Cutting down your own Christmas tree while at the same time reducing the danger of wildfire in the San Juan Mountains? That’s what the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge train is offering for the first time this year.
In a prepared statement, officials at the San Juan National Forest said the agency deemed an area near Cascade Wye, adjacent to the tracks, as a potential hazard zone at risk for fire.
So, the agency teamed up with the railroad, which will take passengers up to cut down white firs and then haul the Christmas trees back to Durango.
“We’ve identified an area where we need to thin the understory to help make the forest healthy,” San Juan National Forest spokeswoman Ann Bond said.
The train will offer service on Fridays and Saturdays in December. Permits to cut trees cost $8, plus general admission train fares.
One tree can be cut per family, and 20-foot-tall trees is the limit.
Christian Robbins, marketing manager for the railroad, said the Christmas Tree Train hopes to start a tradition for families.
“Maybe they want to cut down their own Christmas tree, but don’t know how to go about that,” Robbins said. “We wanted to help folks that want to get that tradition started, and educate them how to do that.”
Both Bond and Robbins said if this year’s Christmas Tree Train is successful, there is the possibility of continuing the program in future years.
“We’re hoping to have several years worth of Christmas trees,” Bond said.
“We’ve identified enough for this year, and we hope to identify more spots to continue doing this.”
The news release said volunteers from the nonprofit San Juan Mountains Association will be on hand to help passengers cut down trees. Handsaws will be provided.
