Photography

Bo Zarts

(26,254 posts) Thu Dec 18, 2025, 04:19 PM Dec 18

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Groves at Elevation of 11,000'+

Inyo National Forest - California
©2025 Bo Zarts Studio

13 replies

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Ancient Bristlecone Pine Groves at Elevation of 11,000'+ (Original Post) Bo Zarts Dec 18 OP

Were you escorted to this site ? My understanding is that most bristlecones are off limits. eppur_se_muova Dec 18 #1

When I was last there in May 2013, the bristlecone groves were open to the public. Bo Zarts Dec 18 #2

You seem to be referring to the acts I had read about, when I heard that access had been largely cut off. eppur_se_muova Dec 18 #4

Including popsdenver Dec 18 #8

I went last summer cally Dec 18 #10

IIRC there is more than one 'grove' -- and they only open one or two to the public. eppur_se_muova Dec 18 #12

Wow.... Bayard Dec 18 #3

I was thinking popsdenver Dec 18 #9

Love these! Bristlecone Dec 18 #5

very nice . thank you.:) AllaN01Bear Dec 18 #6

Beautiful and... 2naSalit Dec 18 #7

Simply AMAZING!!! calimary Dec 18 #11

Great shots! Grumpy Old Guy Dec 24 #13

eppur_se_muova

(41,009 posts)

1. Were you escorted to this site ? My understanding is that most bristlecones are off limits.

Reply to Bo Zarts (Original post)

Thu Dec 18, 2025, 04:32 PM

Dec 18

Just curious -- not accusing you of anything.

Bo Zarts

(26,254 posts)

2. When I was last there in May 2013, the bristlecone groves were open to the public.

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Reply #1)

Thu Dec 18, 2025, 04:41 PM

Dec 18

However, subsequent to that visit there were some well publicized acts of vandalism at elevations above the ranger station. There was also a suspicious fire. So I hope that you are correct, and that there is some control of who can access the groves. But, like most National Forests, there are multiple entry points and few resources to enforce rules and regulations.

eppur_se_muova

(41,009 posts)

4. You seem to be referring to the acts I had read about, when I heard that access had been largely cut off.

Reply to Bo Zarts (Reply #2)

Thu Dec 18, 2025, 04:56 PM

Dec 18

A shame that some people make such things necessary.

I guess you know what happened to Joshua Tree National Monument during a previous gov't shutdown (Trmp's first). There are warnings that some protected species might not survive Trmp's cuts to EPA and NPS.

popsdenver

(1,571 posts)

8. Including

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Reply #4)

Thu Dec 18, 2025, 06:45 PM

Dec 18

70 million of us Dems...........

cally

(21,831 posts)

10. I went last summer

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Reply #1)

Thu Dec 18, 2025, 07:04 PM

Dec 18

They won’t tell you which tree is the oldest, but you see many very old trees—4,000 to 5,000 years old. Very high elevation and in a secluded area. So glad that I got to see them

eppur_se_muova

(41,009 posts)

12. IIRC there is more than one 'grove' -- and they only open one or two to the public.

Reply to cally (Reply #10)

Thu Dec 18, 2025, 08:44 PM

Dec 18

Truly, they cannot be too careful.

Bayard

(28,633 posts)

3. Wow....

Reply to Bo Zarts (Original post)

Thu Dec 18, 2025, 04:47 PM

Dec 18

"The oldest confirmed living, non-clonal tree is Methuselah, a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine in California's White Mountains, over 4,850 years old, though its exact location is secret to protect it."