We got up early for sunrise, looking west at the Sierras and also east to the Great Basin. We had a long walk in the younger bristlecone pine trees and we stayed outside in the dark to photograph the Milky Way over the Sierras. We were high enough in the White Mountains that we could see the light pollution of southern California spilling over the Sierras and my milky way disappeared into some low clouds. Still beautiful.
We traveled to the White Mountains where we camped at 8500′ with the most impossibly blue skies imaginable. Our main goal in the White Mountains was to see the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest where there are trees more than 4000 years old! These pines grow out of rock, ground up white rock of the White Mountains. The key ingredient seems to be Dolomite. We wondered, if we were able to grow a seedling, could we grow the tree in our own yards? Probably not, is my guess but it might be worth a try. Many of the trees had exposed wood, without bark and yet they were still alive. I was fascinated by the beautiful wood grain. These trees are growing at 12,000′ in a very stark landscape.
My Everyday Photos 