It’s that time of year again — time to #TracktheTree!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — that time of the year when the Capitol Christmas tree starts its journey from some forest way out West to our very own front yard. And thanks to technology, we don’t have to await the tree’s arrival (on Nov. 28, at 10 a.m., btw) to get updates from our festive friend.
That’s right — for the ninth year in a row, Herndon, Va.-based remote asset management company SkyBitz will be using its technology to provide real-time tree tracking. It’s pretty great product marketing.
This year’s tree is coming from the Payette forest in Idaho, and faces a 2,500 mile journey to the Capitol lawn. That’s nothing compared to last year’s tree, which came from Alaska and had to travel 4,000 miles. But if you tracked the tree last year, that’ll give you a good idea of what the experience will be like this time around — a live map on the Track the Tree website, and updates via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Capitol Christmas tree 2016 has only just started its journey. It was “harvested” on Wednesday, and is currently, slowly, making its way out of Idaho. Apparently, there’s going to be a sendoff celebration at the Boise statehouse on Monday morning:

@USCapitolTree cut and loaded for trip across Idaho. Join me Monday at 11 am at the Statehouse celebration! pic.twitter.com/QPX2m6YEhE

— Raúl R. Labrador (@Raul_Labrador) November 2, 2016

So go ahead — go #TracktheTree. The lighting ceremony will take place Dec. 6.