5-23-09 Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is located in the White Mountains of the Inyo National Forest California.It is approximately 250 miles north west of Las Vegas, Nv. and about 17 miles east of Big Pine, Ca.. The forest can be accessed of state highway 168 from either direction.

On our 1st night we camped in a tent at the Grandview camp grounds. This camp site is located below the Bristlecone forest at around 8,500 feet. At this altitude, the weather was continuously changing, at times for the worst. Hail and lightning storms were slowly passing through. Nothing gets your heart going like being in a tent during a lightning storm!!! The following morning the skies had cleared up and we headed up to check things out.

Bristlecone pines live at about 11,000 feet, with not much of anything to call neighbors. Exposed to high winds and harsh winters, these trees are true survivors. They tend to stand out from other trees near them, having half dead and twisted limbs. The Bristlecone Pines are the oldest known trees, ranging in age from 4,700 years old and older. One such tree was named Prometheus. Sacrificed in the name of science to determine it's age of 4,950 years. Another still living is named Methuselah and it's age is close to 4,700 years. Both of these ancient trees have been alive even before the Egyptians built their first pyramids. Due to the invasive tree dating process, only these two trees were tested. Therefore, any tree in this grove can be as old or older.

After leaving the paved road at the Schulman Groove visitor center we took to the dirt. We traveled the some what graded dirt which winded further up the mountain. As we climbed in elevation the trees disappeared except for some Bristlecones scattered through out the hill sides. The landscape became a tundra, both desolate and yet still beautiful.

At elevations of 12,000 feet plus, the views of the lower valley and Sierra Nevada Mountains across the valley were breath taking.