Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, California The Methuselah Tree, the oldest in the forest, is over 5,000 years old. It started growing around the time of the founding of Troy. Its location is kept secret to protect the tree. I liked the peek-a-boo view of this much younger tree, located in the Schulman Grove about 13 miles from the Patriarch Grove.
Ancient Bristelcone Pine Forest, California Even dead bristlecones have interesting shapes. John Muir said the bristlecones were "irrepressibly and extravagantly picturesque, offering a richer and more varied series of forms to the artist than any other species I have yet seen."
Patriarch Grove, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest When you walk among these ancients, it's easy to imagine them as kindly grandparents. While I walked around waiting for the sun to spotlight the trunk of this tree, I found myself addressing it in my mind as "grandfather."
