BajaNomad

Bristlecone Pines, Again?

DianaT - 6-20-2013 at 11:05 PM

A couple of days ago we were back up at the Bristlecone Pines. This is the first time we have walked up to the old mine and the remains of a couple cabins built in the 1860s and partly built out of Bristlecone Pines



Even at almost 13 years old, Tommy knew there was a marmot hiding on the roof.



Even in this dry year, the alpine wildflowers are there. So many of them are very, very tiny and just beautiful. We had to buy a wildflower book for this area! Just one example is this, what I think is Coville's Phlox. The flowers are only 1/2 inch in size!



In the past we have always been in a hurry, so this was the first time we drove up to the Patriarch Grove and we highly recommend it. The road is a very good dirt road that climbs from over 10000.00 to over 11,000 feet with fantastic views and the Grove is very different and beautiful!

Bristlecone at the top of the world.



The beautiful trunk of the tree known as the Patriarch Tree -- on these trees are not as old as the ones near the visitor center on the Discovery Trail --- but what is a 1000 years or so. :-)



As my camera is not working, we are sharing John's camera. He saw a picture he wanted, so down on the ground he went. He was flat on his back and just as he clicked this picture, good old Tommy popped over to see what Dad was doing.



And the final one --- I named this one The Elephant Seal Bristlecone. :biggrin:



Well, we are headed back up there tomorrow to check on things.

So if you visit this area, stick around long enough to travel that extra 12 miles up the hill. They suggest 25mph which works well. You don't need 4WD.

Bubba - 6-21-2013 at 04:44 AM

More amazing pictures, Thank you!

JohnMcfrog - 6-21-2013 at 05:56 AM

Went there last year. Thanks for tickling those memories. Great photos!

Juanito

Russ - 6-21-2013 at 06:22 AM

Thanks !

Barry A. - 6-21-2013 at 08:39 AM

Beautiful shots, Diana (& John)------------as always.

Barry

KurtG - 6-21-2013 at 12:32 PM

The Patriarch Grove is a must see spot. Anyone who goes up to the visitor center and then doesn't continue the final 12 or so miles up the dirt road is missing a fantastic place, one of California's best. Thanks for pointing that out, Diane.

DianaT - 6-22-2013 at 08:47 AM

Thanks for the comments. We moved up here to spend more time in the Sierras and we are finding ourselves spending a lot of time in the Whites. They are both so different and special.

Quote:
Originally posted by KurtG
The Patriarch Grove is a must see spot. Anyone who goes up to the visitor center and then doesn't continue the final 12 or so miles up the dirt road is missing a fantastic place, one of California's best. Thanks for pointing that out, Diane.


ABSOLUTELY. We were there again yesterday and out near the research stations. Don't know yet if we got any decent pix but might post a couple. We can't wait until we get some weather and better skies.

One thing that is so beautiful is that the many of the mountains look so barren until one is wandering around and pays attention to the tiny, tine little plants and flowers. The higher one goes, the smaller the flowers.