The soil type limits the Bristlecones to particular locations … when the soil changes there is a transition zone that isn’t as ideal for them. This tree was an outlier, but seems to be doing pretty well.
Standing by Itself
Bristlecone and Rock
This Bristlecone Pine was growing right on top of a rock pile. My guess is that at one point in the past, the soil was present on top of the rock and has since eroded. The erosion of soil around the root systems is one of the causes of death for bristlecones. That’s one of the reasons that they request visitors to stay on the pathways: to keep erosion to a minimum.
East Side of the Sierras
This is looking across the Owens Valley in the Big Pine area to the east side of the Sierras. This was taken from the viewpoint on the road to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains of California.
Abandoned Homestead
I was driving from Susanville, CA to Klamath Falls, OR and saw this abandoned homestead off the roadway. I’m not sure if the tree is still alive, since it was early in the spring and a fairly high elevation. It is still an active cattle ranch. Hopefully, the family that homesteaded was able to continue ownership.
Ashford Mill
The ruins of the Ashford Mill are within the boundary of Death Valley National Park. The mill was built in 1914 and was processing the ore from the Golden Treasure Mine about 5 miles to the east. The location is just south of Badwater and is below sea level and a hot and dry environment. Not a good location for processing ore.
