Ancient Bristlecone Forest - Methuselah Loop - Schulman Grove, White Mountains, California - 9/3/18

Clouds building over White Mountains

Ancient Bristlecone Forest

"Medusa" Tree

Visitor Center Sign

 Those who enjoy the old twisted Great Basin Bristlecone Pines (or pinus longaeva) liken the trees to nature's sculptures. Starting the Bishop excursion up from Las Vegas, twelve hikers (5 cars) drove via caravan up to the White Mountain Road on Highway 168 inside the California state line. At the bottom of White Mountain Road, we consolidated to 4 cars and drove up the 11 miles of windy cliffy old paved road to the Schulman Grove Visitor Center. The visitor center is nice inside and they have recently upgraded their interpretive brochures. We picked up one and started out the trail behind the building on the Methuselah Loop Trail. Immediately, some hikers could feel effects of the high elevation of just under 10,000 feet.

Starting up the Trail

 Since this was an interpretive hike where we would stop at the numbered posts and read the corresponding number from the brochure, we pushed the pace a little. The rest stops would be built in and we had been sitting in the car for 3.5 hours.

Mike on Trail

 The little loop was a good short workout for an easy day. We climbed the trail up past the 10,000 foot level then coasted down through the sun.

How did that happen?

Methuselah Loop Trail

 Even though there are bristlecones all along the trail, the oldest trees are later in the hike so, first, we read the brochure and learned a little about how the trees survive on such challenging terrain. We learned that the trees survive best when challenged! We were also reminded that the roots depend on shallowly spreading out to reach the moisture so the dirt among the roots are absolutely necessary for life. In other words ... don't sit on, in or around the roots of Raintree in the Spring Mountains!

Old Bristlecone

 We also learned that the trees are very slow growing, depending on where it happens to take root. It can grow as slow as an inch a year.

Hiking through the Mountain Mahogany Section

 After coasting down the trail through the sun, we rounded to the warm side of the mountain. Immediately, the bristlecones changed to mountain mahogany!

Interesting Snag

Emerging on the Warm side of the Hill

Here, there are wide views of the desert valley below. Upon re-entrance into the bristlecone grove, we passed a couple of interesting snags. Zigzagging above the cliffs, finally, we entered into the section called the Methuselah Grove. This is where the second oldest tree (Methuselah), 4850 years old, was found. (The oldest, found in 2013 is 5068 years old!) Of course, they don't tell you which one it is and it is probably well hidden up the hill from the trail. But, they do say that you walk by it on the hike. Hmmm. Which one is it? Anyway, all the trees here appear old and this is where the art surpasses the imagination. Climate pushes the trees to grow in various ways.

This tree is a survivor!

 Near the end of that grove, there are many fallen trees lying around. The brochure says that some of this wood is upwards to 11,000 years old. They figured this out through cross aging. Another hmmm.

Dead or Alive?

 The rings of a bristlecone tree are extremely tight knit and very difficult to count. So, assigning an age to a tree is not as easy as it sounds. Another fact they learn from studying the rings is climate changes over the eons.

Part of the Methuselah Grove

Hiking through the Methuselah Grove

 We circled around then began our climb back up to the visitor center and parking area. If you ever want to know anything about these wonderful old trees, this is the place to come and get the facts from the people who know. Protection of the trees is well founded. In 2008, arsonists set fire to the visitor center and a few of the trees were burned. Further up the White Mountain Road, there is another famous grove of trees that include the largest of the bristlecones. It is called The Patriarch! The bristlecone trees grow between 9,800 to 11,000 feet in elevation. We finished the trail and headed down to Bishop well informed!

Less than 11,000 years old? ... and Dead

Hiking through a section of Very Old Fallen Trees

View out of the Canyon to the Desert

Bishop Club Excursion Overview - September 3 thru 8, 2018

Little Lakes Valley

Ancient Bristlecone Forest

Eye of Alabama - Alabama Hills

Ladies Day at Ruby Lake

 Wow! What a week! Bishop, California is a fantastic place to call base camp for the Eastern Sierras. A large group of around twenty-five club members found plenty of hiking to do below the peaks of the Palisade Crest and other 12,000 to 14,000 foot snow patched granite mountains. We hiked among the gorgeous alpine lakes and beside the rushing canyon creeks. And, on a practical note, there was very little residual smoke from the bevy of huge California fires. What little smoke there was laid in Owens Valley below our hiking arena. With three hike coordinators, we managed to cover the bases on hikes from high moderate to very strenuous.

Treasure Lakes and Jerry's Group

 On Monday, we caravanned from Las Vegas to the Schulman Grove of the Ancient Bristlecone Forest where fourteen hikers stretched their legs on the 4.25 mile Methuselah Loop. This also served to help acclimate us to the 10,000' elevation level.

Kay's Group at Little Lakes Valley

 The next day, only three of the expected seven hikers went out for the hike up White Mountain, easiest 14ner around. (Understandably, great excuses from the other four.) The three hikers made the peak in very cold and blustery weather. On the way down the twenty mile dirt and windy road from the trailhead, they experienced golf ball sized hail. Very long drive! The other hikes of the week escaped the rain and had great temperatures.

Shhh! Concentrating!

Finding the Angle at Mobius Arch

 Kay's (moi) hike on Tuesday was Little Lakes Valley Trail to Gem Lakes and Chickenfoot Lake. Gem Lakes were the "gem" but Chickenfoot Lake can be ignored next time! My hike on Wednesday took us up the magical Bishop Pass Trail. Nine of the fourteen hikers made it all the way to Saddlerock Lake (11,004'). The other five stayed back with Lettie for a little R&R. Thursday's "ladies" hike went back to Little Lakes Valley where we took a spur trail up toward Mono Pass but stopped at Ruby Lake, a beautiful amphitheater type lake. The backdrop included Mt. Mills, Mt. Abbott and Mt. Dade. We could also see David's group of hikers climbing the switchbacks up to Mono Pass way up above us.

Little Lakes Valley

 David led a long hike up to Blue, Donkey and Baboon Lakes above Lake Sabrina on Tuesday. Reports were that even though it was quite long, the views of the lakes were amazing. Worth the climb! Also, signs for Baboon Lakes have recently been erected making the navigation more manageable.

Climbing to Piute Pass

 Wednesday, the other hike took Jerry's strenuous group up a scramble to Treasure Lakes found out of Little Lakes Valley. After a very strenuous Tuesday, all were very happy with this easier hike with quick reward!

View Back near Piute Pass

Curious Mt. Whitney Marmot

Wednesday night, most of us ate at Perry's Italian Cafe where we enjoyed ourselves immensely!

There were two other hikes on Thursday. Jerry took his hikers up to Lake Mildred above Convict Lake. This was a challenge and about half of the crew stopped early. The issue was difficult stream crossings. They had to find cairned routes up and around to find a way to get across the rushing water. David took a small group of hikers up to Mono Pass, one of the area's pride and joys. By this time, all threat of rain had dissipated and the days were warming up a little. (The mornings at the trailhead were still quite cold.)

Most of the group, for many different reasons, left Friday. And, then there were nine!

Sunrise on the High Sierra Trail

 On Monday and Tuesday, we had club hikers on Mt. Whitney. Tim Whiffen and two friends had hiked over from Sequoia NP on the High Sierra Trail to finish at Whitney Portal on Monday.

Tim and the Davids, Mt. Whitney Summit

 Then, on Tuesday, Pat Connor and Erin Connor (Mike's brother and niece by a different brother) hiked the mountain in an excellent time of 13 hours. WOW!

Erin Connor on the Mt. Whitney Trail

 We enjoyed hearing their storys for the next few days. Then, on Friday, four of the remaining hikers tackled Piute Pass, an 11 mile adventure. I, for one, was very glad I did not miss it!

Uncle Pat and Niece Erin on the Summit of Mt. Whitney

One-Handed Shot

 Piute Pass is a challenge because of the many steps built into the trail throughout the hike. It became a joke at one point! "More steps!" Regardless, we made it up and back in good time and the views were amazing. On the last day, seven of the remaining hikers drove south to Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills. We did the short Arch Loop and added a small climb up to the Eye of Alabama Arch. From there, five of us stopped in Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley NP for lunch (in 120 degree temperatures) and drove the rest of the way home. Thanks to all for contributing to such a wonderful week!

Following this entry, I will post blogs for Gem Lakes, Saddlerock Lake, Ruby Lake, Piute Pass and Alabama Hills.

Color near North Lake

Nice Capture of Lathe Arch by David

Not sure where David found these! Beatty?

Evening Entertainment

Old Mill / Lee Meadow Loop - 9/1/18

Old Mill Ruins on Old Mill Trail

Huge Fallen Tree at Anemometer

The Sisters Ridge from Upper Lee Meadow

Crossing Lower Lee Meadow

 Lee Canyon Meadow. There is not another mountain meadow for more than 150 miles in any direction. Geologic Tours in the Las Vegas Area (Expanded Edition with GPS Coordinates), Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 16, University of Nevada, Reno, Mackay School of Earth Sciences, 2008, Bear Printing, Sparks, NV; page 47.

In all the years that I have been hiking in the Spring Mountains NRA, I have never been in the Lee Meadow! We drive by there every time we hike in Lee Canyon. We see the families playing and picnicking in the meadow. We even see them with their dogs alongside the wild horses. ... It always looks like such fun. So, today, we created a 3.5 mile hike that included ... the meadow!

Starting up Old Mill Trail

 We parked along the road at the Lower Lee Meadow and crossed the grass and shallow wash. We found a trail that gently climbed up into the neighboring Old Mill Picnic Area. This is a fee area so we didn't stop at any of the picnic tables or restrooms.

Visiting the Old Homestead

 The pavement led us up to where the Old Mill Trail veered right off the road. This trail is lined with rocks on either side making it very easy to follow. Soon, we were at the South Sister Trail junction. Some of the seventeen hikers decided to hike up a short way to see the old home foundation there. I presume that this is where the mill owner and his family lived.

Resting at the Old Mill Ruins - Aspens Carved Long Ago

Climbing the Old Mill Trail

 We returned to the trail and continued up. It wasn't long before we came to the ruins of the old mill. Here, there were aspens that had been carved with names a very long time ago. Such names as Caleb and Quinn had grown into the bark. The trail from here up to the Lower Bristlecone Trail was a steeper climb. Then, we turned right on the forest road. At the apex of the following curve, we turned right onto the trail to Pine Cone Canyon. After a little more climbing, we came to the anemometer and campsite where we took our break. (An anemometer is a device used for measuring wind speed, and is a common weather station instrument. The term is derived from the Greek word anemos, which means wind, and is used to describe any wind speed measurement instrument used in meteorology. The first known description of an anemometer given by Leon Battista Alberti in 1450. ~ Wikipedia)
 

Break Spot at the bottom of Pine Cone Canyon

 We returned to the Lower Bristlecone Trail and hiked down the forest road with views of Mummy Mountain in front of us and South Sister to our left. We continued with a slow pace.

Returning to Lower Bristlecone Trail

 Nearing the gate at the trailhead, we looked down toward Lee Meadow on our left. There was an obvious place where others had descended a steepish hill down to the grass. Several of today's hikers decided this hill was acceptable and down they went. The remaining hikers went down just past the gate and descended to the meadow from there on a more gentle slope.

Ease on Down, Ease on Down the Trail

South Sister - Aspens beginning to Yellow

 We met at the bottom of the slopes and the group spread out. It was fun being in the meadow! My best analogy (being a professional dancer in a previous life), was that it felt like we were on a stage. Wide space with stadium seating all around! ... and, no horses. Anyway, it was fun to walk through from the Upper Meadow to the Lower Meadow. There were a few families on the outskirts of the meadow in the shade. We walked down the horse path then headed through the trees back to the cars. Nice new route, a keeper. Maybe next time there will be horses. We can only hope. (Do they have Saturdays off?)

3.5 miles; 600 feet elevation gain; 2.25 hours

The Steep Route down to Lee Meadow

Flower Field at the Meadow

Returning to Cars at Lower Lee Meadow