The Twisted Forest

West of Navajo Peak, on the north border of Ashdown Gorge Wilderness Area, is a very important place.  The Twisted Forest is home to the Great Basin Bristlecone Pine; bristlecone pines can grow for thousands of years, with green needles persisting 45 years, and dead trees remaining for centuries.  Collectively, bristlecone pines are believed to be the oldest non-clonal organisms on the planet.

Bristlecone pines growing on the far slope past the entrance to Ashdown Gorge

The combination of slow growth, and extreme conditions due to altitude/weather, make these bristlecone pines stunted and gnarled.  They twist to survive, and sometimes only small strips of vascular cambium live to sustain small branches.  The trees grow spaced from each other, and their seeds are planted by nutcrackers.

So!  Today, my mom and I went there with Apolo.  Don't feel too bad about Mac, he had an eventful morning, and has been to the Twisted Forest before.  This is a short trail to a gorgeous overlook, but everything feels strenuous to Minnesotans during their first full day above 10000'.  Also, there are limitless areas to walk and explore, including splashing through a small spring that goes on to become Red Creek.

The best thing I do with my dogs is hike.  So, it was wonderful to spend today exploring with him.

If you can't be awed here, I can't help you.

Sadly, the bristlecone pines are not able to replace themselves fast enough to sustain their numbers.  The unfortunate combination of climate change, and habitat destruction, threaten their survival.

Old tree, sweet dog, tall cairn.  Three of my favorite things!

And if you are thinking the cairn in the above photo is precariously close to Apolo's nose, you are correct.  I had to rebuild it after his curiosity snuffed out the top third.  :)  Carins are of great use here, not necessarily because the trail is essential, but because finding the exit after wandering around is.  Today the spring was running, so it was easy to follow the sound of the running water out.

When we crested the top of the forest, we were treated to beautiful views of the Ashdown Gorge, the Cedar Breaks amphitheater, and the ribbon of Rattlesnake Creek.  I always get a bit of heart failure here as the amphitheater is about 2500' deep.  Look out, friends--not down.

Smooch!

Cedar Breaks and the Markagunt Plateau are home to a summer explosion of wildflowers.  Due to the recent rains, some of the flowers are still blooming, so we were able to appreciate a couple of the stragglers.

Scarlet Paintbrush

Doesn't hurt to pass through some beautiful stands of aspen on the drive out.  Tomorrow, Bryce Canyon!