I’m excited to be working on the Rio Grande National Forest. I’m real new here.

Dodging huge snow storms stretching across large swaths of the country, my family and I set out from Idaho on our great adventure of relocating to the San Luis Valley.

With the only icy roads encountered along US Hwy. 12 and two of our National Wild and scenic rivers in Idaho and Montana, the bulk of our trip was smooth sailing and we arrived in Monte Vista the Monday before Thanksgiving.

We passed through steep river valleys on the Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forests in Idaho. Driving through Montana we saw stunning scenery on the Lolo, Beaverhead, Deerlodge, Gallatin and Custer National Forests. Wyoming presented their beautiful offerings on the Bighorn, Medicine Bow and Routt National Forests. Back in Colorado, the Roosevelt, Pike and San Isabel National Forests greeted me with a familiarity rooted in a lifetime of visits and living in their midst. As we topped Poncha Pass, we immediately saw the great landscape views of my “new” forest, the Rio Grande.

I couldn’t help but to smile as the scenery inspired me in the same way as it always does. My first thoughts were, “I get to live here, lucky me.” My second thoughts brought me to the new adventures on the RGNF that now await. I know about many of the amazing places on the forest as I have been here many times before. I look forward to sharing those and so many new discoveries with my family. But the first activity I did on the forest since arriving was one that millions of families have done for decades and perhaps longer. We went out and cut a Christmas tree.

Christmas trees began to be more common in America with first record of one used by German immigrants in Pennsylvania in the 1830s. After Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree, the tradition was immediately deemed fashionable in both England and America. The Christmas tree had arrived.

Families have enjoyed searching for the perfect tree for generations and many of your national forests, such as the ones on my recent road trip, have allowed this activity for many of those adventures. I have harvested numerous trees and this year was a special treat. We had been here for only a week but we packed up the sleds, ropes and the kids and took the trip out to Rock Creek, just south of Monte Vista. It wasn’t far. But then, you already know that. We went down into a drainage and found one of the fullest trees I’ve ever harvested. A bit oddly shaped to be sure, but that ads to the Christmas character of our new home. The tree is decorated now with dozens of ornaments made by the kids. You know the ones, hand print turkeys, smiling gingerbread photos with yarn around them and the early year ones that you still don’t know what they are but are still too happy to care. It came from them.

We will continue our real Christmas tree family tradition, as long as I can get out there and find one. I will always look to our National Forests to provide the location and the RGNF will be my choice for many years to come. Of course, I had to follow all the rules that go with that activity. But that’s just fine by me. Things like this must be regulated to ensure our forests remain resilient and can provide trees for the next generations.

If you would like to harvest a Christmas tree for your family, feel free to contact one of our offices to learn more about it. Get your permit, bundle up, load the sleds, hot chocolate and your lunch, then jump in the car and make a day of the excursion. Plan for bad roads, securing the tree to your vehicle and don’t forget the hand saw. Your Rio Grande National Forest may still be hiding you perfect Christmas tree.

Gregg Goodland is the new Public Affairs Officer for the Rio Grande National Forest.