conscience cut down a fir when I knew it was against the rules... so back in the car we all went in search of the elusive pines.

We drove around for a few hours finding a few scattered here and a few scattered there. We were attempting to find the location of our last cut from last year but were not having any luck. We seemed to be somewhat lost. We hiked up the hills and back down. Where were all the pine we remembered from last year??? 5 hours later we were all getting grumpy and found a few trees that would suffice. Mom and Dad's tree was just the right size for their spot in the living room. And our tree... well it looked smaller out in the forest than in my house. Curtis told me it was huge but I insisted it wasn't. I was wrong. Loading our tree was difficult. It was a lot heavier than it looked. The girls had to actually help the men get it loaded and it barely fit on top of the cruiser. But we managed, and as we drove the main dirt road out we discovered that somehow while driving this road earlier we had missed the huge grove of pines that we had cut our tree down in last year. It was right there. A five minute drive from the main road. How could we have missed that?? We could have saved ourself hours of hiking, driving, and listening to the baby cry. Whatever, lets go home. We drove home taking the scenic route a few times due to missed turns and tired eyes.

We arrived home late around 6PM. Getting our tree inside was a bit of a challenge. The tree was so heavy we had to anchor it to the wall so it would not tip over and smash our children. And there it was... standing tall and fat and releasing its pine smell through the entire house. Why do we cut our own tree down? For the experience! And why do we get a live tree? Because having grown up in Oregon, a fake one is just wrong, and of course I love the smell. Yes we were all sick and tired of searching for a tree by the end of five hours... but would we do it again? Absolutely.

Jace and I standing near a stream that was frozen over. This is where the firs were found.

Grandpa and Sage wondering up and down the grassy hills searching for the perfect tree.

Father and Son hiking up a hill after cutting down the smaller tree.

Jace and Grandma hanging out in the car waiting for the men to cut down the tree.

Curtis and Dad Dudley dragging the tree to the car.

Curtis standing next to our tree exhausted after cutting the large sappy trunk.

Men helplessly trying to load the tree. It was very top heavy.

The women stepped in and saved the day by helping the guys get it up on the top of the cruiser.

And there it is in all its glory. Double my height and as wide as I am tall. And of course the picture does not do it justice.