560 Christmas tree permits sold in first day in South Lake Tahoe

UPDATE: USFS LTBMU has updated its figures from tree permits sold on Monday. They started the day with 1,360 permits to sell, and sold 560, leaving 800 permits still available.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was cold and dark when the first person got in line at 5:30 a.m. for a tree permit at the USDA Forest Service-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) offices in South Lake Tahoe Monday.

Cutting down a Christmas tree is an annual tradition for many, and with limited areas to cut this year in the Lake Tahoe Basin, people didn't want to miss out. The line was long by the time the doors opened at 8 a.m., winding through the parking lot and onto College Drive.

Approximately 800 of the 1,300 permits that were available at the start of the day were sold between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., leaving 500 remaining for those still wanting to buy one for $10 starting again on Tuesday at 8 a.m.

LTBMU had sold the permits online recently, but they switched back to in-person sales this year. Some people were unhappy about that choice, but many were approving as it gave locals a first chance. There is a limit of one permit per address.

Eldorado National Forest sold out their permits last week in just 30 minutes with online sales. Permits are still available in the Humboldt-Toiyable National Forest for the Carson and other districts, as well as the Tahoe National Forest in Truckee. Those can be purchased online through recreation.gov.

Due to forest thinning projects, Lake Tahoe areas for the tree cutting are limited to the following three locations: Fountain Place Road (1201) at the end of Oneidas Street off Pioneer Trail; Lower Barker Pass Road in Blackwood Canyon (15N38) off SR 89; and Baldwin Beach Road (1305) off SR 89. Maps will be provided at the time of purchase.

The LTBMU office is located at 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe.