There has not been much opportunity yet for San Diego adventures since we began our latest camp hosting gig at San Elijo State Beach, so I thought I would bring back another “blast from the past”, albeit it recent.
Nestled in the White Mountains in the Eastern Sierras, a spectacular slice of nature in Northern California, lies the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest at elevations ranging from 9,800 – 11,000 feet. Our visit in mid-October was perfect timing, immediately after the first snowfall of the season high in these majestic mountains.
The Great Basin Bristlecone Pine survives here in the harshest of conditions (fire, excessive rainfall, frost, snowfall, little soil), a most amazing feat. These trees have proven to be some of the oldest in the world, many more than 1000 years older than any other species, their existence predating the birth of Christ. Methuselah, the oldest living organism on earth, a mind-blowing 4,843 years of age, stands in a grove of bristlecone pine aptly named after him.
We set out on the Methuselah Trail (a 4-mile loop) with friends Nina and Paul to soak up the beauty and speculate on which of these ancient wonders could be the granddaddy of them all. Her exact location is carefully protected since 1964 when grad student Donald Currey and USFS personnel cut down the bristlecone pine named Prometheus (mythological figure who stole fire from the gods and gave it to man), possibly more than 5,000 years of age at the time. The story goes that these researchers did not know of Prometheus’ age before its felling and resorted to cutting down this ancient only after an attempt at a core sampling led to a special-order drill bit from Sweden breaking off in the tree. Rather than risk the halting of Currey’s research, the decision was made to cut down the tree to determine the ring count. It appears no one raised their hand to take responsibility for the cutting, which will most likely forever remain a mystery.
Given their age, you would think that these grand specimen would be of enormous height, like that of the redwood or sequoia, but you would be wrong. The bristlecone are not overly large, but rather medium in size, most ranging from 15-50 feet in height. Their reddish-brown bark with its deep fissures and gnarled, dwarfed growth pattern gives them a most distinctive appearance, unlike anything we had ever seen. As the tree ages, many of its layers begin to die off, leaving only a narrow band of living tissue that connects roots to a handful of branches. Its ability to survive in this state is just astounding.
Unlike the lodgepole pine or majestic sequoia, who both need intense heat (fire) to open their tough cones and spread their seeds, the bristlecone pine cones open when they mature, offering their seeds to the winds to continue their lineage. The Clark’s nutcracker happily assists in this endeavor, storing many seeds underground along the way for later consumption.
The Schulman Grove Visitor Center, named after Dr Edmund Schulman, who began studying this species back in the 1950’s, is a great place to visit before your hike, with informative Park Rangers eager to give information and maps of the trail. It is a new building, due to the work of an arsonist who set fire to the original structure in September 2008, destroying the building, all its exhibits and several bristlecone pines. Add this incident to the list of reasons to support the secrecy of Methuselah’s exact location.
While walking the Methuselah Trail, treading on this hallowed ground, we felt a connection to our ancestors who walked this same earth long before us. Listen to the winds and you may just hear their whispers but take note of the condition of the trail. You might find yourself on your backside as I did, thanks to a little vertigo and ice. Enough padding and my daypack made for a soft landing!
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Paint Your Landscape 
Even the second time around I am in awe! There is so much to see and all is so breath taking! Loved this post…again!
Ok Les, I know I am verrry forgetful but I don’t think I have written about this before. I have saved back some places we visited in the last few months to give me some material when times are slow here in Encinitas. Am I losing my mind? Ok, you don’t have to answer that question!
Another informative and well written blog. It appears that I have much to see before I leave this earth. And so close to me, too. Now we don’t have to go look up all this information. Thank you, Lu.
Every time I read another blog about interesting places to visit, I add it to my bucket list. Not in 10 lifetimes will I be able to visit all the places I would like. I know where you are coming from. 🙂
are these trees where surfers got the word ‘gnarly’?
Most certainly David (lol)!
I know we will never get to that area. Thanks so much for showing us the beauty of this country. Just amazing that something can be that old and still be breath taking!
I am awestruck by some of the country we have seen. What a lifestyle this is! 🙂
Ah that looks like such fun, but I think I’ve filled my quota of snow for a lifetime. (be sure to check out your ‘award’ over at my site)
I can take snow in very small doses. I want to humbly thank you for the award. I am not good at accepting these things and will certainly give it some thought. I appreciate you so much, your lovely photography and that you follow along with our adventures.
some of the nicest burl i have seen in years
Truly magnificent trees! 🙂
Oldest living organism on earth… WOW! That alone is worth the trip just to see and observe it. Moreso, it actually looks elegant. The branches move like it’s speaking to you. Er… the first image, it looks like a snake. Hehe 😀
Snow!!!
You have heard of snow, haven’t you Rommel? Being a southern California boy and all (hehe)! 🙂
Snow? Ew….. YUCK! 😀
I agree, although we did enjoy the pristine look against those stunning trees, that is until I fell on my backside! We like that we can move our house whenever necessary to avoid most bad weather.
He’s right it does look just like a snake, mother nature can always outdo us in her creativity and beauty can’t she! 🙂
Yes she can. 🙂
🙂
Your description of the new buildings and museum makes me feel that we were ‘pioneers’ back in the 60’s when we made our first pilgrimage out to the the Bristlecone pines. And astounded that the oldest tree’s location is now a mystery! This story and the one about the well marked sites in the Alabama Hills (which wasn’t there back then) shows how much these wonders have grown in popularity ove the years. So glad to know what is current there in the Owens Valley.
I’m sure it has changed a great deal since you lived here Gale. Hope I can see you early next year when we are in the Sedona area.
Wow, this is totally amazing. I agree with Rommel. That first image looks just like a snake to me. I’m from Africa, so I do know a snake when I see one. 🙂
And I don’t like snakes all that much, but this one thankfully didn’t move. 🙂
Thank you so much for telling the story about these trees. It’s amazing how they strive to survive. What an awesome experience to walk on the path that “our ancestors who walked this same earth long before us…”
It was an amazing trip. 🙂
These images are so stunning! If I were walking that trail, I would have a hard time ever reaching the end, as I would want to stop and admire every single tree along the way. An artist’s dreamscape full of twists and gnarled wood!
The age of some of the trees is amazing. Oh, if only they could speak!
Lisa/Z
It did take us quite a while to hike the 4 miles. We were constantly stopping to take more photos. Yes, imagine if they could talk…what they have seen.
WOW – Those are some awesome wonders of nature! Thanks for sharing that here. 🙂
You’re welcome RoSy.
was amazed by the bizarre growth pattern…a very interesting post..
Thanks. Yes, they definitely have their own style, unlike anything else I have seen.
Adding my WOW to the others!! Is the bristlecone pine in the first image a living tree? What a spectacular place LuAnn! Thank you for bringing it to us 🙂
It is a living tree. They are the most unique trees I have ever seen.
Truly magnificent post thank you for share it for us
Thanks Stefan.
Hi my friend
I have nominated you for the Readers appreciation award!
I love reading your blog
Well you just keep surpassing yourself LuAnn (of course teehee) this is a great post! I enjoyed reading every single word and the information. So much I learned today and the photos, amazing and beautiful, thank you for a wonderful post! Penny xx
Thanks Penny. 🙂
My pleasure, always with you! 🙂
Those trees certainly have an other-worldly feel to them, yet they are strangely beautiful as well. Love this place. It looks magical!
It was amazing. 🙂
Oh yeah, fascinating place…great to see the great photos of Gnarly’s on your route. As you know we took the easy trail.
Ours wasn’t bad at all except for the icy patches, and you are right, fascinating place. Have a lovely weekend. 🙂
Love that 2nd pic of the backlit tree. Your shots turned out great!!
Nina
I’m learning from the best!
wow this place is awesome! has to visit
It is pretty amazing! I would highly recommend it.
This is one of our all time favorite places. It touches our soul.
Mine too! 🙂
I see the Bristlecones as a metaphor for life. How one must adapt, how one grows most through adversity. How life will win out over anything. I love those trees and have loved hugging them, feeling the long history of these incredible living things. Thank you, LuAnn, for your beautiful writing.
The ancient bristlecone is a perfect metaphor for life. I was in awe of their ability to survive the harshest of conditions. I love your posts and your sketches Julianne.
Fascinating article! One bit of information: Methusela is a female, not a male, figure.
Thanks for pointing that out Kenneth.
Another read and another comment from me :). We were wondering about timing a visit to this place. I am afraid mid November might be too snowy and cold… perhaps next year, though I am getting to the stage where I hate putting anything off til ‘next year’!
Mid-November might be a bit snowy but I know what you mean about not putting anything off when it comes to travel especially. We love traveling the 395 both in spring and fall.