Ancient bristlecone forest + bonus 9-4

edenooch · Post by **edenooch** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 12:51 am

went up north early in preparation for the big one!
But while i was in the area i decided to hike a natural wonder that i have been trying to plan since early this year. So i headed to the Methusela grove. With all the 4000+ year old bristlecone trees. There are 3 trails in this area. one with some old mines n stuff! so i made an early dusk hike!
The place is under construction! It looks liek they are adding a picnic area and a new visitor center.

6miles 1200feet gain

A few of the old men!

a Lookout

a bistlecone

MINE

__________________________________________________________
Later on that day when i finished this hike. I met up with Ze and he has this Excellent idea to get a short hike in at altitude in order to acclimate for "the big one".....
He has this hike that goes to Kearsarge peak......
so it was on to 12,500 feet
6.5 miles
3700 feet gain

Independence peak

an old shelter near the summit

golden trout lakes

Williamson

hvydrt · Post by **hvydrt** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 3:18 pm

That is a neat area. I wandered around the patriarch grove last weekend. The drive sucks, but its worth it.

Post by **Taco** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:28 pm

Awesome pics.

rockboy · Post by **rockboy** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:56 am

Excellent pix - totally on my "to do" list. Man, I wish I could go today.

Rumpled · Post by **Rumpled** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:14 am

Never been there, but I think the "new" visitors cneter is rebuilding the old one that some arsonist burned down. IIRC he's got some mental issues and a connected family in Mammoth.

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 8:38 pm

NICE. Oh (yawn), just a 12,000+ warm up hike.