High winds have Colorado forest officials warning Christmas-tree cutters

If you or anyone you know plans to cut down a Christmas tree this year, please pass this on!

The iconic holiday tradition of families trekking through the Colorado forests in search of the perfect Christmas tree this year comes with an extra safety warning: beware of falling trees.

Winds upward of 100 mph toppled an uncalculated number of healthy, mature trees in the Arapaho and Roosevelt national forests and Rocky Mountain National Park on Monday, closing roads, damaging property and causing the U.S. Forest Service to warn that more could come down in windy weather.

Forest managers will keep a close eye on the wind and the weather, and could close tree- cutting areas if conditions are too dangerous during holiday tree cutting scheduled through December.

"It's really based on the weather. The conditions have changed a bit with the dead trees," Forest Service spokesman John Bustos said. "The expectation is that we'll just proceed as normal, but if we get more wind activity, it may cause us to close certain areas or move them."

The Forest Service allows holiday tree cutting to thin trees and improve forest health.

"The winds change," Bustos said. "It is something you need to be prepared for no matter what."

Beaver Meadows Resort Ranch in Red Feather Lakes allows public Christmas- tree cutting Saturday through Christmas Eve.

"We're constantly looking at what trees could be a fall hazard. We're probably more aware then we've ever been, but we've been in that sort of protocol for a couple of years now," said Linda Weixelman, the resort's general manager.

The cautions, however, are not meant to deter people from participating in this seasonal tradition.

In many ways, the tree-cutting sponsors depend on prepared and aware patrons to help ensure the forest's future.

"For us, Christmas-tree cutting is a way to create a healthier forest," Weixelman said.

Read more: High winds have Colorado forest officials warning Christmas-tree cutters - The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19344565?utm_medium=facebook#ixzz1dzLga2VQ