September 18, 2009 - Bristlecone Pine Forest

Post date: Oct 21, 2009 7:25:49 PM

The Owens Valley Radio Observatory near Bishop is the largest university-run radio telescope in the world. Ongoing studies there by the University of Southern California include star and galaxy formation, solar magnetic fields, and cosmic radiation.

The Bristlecone Pine Forest is located in the White Mountains of California. Bristlecone pines are the longest-living things on Earth. The oldest tree is "Methuselah", which is 4,789 years old! It was living when the Egyptians were building the pyramids. Around it are seedlings just starting to grow. Bristlecone pines grow on rocky white dolomite (limestone) slopes at 10,000-12,000 feet. The trees are twisted and gnarled by the elements. Blowing wind and ice sculpts and polishes the wood. Sometimes most of the pine is dead, and only a single living strip of bark connects a branch to a root. We felt privileged to visit such an awe-inspiring place!

The picture below shows the largest bristlecone pine tree - the Patriarch. It is over 36 feet around at the base, and only 1,500 years old!

Bristlecone pines are named for the bristles or "spines" on their pine cones. The pretty purple cones are often covered in sticky sap.