Every year the City of Wrangell handpicks a tree to display downtown for the holidays. The town is in the heart of the Tongass National Forest, the largest forest in the U.S. (Laura Helgeson/ KSTK)

Wrangell’s Municipal Light and Power crew has been the one to cut down, put up and decorate the tree for over four decades. (Laura Helgeson/ KSTK)

The crew drove out Zimovia Highway, roughly one mile off the pavement, to get the Spruce tree on the Friday before Thanksgiving. (Laura Helgeson/ KSTK)

The line crew says this may be the tallest tree yet. The crew usually picks a 40-foot tree, but this year’s was 50 to 60 feet tall. There as no particular reason for the extra height, it’s just what they found. (Laura Helgeson/ KSTK)

The tree has had a few different homes downtown. It now sits in between the Elks Lodge and a gas station. (Laura Helgeson/ KSTK)

The line crew is assigned this project every year. It’s one city department that possesses the right equipment and expertise to get the job done.

When the crew isn’t putting up the tree, it’s making sure the town has power year round.

Once the tree is standing tall in the city’s center, the line crew puts up lights and ornaments. (Laura Helgeson/ KSTK)

Mark Armstrong hands off zip ties to Dwight Yancey. He’s using a city cherry picker to navigate the tree. (Laura Helgeson/ KSTK)

Mark Armstrong acts as the foreman for the line crew. He’s worked for the electrical department for almost 20 years. (Laura Helgeson/ KSTK)

Evergreen Elementary students make ornaments every year for the tree. This ornament is made out of a plastic to-go container and cellophane wrap. (Laura Helgeson/ KSTK)

Chris Stewart has been an apprentice lineman with the crew for two years. (Laura Helgeson/ KSTK)

Dwight Yancey has been a lineman with the department for 9 years. (Laura Helgeson/ KSTK)

The town gathered on Friday Dec 6th around 6pm for the tree lighting. Markets were held and stores stayed open late for Christmas shopping needs. This is an annual tradition known as Midnight Madness, though shops rarely stay open until midnight. (Laura Helgeson/ KSTK)

Wrangell High School senior Jing O’Brien takes a closer look at the tree. (Laura Helgeson/ KSTK)

The tree will stay up until the beginning of 2020. (Laura Helgeson/ KSTK)