Trees above the treeline?
Aug. 26, camping at Upper Palisade Lake, 10,700 feet, temperatures in the upper 20s by morning
We're seeing gnarled and stunted lodgepole pine trees up here as well as the tenacious white bark pine -- at least, that's what they look like to me. The treeline actually moves higher as you go farther south in the Sierra. So, you might not see trees above 9,500 feet to the north of us, yet we're seeing some trees above 10,500 feet here.
On the other side of the jagged ridgeline above us, I'm told the Middle Palisade Glacier is the largest in the Sierra. You can't see it from where we are, but the chill of a glacial basin is all around.
The sound of streams and glacial melting is comforting to me. The water rushes and seeps down into the lakes below where the colors are emerald and cobalt. Now and then, you see a marmot or some other small, furry creature, but you probably don't see many bears or deer up here. Not enough food.
There is something so compelling about this place. Only nature has altered this place since the last Ice Age receded 10,000 years ago. I am sorry I can't spend another day enjoying this striking connection to the Earth's past.
This entry was written Aug. 26 on the trail but published after returning to Fresno.