Bristlecone pines are among the oldest living trees on our planet, with some specimens over 4,000 and 5,000 years old. They grow at high elevations between 5,600 ft and 11,200 ft, in conditions where other plants cannot survive.
Today I drove a very tortuous and steep road to reach Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains near Bishop, CA. It took an hour, uphill all the way with a total climb of 6,000 ft (1,828 m), not a particularly enjoyable ride, but the views and the Bristlecone pines were definitely worth it. The sky was blue, and the clouds were spectacular, a photographer’s dream.