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When I went there I asked a ranger if there was something special about bristlecone pines that allows them to live for so long. She first told me what it means
by TACIXAT 7y ago
When I went there I asked a ranger if there was something special about bristlecone pines that allows them to live for so long. She first told me what it means for a tree to be alive. Apparently, as long as there is a connection from root, through bark, to leaves, it's still alive. So a lot of bark could be missing, but if there is a path it's good.
For the longevity, it's just the perfect environment in the White Mountains. Trees don't die of old age. Pests, disease, and erosion are what kill them. That area, being California high desert, there just aren't really any pests or disease. Erosion and weather are the biggest threat to the trees.
That place is totally cool, in that I really like it but don't think anyone I'd drag up there would enjoy it as much, ha.
- randycupertino 7y agoIf you like Bristlecone Pines, I highly, highly recommend checking out Great Basin National Park and hiking up to the Bristlecone Pine Grove. It's a lovely day hike - I did it over Thanksgiving weekend and used those little snowtrax grippers over my hiking shoes. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-bristlecone-pines-of-the-great-basin-baker-nevada https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-bristlecone-pines-of... Could be done around now-ish in snowshoes as well. One of the least visited and most beautiful national parks in the US! Sparkling stars and dark skies make for great meteor viewing, and the bristlecone pine trail has a loop through all the interesting trees with little signs and "biographies" about each tree. One of the largest is Prometheus: https://www.nps.gov/grba/learn/historyculture/the-prometheus-story.htm https://www.nps.gov/grba/learn/historyculture/the-prometheus...