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Each year the Dillon Ranger District helps people to enjoy
the great holiday tradition of cutting down their own Christmas tree.
This is a great family event that many families look forward to every year.
The Dillon Ranger District will be selling an unlimited number of permits
this year.
CHRISTMAS TREE CUTTING AREAS
There is only
ONE tree cutting area
this
year...
The tree cutting area is the westbound I-70 scenic overlook. This area is located after milepost 203.5 on westbound I-70. The scenic overlook area is between Exit 205, Silverthorne / Dillon and Exit 203, Frisco. The tree cutting area is the hill above the scenic overlook (click
HERE for a .pdf map). Lodgepole pine are
the ONLY trees available for cutting.
To print out a copy of the Dillon Ranger District
Christmas Tree Cutting Handout please click HERE
for a .pdf version.
Permits are
required prior to cutting your tree.
CUTTING DATES:
Wednesday, November 26 to Wednesday, December
24.
WHERE TO BUY:
Permits may be purchased at the Dillon Ranger District office located at 680
Blue River Parkway, Silverthorne, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm starting Wednesday, November 26, through Wednesday, December 24, 2008.
Permits will also be available at the cutting area on
the weekends of December 6 & 7, and 13 & 14 from 10 am to 4 pm. No permits will be sold on Thanksgiving Day (11/27/08) or Saturday and Sunday (11/29/08 & 11/30/08).
COST:
Permits are $10 per tree, with a limit of 5 permits per person.
Payment may be made with cash
or check
only,
no credit cards please!
NO MAIL OR PHONE ORDERS ARE ACCEPTED.
ALL SALES ARE FINAL, NO REFUNDS GIVEN.
HELPFUL INFORMATION
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Dress warmly for winter weather. |
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Leave pets at home or keep them on a
leash at all times. The parking lot can be extremely busy,
especially on weekends! |
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Use handsaws or axes only to cut your
tree! Chainsaws are
prohibited! |
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Maximum tree height is 15' tall. The tree trunk size must be 6" or less
in diameter. Please cut the tree as close to the ground as possible
and below any live branches. |
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No cutting on private lands
outside the National Forest area or within campgrounds!
Persons cutting or removing trees from the National Forest without a
valid permit are subject to a fine of up to $5000 and/or 6 months
imprisonment. |
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DO NOT
cut any trees marked with blue or green paint. |
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Bring tie downs or rope to secure the
tree to your vehicle. Attach the permit to the tree in a visible
spot to help with checkout. |
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Please take all your trash home with
you. |
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PROHIBITED - Chainsaws or other power
saws, snowmobiles, ATVs and other off-highway vehicles. |
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SMOKEY BEAR'S
HOLIDAY TIP
FOR FIREPROOFING YOUR
TREE
A dry, brittle tree is a tragedy that is waiting to
happen. As soon as you get home, please protect your family by
following the information below and enjoy the holiday season!
After returning home, immediately make a fresh cut at the
base of the tree trunk. Try to make a level cut about one inch from
the base. If you need to store your tree, put it in a place away from
the wind. A garage, patio deck or back porch works just fine.
After you've made the fresh cut on the trunk, mix up the ingredients for the
fireproofing mixture.
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Fill 2 gallon bucket with hot water from
the tap to within 1 inch from the top. |
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2 cups (one pint bottle) of Karo Syrup |
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2 ounces liquid Chlorine Bleach |
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2 pinches of Epsom Salts (available at
drug store) |
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1/2 teaspoon Boraxo (from the
supermarket) |
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1 teaspoon Chelated (pronounced
key-lated) Iron (available in
garden shops) |
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Let the tree stand in this bucket of ingredients for 24
hours until you are ready to bring the tree inside. Keep the remaining
solution. Place your tree in a tree stand that contains a well where
liquids can be poured. When you've placed the tree in its final
resting place, fill the stand reservoir TWICE-A-DAY
with the remaining mixture, every morning and night.
NOW YOUR TREE WILL BE FIREPROOFED!!
HOW DOES THE FIREPROOFING WORK?
The Karo syrup provides the sugar which allows the tree to
soak up enormous amounts of water. Without the sugar, only the
smallest amounts of water are absorbed. You can expect the tree to
soak up 1 & 1/2 gallons of the recipe during the 10-14 day period your tree
is up.
The Boron (in the Boraxo) makes the water and sugar move
to every needle of your tree. Boron does this not only in trees, but
in vegetables, fruits and even house plants. Don't forget about the
Epsom Salts and the Chelated Iron. Epsom Salt is Magnesium Sulphate,
and this, together with Iron, provides the center molecules in the process
we know as chlorophyll production. This ensures that the needles won't
fall off!
The Chlorine Bleach stops a mold from forming when water
and sugar stand for a period of time.
BENEFITS OF FIREPROOFING YOUR TREE:
Your tree will soak up 800% more water than when the tree
was growing in the forest. The tree will NOT become a fire hazard in
your house because it is soaking wet! No needles will drop and the
tree will give off a fragrance like a forest of evergreens. Finally,
after the holidays, snap off a branch and take it outdoors. Try
lighting the branch with a match...guaranteed it won't light! Lastly,
if you have an outdoor garden, cut the branches from the tree and then
scatter them over the mulch beds, bulb gardens or flower beds. A thick
layer of these is good protection for your plants over the winter.
Take the trunk to a recycling area in your community that shreds the trees
into mulch!
RECREATION ENHANCEMENT ACT
The Dillon Ranger District Christmas Tree Program is a
Recreation Enhancement Act Project. The majority of the funds
received are used to enhance your experience as well as to help protect and
maintain forest resources in the tree cutting area. Toilet facilities,
extra staffing, fire hazard reduction and noxious weed control are a few
examples of how Recreation Fee Demonstration funds are being used. If you have any
questions please call the Dillon Ranger District office at 970.468.5400.
For a link to other Christmas tree cutting sites in the
Rocky Mountain Region please click
HERE.
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