Friday, November 20, 2009

Christmas tree permits available

Tags will be sold in Sun Valley and at SNRA

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By JON DUVAL
Express Staff Writer

Permits for cutting Christmas trees for personal use in the Sawtooth National Forest will be available starting today, Nov. 20.

The permits are available from the Ketchum Ranger District office, on Sun Valley Road, or from the Sawtooth National Recreation Area visitors center, north of Ketchum on state Highway 75.

Permits are $5 for a tree up to 10 feet tall. For trees 11 to 20 feet tall, the permit costs $20.

Both the Ketchum Ranger District and the SNRA headquarters are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Beginning Saturday, Nov. 28, the SNRA headquarters will have additional weekend hours, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. These weekend hours will continue through Dec. 20.

A variety of trees can be cut, including Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, piñon pine and subalpine fir.

"We strongly recommend that people check with the Forest Service office closest to the area where they plan to cut their tree," said Karl Fuelling, a forester with the Sawtooth National Forest. "Conditions on the ground vary greatly from area to area throughout the forest. In some places it may be necessary to cross-country ski or use a snow machine to access cutting areas."

Campgrounds, administrative sites, ski areas and summer home sites are off limits to cutting trees.

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Maps and rules for cutting Christmas trees will be provided with the permits.

Jon Duval: jduval@mtexpress.com