"Adversity causes some to break; others to break records."
William Arthur Ward
Photo: Ancient Bristlecone Pine, Great Basin National Park, NV; July 30, 2012. This tree - like others in the grove - is almost 5,000 years old. I found it growing right at treeline, on a talus slope of rock that contains very little visible soil. Part of the secret of a bristlecone's longevity is the fact that its environment prevents it from growing very fast. But this works in the tree's favor. The slow pace of growth means the bristlecone's wood is very dense, preventing pests from ever getting a foothold. In fact, bristlecones that grow on more favorable sites don't live as long!
