Ongoing story...

"Helicopter and ground searches turned up nothing in the Siskiyou Mountains south of Medford, where the couple got stuck for four hours while getting their tree last year,"

Thank goodness they didn't take their children on this outing. Big mistake not leaving behind their specific route. The article says he is a camper who knows the woods well so hopefully they are somewhat prepared. But if they went off the road then all bets are off.

I grew up on Mt. Hood and every year we got a USFS permit and made a day of hunting for our Christmas tree. It's a wonderful tradition. Mom made her fabulous chili and we had plenty of hot cocoa. Always had a couple 4x4s along as my Aunt and Uncle joined us.

Countless trips over the years on the backroads of northern California, Oregon and Washington. Never a problem, other than getting stuck occasionally but then after some effort we'd get unstuck. Drove my '69 Mustang on snow-packed roads with nary a worry. Studded snow tires. Tire chains always in the trunk. I had no appreciation for the peril or how luck could instantly turn bad.

God bless these people, I pray that they come through this.

Oregon tree cutters safe after 2 nights in snow.

(The Yahoo news story was updated about 15 minutes ago.)

Great news!

"It was like something you see on TV news," Jennifer Lee said. "It was really surreal — not like it was really happening to us."

The couple had taken blankets and water bottles, but they didn't have much food, she said.

"Neither one of us had any appetite, believe it or not," Jennifer Lee said.

On Thursday, she said her husband put rocks under the wheels of the Subaru and managed to maneuver it to hard ice in order to free it.

"We got up at about 5 a.m. and he said we're not staying here another night," Jennifer Lee said.

Good to hear they made it out. But... in reading the article online, seems they got stuck for four hours last year, basically doing the same thing, in the same vehicle.

"Gee, we got stuck last year, maybe this year we should maybe take some tools with us. Or perhaps borrow a 4wd with a higher center?" "Nah honey, we will be ok. Let's go, what can happen?"

To this couple, one big freaking DUH.

Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.

Possibly not a good move:

We have a 4x4 car, we should be ok if we stick to logging roads and are careful.

vs.

We're lost - but it's ok we have this SUV. We can just drive through the trees down that ravine, I saw it on the commercial!

Fake trees sound better every year.

My tree is not only fake but has the lights built in, just take it out and plug it in, quick deployment.

I like my trees alive and outside where they belong.

That's where I like my dummies, too.