Sunday Stills Challenge ~ Bristlecone pine forest~062710

Hubby and I recently stopped by the Bristlecone National Forest over Memorial Day weekend on our trip to the Sierras. We drove up to Hesperia Friday night, getting that much closer before the drive on Saturday. We decided to drive up the narrow, winding road to the bristlecones because hubby had never seen them before. I remember visiting them once as a kid. BELIEVE ME, it was a completely different journey at age 58!!! First, I got a headache. And, I'm not the kind of person who gets headaches often. I just don't. Second, I started to get dizzy. Hmmmm...Finally, I got nauseous. Now, the bristlecones are at 10,500 feet, so I decided it must be the elevation and, indeed, there were signed posted about the elevation and how it can affect some people. Well, I guess I'm one of them. By the time we got to the visitor center and the main grove, all I could do was just SIT in the car! I told hubby, "YOU go take pictures. I'm staying here!" I actually did manage to get out and take a few, and hobble into the visitor center. So, be aware...especially if you are on heart medication, like I am, to go SLOWLY and sit down if you need to! Here are some pics that hubby took of the bristlecones. I completely recovered by the time we drove down to the bottom of the valley floor and after breakfast, I was back to normal! Just be aware of the elevation when you visit them, especially if you are my age and on medication!!! Your heart has to pump more in the thin air and I think that also contributed to my condition. Now, we were there, like I said, over Memorial Day weekend and there were still spots of snow on the ground. And, the road to the second grove was closed due to snow! Bristlecone pines are among the oldest living things on our planet. One of them is over 3,000 years old! I do not know how old these were, but they certainly are over 60 years old! Bristlecones also only grow where there is poor soil and grow in groves. They are indeed interesting and unique trees! I would encourage you to visit them and see them for yourself! Just be aware of the elevation, take plenty of water, and sit down if you need to! Sunday Stills Challenge for Jne 27, 2010. If you want to read more about these interesting trees, here is a link for you: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/bristlecone_pine.htm Apparently there was one dated 4,500 years old!