ANCIENT BRISTLECONE PINE FOREST

The Methuselah Grove in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is the location of the "Methuselah", a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine more than 4,750 years old. This is 1,000 years older than any other tree in the world. "Methuselah" is not marked in the forest, to ensure added protection from vandals.

The Great Basin Bristlecone Pine and the Limber Pine are the only two trees able to survive the harsh environmental conditions in the White Mountains.  We believe the above photo is a Great Basin Bristlcone Pine and the one below is a Limber Pine but it is hard to say for sure when they are younger trees. (we could be totally wrong)

The Bristlecone Pines roots grow close to the surface. Generally the ones where you see the bare, trunk those are the Britlecone Pines for sure. They no longer mark them because of vandalism in 2008 but we do remember them being marked the last time we were here. Just when you think you are looking at a dead tree you will see it still has live branches on it! 

It amazes me to see trees that have been alive since Jesus walked the earth. We have been to this forest before when the kids were younger but it has been a long time so we decided to include this in our trip this year to Mammoth Lakes just like we did Bodie this year. So we left early on the day we were heading home and stopped here along the way.

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is off of US Hwy 395 you turn east onto State Hwy 168 which is just north of Big Pine. Follow Hwy 168 east 13 miles to White Mountain Road. Turn left (north) and drive 10 miles to the Schulman Grove Visitor Center which is a dirt road. This drive takes you from about 3,000 ft up to 10,000 ft elevation! The Bristlecone pines can be viewed from the parking area of the visitor center and along three nature trails. 

A view on the way down....

I'm going to link up Sunday with....

 

BODIE STATE HISTORIC PARK - Sundays in my City

Bodie was named after Waterman S. Body (also Known as William S. Bodey), who discovered gold here in 1859. The change in spelling of the town's name has often been attributed to an illiterate sign painter but was a deliberate change by the citizenry to insure proper pronunciation. 

By 1879 Bodie boasted a population of about ten thousand and was second to none for wickedness, badmen and "the worst climate out of doors." One little girl whose family was taking her to the remote and infamous town wrote in her diary: "Goodbye God, I'm going to Bodie" and the phrase came to be know throughout the west! 

Only 5% of the buildings remain from the hay days during 1880. Today it stands just as time, fire and the elements have left it. A genuine California gold mining ghost town. Designated a state historic park in 1962, it is now maintained in a state of "arrested decay." (from the guidebook)  

You can read more about Bodie here.

(click to enlarge photos)

 Firehouse

 On the wall in the firehouse.

Sawmill

I tried really hard to get a great photo of the church but people were going in and out all day long. I know this town may look desolate but there was actually over a hundred people there. I really had to wait for some of the shots I took. This Methodist Church was erected in 1882. It had been restored and held its last service in 1932.

Finally got this one with my point and shoot.

Had it set for black and white photos.

If you look closely your will see some headstones in the background just above the roof of the house. That is the cemetery. We did walk it and it has become very overgrown since the last time we were there. There was one stone in particular that I wanted to see. I remember writing down the saying on it last time we were here. 

 Here it is in black and white. 

Engraved at the bottom of headstone " A precious one from us has gone, A voice we loved is still; A place is vacant in our hearts, Which never can be filled"

This is one of my favorites along with one down below. I can't get either of them on canvas because they are too close and when it gets wrapped on canvas the photo gets cut off. I will be getting them enlarge on photo paper and framing them.  

The backs of those two buildings.....

I have to admit that this photo made my list of favorite one!

I shared it in a collage earlier. 

If you missed my other post with a few pictures from Bodie

 you can read about it here:

A Sampling Of Our Vacation

Bodie State Historic Park is located in Bridgeport, CA

It is not in my city but it is in my state! 

We visited Bodi on our vacation in July.

Joining Unknown Mami  for Sundays in my City