Forest Christmas tree permit sales begin Nov. 17

Christmas tree cutting permits for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest will go on sale beginning Nov. 17 at four Forest Service locations and 14 vendors in Southwest Washington.

Permits cost $5 per tree with a limit of five permits per household. When buying a permit, a map showing the cutting areas and an information sheet for cutting in national forests are provided.

In Vancouver, permits are available at the Gifford Pinchot headquarters, 10600 N.E. 51st Circle.

Elsewhere in Clark County, permits will be sold at the Mount St. Helens National Volcaninc Monument office, Amboy Market and Chelatchie Prairie General Store.

In Skamania County, permits will be sold at Main Street Convenience Store in Stevenson, Wind River Market in Carson and Home Valley Store in Home Valley.

In Cowlitz County, permits will be available at Lakeside Country Store and Cougar Store in Cougar and Kalama Spirits and Tobacco.

In Trout Lake, permits will be available at the Mount Adams Ranger District office and Little Mountain Hardware.

For information about road conditions in the forest, go online to www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/giffordpinchot/recreation#cond.