September 11th, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest


We drove up from our campsite into the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, and hiked the 4.4 mile Methuselah loop trail (all at elevations above 10,000'). It is so named because the oldest living Bristlecone Pine is along this trail, about 4,000 years old, but they don't identify which tree it is to protect it from evil and/or clueless people. We then drove down to the Mammoth Lakes area, stopping at Earthquake Flats, Minaret Vista, the Devil's Postpile, and camping at Red's Meadow.