| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS |
Also on Backpacker.com
Backpacker Magazine – May 2009
Three Trips to Natural Wonders
Discover the world's oldest tree, America's biggest cavern, and Florida's largest herd of wild horses on these three treks.
New Mexico's Carlsbad Cavern (David Muench)
-
Tags:
- Florida |
- California |
- New Mexico |
- Wildlife |
- Plants |
- Adventures |
The World's Oldest Living Tree
Hike to Methuselah Grove, where conifers predate Egypt's pyramids.
The Wonder
Methuselah, named after the biblical character who lived to be 900, looks like a wisp of smoke magically turned to wood. This 4,840-year-old great basin bristlecone pine sits in the subalpine zone of California's White Mountains at 11,500 feet. It's impossible to distinguish it from the crowd, though–it's unmarked to protect it from being "loved to death." Such was the fate of the world's former oldest tree, another great basin bristlecone, named Prometheus, which was cut down in 1964 by an unknowing grad student.
The Way
From the Schulman Grove trailhead, an hour northeast of Bishop, California, hike the Methuselah Grove Trail, a 4.5-mile loop with 800 feet of elevation gain. In 2.4 miles, you'll reach Methuselah Grove (rumor has it, the old man is near the trail). Arrive at sunrise or sunset, when trees explode in golden hues against the gray. fs.fed.us/r5/inyo
Subscribe to Backpacker magazine
Sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter
Reader Rating:
-
Fall/Winter Gear Guide
261 reviews and camping tips
Boost Your Apps
Add powerful tools and exclusive maps to your BACKPACKER apps through our partnership with Trimble Outdoors.
Carry the Best Maps
With BACKPACKER PRO Maps, get life-list destinations and local trips on adventure-ready waterproof myTopo paper.
FREE Rocky Mountain Trip Planner
Sign up for a free Rocky Mountain National Park trip planning kit from our sister site MyRockyMountainPark.com.
Get 2 FREE Trial Issues and 3 FREE GIFTS
Survival Skills 101 • Eat BetterThe Best Trails in America
YES! Please send me my FREE trial issues of Backpacker
and my 3 FREE downloadable booklets.
Free trial offer valid for US subscribers only.
Canadian subscriptions |
International subscriptions
and my 3 FREE downloadable booklets.
READERS COMMENTS
You would actually be seeing the original horses' "descendents" today, as opposed to the "ancestors" mentioned in the article.
The world oldest tree is a Norway Spruce in Sweden. It dates back 9550 to right after the last ice age.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080414-oldest-tree_2.html
We have Bristlecone Pines in Northern Nevada as well. I know they are 3000+ years old, but 4800..........wow!
Carlsbad Cavern is a wonder to be seen.
Are the bats still there in the summer? We were there in Jan. and did not see any bats.
http://www.google-fashion.com/
Wholesale 2010fashion mens shoes,women shoes,sports shoes,running shoes,walking shoes£¬worldcup jersey,caps and son on. Nike,Addias,Puma,Jordan£¬Kappa and so on
30-45usd per pair with free shipping cost.
Shipment:UPS,DHL,TNT,FEDEX and so on.
Payment:WEST UNION,PAYPAL
We accept drop delivering.May you can buy for you or your friends as presents or also to resell to get a good profit.
If interest,please add my msn:gofashion11@hotmail.com to get more photos and details.
I visited this last summer (8/2010) and it was amazing! I would love to go again. I was just in awe over the beauty. We took the guided tour and self guided tour, so fun and learned something new!
Visited Carlsbad when I lived in New Mexico, what a great place, a must see, amazing!!!!!!!
Now living in Gainesville, FL, I have seen the Cracker horses at Paynes Prairie many times. Last time they were at the vistior center. Saw them the time before and other times on the Bolen Bluff trail.
Get out and enjoy the outdoors and maybe we will cross paths sometime. Be safe.
We live in Gainesville and have seen this herd. They are quite elusive, but worth the effort to find them. Add to the horses the bison on the prairie, and you never know what you will find on this little natural oddity in central Florida.
My husband & I are from NC and we visited Carlsbad in 2002 - it was absolutely wonderful and beyond words to explain the natural beauty. Great place to visit and great area to explore go to White Sands monument in Alamogorda when you get done at Carlsbad stunning!!!
ADD A COMMENT