I must talk with you some time about these trees. I wrote a story a few years ago that had something to do with the bristlecones. The closest I've gotten to truly ancient trees are the ancient junipers at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado (even the old old banyan trees in Okinawa are only a few hundred years old and the sequoias don't even come close). Anyway...I'd like to know about your experience seeing this forest...have you written anything about it?

Hi Ern!

This was a bit of a surprise hike. I thought it would be like going to the Giant Sequoia's where you park and then walk few hundred feet to a well signed big tree. Not so.

Due to different expectations & miscommunication in our group of 4 plus Scruffy, we ended up on a 4.5 mile hike that STARTED at 10,000 ft and had an altitude change of 800 feet. Thus, there was a bit of dissent, confusion, and no time to purchase a map that would have pointed out the oldest trees.

Eoin ended up getting quite altitude sick, Scruffy had to be carried the last 2 miles out, and I had very very wrong shoes on.

I would like to go back without the pressure to HIKE and have time to really investigate the trees.

Next time you come to SoCal, I will take you.

;o)