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Bristlecones Rising in Colorado

November 19, 2009 Hike, Wild 1 Comment

A new study that reported bristlecone pines found at high elevations in California and Nevada grew faster in the last 50 years than anytime before in the last 3,700 years has drawn widespread attention, including a nearly 4-minute story yesterday on NPR’s All Things Considered.

Last year, a different study of bristlecone pines on Mt. Goliath, near Mt. Evans, reached similar (and possibly related) conclusions about the trees in Colorado. The University of Denver researchers found that bristlecones are growing above the historical treeline on Mt. Goliath at least as fast as the trees below treeline—meaning the average treeline may be moving uphill. They found bristlecones established  just 10 meters below the summit of 3,723-meter (12,215′) Goliath.

As Colorado continues to warm, how high will treeline go?

Currently there is "1 comment" on this Article:

  1. Kathy Ross says:
    December 9, 2009 at 7:25 pm

    Hello,

    I’ve become fascinated with the bristlecone pine tree, and I find your article very interesting. I was skiing in Heavenly last winter and happened upon a tree which I believe to be a bristlecone pine!!

    I’ll be visiting Crested Butte this winter and hope to capture a photo of one in Crested Butte! Do you know if there are any on Mt Crested Butte or perhaps nearby?

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