Skip to content

Lunchtime Photo

Published on 19 Comments on Lunchtime Photo

This is, I think, an ancient bristlecone pine, but it's a little hard to tell for sure. I took this picture on the road to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, where there are indeed many bristlecone pines, but is this one of them? Or is it just an old, weathered tree stump?

Any expert opinion out there?

February 17, 2021 — Inyo National Forest, California

19 thoughts on “Lunchtime Photo”

  1. Traveller

    I look at these various photo posts by Kevin are kind of Open Threads...and with this in mind, FYI:

    The court hears being handed out for recent border crossers is one and one half years (1.5yrs)...for the first hearing, an appeal or two and the immigrant has established roots.

    It therefore makes imminent sense to wander on in.

    Best Wishes, Traveller

    1. Crissa

      The court delays are directly connected to Republican intransigence to not fund the court.

      ...Which is why they want the court to make more and more ridiculous rulings.

    2. DFPaul

      By "established roots" I assume you mean, has a regular job or jobs and is paying taxes while having no political rights and thus no representation. As well, there's a very good chance she or he would be considered an "essential worker" in a public health emergency.

      1. Traveller

        I know the court information in some general sense because I was offered some work today in the field...I turned it down. Nothing makes one feel better than securing asylum for a family....I am sorry to say this and say it with considerable reservation....but coming out of an immigration courtroom after a win....it is like you are God, literally.

        You have given life to a family.

        Conversely, losing, and losing someone you might have grown fond of, (in a non-sexual way!)...is like dying...yourself.

        I am no expert in this field, but I am good with judges...especially if someone else maybe had a problem, you know, ask me...why not?

        I said No because the work is too heartrendingly brutal too often.

        Best Wishes, Traveller

  3. Doctor Jay

    You know, we could shorten that year and a half to first hearing (that's what you mean by "hears" right?) by a lot IF we were willing to fund more courts, etc. I'm willing to do that. I'm willing to pay more taxes to do that. Are you? Or do you just want to whine about building a wall which is offensive, ugly and mostly useless. But it sure makes a great slogan.

  4. Steve_OH

    The tree in the center of the frame appears to be dead, and thus an old, weathered tree stump. It could be the old, weathered tree stump of a bristlecone pine, however. What elevation were you at when you took the photo? You have to be above about 8,000 ft to see bristlecone pines.

    The live tree to the right looks more like a limber pine (longer, more spread needles). The two species occur together throughout most of their range in California. I think the only other pine in the area is singleleaf pinyon pine, which is more common at lower elevations, before you get to the bristlecone/limber forest. (I don't think the live tree is a pinyon pine.)

    1. Salamander

      "pinyon"? Okay, let's see if HTML works on this rig...

      In New Mexico, we spell that "piñon.

      Did it work? Did it work? And thanks for the pinely discussion, Mr Steve!

        1. Steve_OH

          I was originally going to spell it "piñon," but I checked the USDA's PLANTS database (which is about the closest there is to an "official" list of plant species names in the U.S.), and it's spelled "pinyon" there, so I relented.

          And so it seems you must actually be in Nuevo México, ¿no?

  5. S1AMER

    I don't think it's a bristlecone, Kevin -- for one thing, you appear to be at too low an elevation for the ancient ones, and anyhow this doesn't quite have the look of a bristlecone.

    For those of you who've never been where Kevin took this picture, try to go some day. The whole Forest Service road to the small visitor center is paved, and even without the stunning bristlecones at timberline, the Sierra views along the way are stunning (Kevin's picture shows you only one segment of the beauties). An added feature: At one point along the way, if you've got a good telephoto lens, you can actually get a few good shots of the far northern reaches of the greater Death Valley area.

  6. Greg Apt

    I'm 99% sure it's not bristlecone. I was there last summer, this appears lower down with more living trees. Also, the bristlecone trees are bigger and more gnarled. And they look like they're almost petrified. I wish I could post one of my pics from my visit there it's more apparent.

Comments are closed.