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12/20/2006: "A Christmas Tree Adventure"

Nate and I have a tradition of going out into the forest and retrieving our own Christmas tree. This year was the third year we've done it, and by far the most fun. We rented snowshoes from OSU for the day. We loaded up on some good food and coffee. We made sure we had tire chains, emergency blankets, water and a compass. We stopped at the ranger station for a tree cutting permit on our way up to Tombstone Prairie. Several inches of snow were in the forecast for the afternoon and they wished us luck. Up we went. There wasn't an inch of snow on the ground until we hit 4000ft elevation. Then suddenly there were drifts. We parked in the Tombstone Prairie snow park and headed up the trail.


Now our dear friends, the Shaders, had been living in Oregon for several years and just recently moved to Baltimore. I told them we'd take a bunch of forest pictures just so they could remember what real forests look like. But here's Nate, waving hello in his snowshoes and camo.

We walked along the trail for maybe a 1/4 mile, crossing a few melt-streams along the way. We had resisted the temptation to run off into the woods immediately, knowing there would be plenty of noble firs to be found. And indeed, we came upon a open area where the old growth dropped away and a new generation of silver and noble firs were growing up. It was Christmas tree heaven!


Here I am prancing about in Christmas Tree Heaven, as much as one can prance in snowshoes.


We found a tree. We prepared to fell it, first by claiming it with our permit.


Nate fell in the well of the tree, the area around the base where the compressed lower limbs aren't compacted by snow. We discovered the snow was about 3 1/2 feet deep. Nate decided to cut the tree while he was down there.


Nate got himself and the tree free and we jointly dragged it out of Christmas Tree Heaven (bad karma, I know). It was a bit of work getting it up the slope that I had pranced down, especially when you are falling in tree wells from all of the perfect trees.

When we got back to the trail, Nate decided it was easier if he dragged the tree on his own. So I carried our packs and took pictures while he did all of the work.


It's hard work!


So I went on ahead and came back with a pick-me-up, chocolate and milk!


We got the tree home. Mark and Esther came over for dinner and then Mark straightened the tree while Esther, Nate and I offered advice on which direction to shift it. I'm sure Mark was thrilled with out contribution.


And then the storm hit and things have been wacky for the past few days. So the tree has been sitting in the living room, undecorated. Until today! Nate and I got down to business this morning, decorating our lovely Christmas tree. We're thrilled to have it as a reminder of the light that will return after winter.