Tenderfoot searches for perfect Christmas tree in Panhandle Forests

OFFICIALLY LOST, Idaho Panhandle National Forests — I’ve never been the type to hike through a snow-speckled forest in search of the perfect Christmas tree.

Frankly, I’m not really into hiking. Or snow. The outdoors. Christmas. Trees.

I’ve always preferred the pre-fabbed, pre-lit Xmas “Tree” to freshly cut fir. (Sidenote: I think I was pre-lit in college.)

But early last week, S-R editor Rob Curley approached me with a story idea: “I need you to drive out to the woods this weekend, cut down a Christmas tree and write something funny about it.”

I countered: “I like it, Rob. Or how about this: I relax on the couch with a bowl of Cap’n Crunch, turn on the tube and watch some football?”

And now, well, here I am, surrounded by sparsely limbed pines somewhere in the thick of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, shivering alongside my 12-year-old daughter, Ava, who keeps asking where we might find the good trees/ Ralph Walter , SR. More here.