Sometime around the end of the last ice age
—around 20,000 years ago
—a single aspen seed rooted, sprouted, and began cloning itself
in what is now central Utah.
Known as #Pando, which comes from the Latin “I spread,”
🔸the world’s largest known organism continues to grow today,
🔹comprising more than 40,000 individual trees.
🔸Every trunk emerged as a shoot from the same root system,
🔹and scientists estimate Pando weighs about 13 million pounds.

For photographer Mitch Epstein, the phenomenal resilience, scale, and lengthy lifespans of trees form the basis of his ongoing series #Old #Growth

From the world’s most voluminous #sequoias to the most ancient weathered and gnarled #bristlecone #pines
—which can live more than 4,000 years
—he captures remarkable stalwarts around the U.S.
https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2024/07/mitch-epstein-old-growth/

In ‘Old Growth,’ Mitch Epstein Travels the U.S. to Capture Monumental Ancient Relics — Colossal

Sometime around the end of the last ice age—around 20,000 years ago—a single aspen seed rooted, sprouted, and began cloning itself in what is now central Utah. Known as Pando, which comes from the Latin “I spread,” the world’s largest known organism continues to grow today, comprising more than 40,000 individual trees. Every trunk emerged as a shoot from the same root system, and scientists estimate Pando weighs about 13 million pounds. That’s one massive plant. More

Colossal
one of my favorite conspiracy theories is that the US National Geodetic Survey and US Forest Service have conspired to hide the fact that White Mountain Peak is taller than #MtWhitney in order to protect (a) the commercial interests of the town of Lone Pine (pop. 2,035) and (b) the ancient #bristlecone pines
#sierranevada
My son is a big fan of the Methuselah tree, so I got him a baby Bristlecone. My family exchanges small gifts on Valentine’s Day, so I’ll give it to him then. If he takes care of it, it will be with him his whole life. #Bristlecone #PineTree

A peak-a-boo waxing gibbous Moon photographed from the Methuselah Trail at ~3048m (10,000ft) in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, White Mountains, California (6/4/2017). I ❤️ Bristlecones!

#Bristlecone #Dendrochronology #Forest #Moon #Astronomy #Astrophotography #Photography #LinuxPhotography #Darktable

Just the same bristlecone in full (if not exactly “living”) color. It’s protected better these days, with lots of signs saying to stay on the trail, and that it’s illegal to take photos from off-trail, which is nice to see… #bristlecone #bristleconepine #whitemountains #california #discoverytrail #ilovecalifornia
Probably the most-photographed bristlecone pine in the world. It’s long dead, but still it stands against the elements high in the White Mountains of California. It’s right on the Discovery Trail, not far from the visitor center parking lot. #bristlecone #bristleconepine #whitemountains #photography #blackandwhitephotograhy #owensvalley

Y'all, I have a confession: I have a big crush on Bristlecone Pines.

They are extraordinary trees.

This beaut is on the Interpretive part of the Bristlecone / Glacier Trail in Great Basin National Park.

#thicktrunktuesday #greatbasin #bristlecone