Question on Christmas Tree "Hunting"

[BustNChops]

For the past 10-years we have gone with a large group of friends to get our Christmas Tree and have gone past Lake Davis up to the mines. We couldn't make it with them this year and are looking to go this weekend. Their recommendation was to try somewhere else (i.e. Dog Valley) as 8-different trucks got stuck on them and when they attempted to get their Christmas tree is was more of Charlie Brown tree hunt as they crossed through 5-ft snow drifts for the closest tree. Not what I want to do.

Anybody else on here go Christmas Tree hunting? Any good recommendations? We have put together a decent size group of 30ish people that will be going, so we need an end point to park the trucks and hang out for a while and eat/drink.

Your recommendations are appreciated. You can send me a Private Message as well.

[furry]

Last two years we have gone up Mt. Rose Hywy and parked at the Mt. Rose Ski parking lot. The trees are not the full, many branched type trees. Kinda Charlie Brown ish.

[Wolfhomie]

The Markleeville area has some nice trees, but you can fight the snow there as well. If you haven't had a Pinion Pine yet -- you gotta do it at least once, it's a Nevada thing! You can get a permit from the BLM to get a Pinion around VC or down here in Gville.

[Stuck in Seattle]

The Markleeville area has some nice trees, but you can fight the snow there as well. If you haven't had a Pinion Pine yet -- you gotta do it at least once, it's a Nevada thing! You can get a permit from the BLM to get a Pinion around VC or down here in Gville.
You can't match the smell of a pinion pine at Christmas. Accept no substitute!

[Nevadan]

This year is only the second time in nearly 45 years that my family didn't go out to get a tree. Early snow and mobility issues for the older folk put us off this year. Unfortunately, we're going to probably end up at a lot this year, although the idea of a pinion hadn't occurred to me, so that might be the ticket.

We've done dog valley the last 7 or 8 years. I haven't been out there since the snow fell, but I would caution you to be very careful about heading down into the valley. I've pulled trucks out and seen many trucks having to get towed out...even a pick-up being winched out by a tow truck that then got stuck, which required yet another tow truck to get them both out. This was during a time that the snow was not that deep.

We used to go out toward Portola/Quincy....also not far from Lake Davis. Just past Portola there are some access roads in and once you're into the tree cutting area it is good solid semi-graded dirt roads, but between the highway and the cutting area there are some boggy holes that can be challenging if there is snow and melt mix going on. I've never gotten stuck up there but I drive a jeep and haven't been to this location when there's been as much early-season snow.

Wish I could give you some ideas, beyond just cautions.....

[BustNChops]

The Markleeville area has some nice trees, but you can fight the snow there as well. If you haven't had a Pinion Pine yet -- you gotta do it at least once, it's a Nevada thing! You can get a permit from the BLM to get a Pinion around VC or down here in Gville.

Markleeville Pinion Pine is added to the list. I heard that from two other people as well. Thanks.

Most times we have gone with the the Silver Tips high above the mines near Lake Davis. My wife would like a tree more "full", so that would make her happy.

I'm not quite sure what our plans are yet. My buddy spoke with a lady at the BLM office and she had heard most areas were requiring 4x4 with chains. She told him to call back today and she'd have an update on the locations and any with less severe conditions. It has been 6-years or more since there has been similar type conditions. We will venture out somewhere... and hope for the best.

[nwp2]

This year is only the second time in nearly 45 years that my family didn't go out to get a tree. Early snow and mobility issues for the older folk put us off this year. Unfortunately, we're going to probably end up at a lot this year, although the idea of a pinion hadn't occurred to me, so that might be the ticket.

We've done dog valley the last 7 or 8 years. I haven't been out there since the snow fell, but I would caution you to be very careful about heading down into the valley. I've pulled trucks out and seen many trucks having to get towed out...even a pick-up being winched out by a tow truck that then got stuck, which required yet another tow truck to get them both out. This was during a time that the snow was not that deep.

We used to go out toward Portola/Quincy....also not far from Lake Davis. Just past Portola there are some access roads in and once you're into the tree cutting area it is good solid semi-graded dirt roads, but between the highway and the cutting area there are some boggy holes that can be challenging if there is snow and melt mix going on. I've never gotten stuck up there but I drive a jeep and haven't been to this location when there's been as much early-season snow.

Wish I could give you some ideas, beyond just cautions.....

I stopped by G&G nursery to see their selection of Silvertips. He said he heard folks were getting stuck in Dog Valley and that he had also heard unconfirmed reports the forestry dept was turning folks around in the Plumas, Lake Davis and Frenchmans area last weekend.They have two tree lots and usually get around 300 silver tips. This year they got less than 100 due to the snow. What trees they have were retrieved by snow cat. If you have a friend with a snow mobile and sled that might be the way to go up there this year.