The next stop on our hike (which ended up being over 4 miles long) was up a pretty steep mountain to the Bristlecone Tree Grove. To say that this place was awesome would be an understatement. It was AMAZING! And the Bristlecone trees just so happen to be the oldest living trees on the PLANET! Wow! Some of them were over 5000 years old! Now that is cool! Although we had our share of complaining on the way up, the kids all LOVED the Bristlecone Grove once we got there. I think from the pictures you will understand why. đ
One of our many many rest stops on our way up the mountain. đ Love these kids!
More changing leaves!
Our first Bristlecone Tree!
Bristlecone Trees only live in really harsh climates where normal other trees can’t survive. So we had to go really far up the mountain to see them.
The shape and color of the wood is just so pretty!
The Bristlecone trees make great climbing trees because they are so strong and can last thousands of years even after their dead. Its because of the harsh conditions they had to grow in that allow them to continue to stand thousands of years later.
I loved the cool rocks we saw up by the trees as well. Purples, yellows, blues, and oranges. Neato!
More rest stops!
And here is a LIVING Bristlecone Tree.
This one I think is only like 1500 years old if I remember right.
I’m not sure what happened to this old tree, but that this awesome slide was all that was left of it. The kids had so much fun playing on it!
A half living, half dead Bristlecone.
This Bristlecone tree was over 3000 years old!
More cool “rocky” mountains! ha ha!
Then it was time to head back down the mountain. We took a rest stop at the bottom of the hill where we shared some banana cream pudding cups! Our treat for making it up and back down the mountain!
What an awesome way to spend a Saturday! We loved learning about the Bristlecone Trees and their endurance through HARD and HARSH storms, winters, and climates.