I cannot help it. I keep going back. The Bristlecone Pine
National Forest near Alma, Colorado, keeps calling. Some of these trees are
1500 years old; they cling to a windy ridge on the face of a stark and barren
mountain.
These trees are known for their resilience. They live the
longest in the harshest conditions with poor soil and the worst of
climates. They thrive on
adversity. Many appear to be dead, until a closer look reveals the strand of
life, a cambium layer hidden deep in the tree, a life-line that continues to
grow from the inside, even as the bark on the surface dies away.
Many of the trees have bent sideways to cope with the wind;
they huddle together protecting each other in their proximity. They grow off-
center, sacrificing branches and balance for the sake of life’s growth and
seed. Even the pinecones are tenacious; they are coated with a sticky surface
that clings to the soil and to my fingers for days after my visit.
Repeatedly, I am amazed and heartened in their presence.
Kari Reiquam
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