The Trees of Time

The Trees of Time

Maybe it was when my friend Patrick- so big and strong and full of life- got the news that he had an aggressive cancer growing inside him, and only a few months left to live, maybe it was then that I decided to pay a visit to the oldest living tree on Earth.  Just to get a little perspective on this lifespan thing.

Methusalah is a Bristlecone pine tree living in the White Mountains of California, 2 miles above above sea level on the east side of Owens Valley, in a land known for its harshness and extreme conditions of dryness, heat, cold, and wind.

In this severe environment where few other organisms can survive, the Bristlecone Pines live and thrive. The oldest known tree, named Methuselah, is over 4,700 years old.

How do they live this long? It might be more accurate to ask the question this way: How do they manage to put off dying for so long?

For one thing they have no trouble growing on the soil formed from dolomite, a type of sedimentary rock which is low in nutrients and very, very alkaline. Not many plants can grow on this soil, so the Bristlecones have little competition.

In addition, their wood is full of resin, which is resistant to decay. The resin is produced when harsh environmental conditions trigger the activation of genetically coded machinery to manufacture the resin, thus endowing the tree with the protection needed for longevity.

Most organisms on the planet have a genetically programed lifespan. Whether you’re a marmot or a mayfly destined to live for only a few days, or a daschund who is very lucky to be still wagging his tail at 17 years of age, eventually you reach a time when your cells undergo senescence, and the race is run. The timer goes off when it is set to do so by your DNA. (Or maybe you get cancer first).

But for some reason the Bristlecones don’t have genetic timers.They don’t undergo cellular senescence. Moreover, the trees never stop producing viable seeds. Even Methuselah still makes large numbers of viable seeds at 4,700 years of age. (I was done at 49 years)

The oldest trees have dodged death by fire, drought, disease, poor nutrition, heat, cold and wind. Ultimately the only reason some of these hardy souls may eventually loose the battle against death is because over the years the soil around them washes away by erosion, and they loose their connection with the Earth itself.

We humans are less than mayflies to a Bristlecone Pine tree. I walked for a few hours in a grove of trees who sprouted 2000 years before the birth of Christ. For four millennia of human history- civilizations rose and fell, there were incredible cultural and scientific achievements and centuries of struggle, warfare, genocide and worse- these trees have clung steadfastly to their mountain, living one day at a time, building one enduring cell at a time, silently marking the seasons and the centuries.

The next day I climbed a 14,000′ mountain, and shared it with a herd of wild free-ranging Big Horn Sheep. The sheep are tough survivors also.

I brought friends with me on my visit to the White Mountains and the Trees of Time.

I met Stephanie and Cecilia on the trip to Patagonia in March. Our shared passion for seeing the world and love for wild places gave us an instant kinship, and it was wonderful to share a section of the trail with them once more.

Stephanie and Cecilia were joined on the trip by their parents, hardy and adventurous folks. Like the Bristlecones, we had all attained a measure of strength and fortitude gleaned through struggle with adversity.

Of course, I was accompanied by my constant and faithful furry companions- Lyssa and Pippi were the lucky ones this time.

I can only visit the White Mountains for a brief period of time before I run out of water and begin to feel the physical effects of the extreme dryness and altitude. Then I have to head back north and west, across the passes, to the greener, cooler, wetter and more crowded side of the state, where the livin’ is easy. And maybe a little shorter.

Enjoy the photos and say hi to Methusalah for me if you go down to see her.

Shirley