Touching Ancient (Living) History

Favorite Vacation Moment

Great Basin National Park, NV

by paulnjennymcfarlane March 09, 2008

Bristlecone Pine--3000 years young!

1000 B.C.--Mayans settle in the Yucatan Peninsula, David is the king of Judah and Israel, iron is begun to be used in Greece, the Phoenician alphabet is developed, and the first recorded use of a pen by Chinese calligraphers. Oh, and one other little thing: a seed takes root in the eastern mountains of what was later to become the State of Nevada. The roots dug deep and began growing into a Bristlecone Pine Tree. And this is the living, thriving tree we visited on a family camping trip a few years ago in the Great Basin National Park. We spent an amazing few days exploring the creeks, caves and mountain beauty of the area, and our daughter participated in activities and explorations that led to her being awarded a Junior Ranger patch by an official Park Ranger. The Ranger called for attention and everyone in the area listened to the "swearing in" session where Annie pledged to respect and protect the amazing nature of the Great Basin National Park. And above us, high on the mountain, stood the many beautiful Bristlecone Pine trees, standing a silent vigil over the comings and goings of the human race and its activities.