[Buzz123]

Most of you will never make it to the meadow on Mt. Charleston at 10,000 feet elevation, but if you do please leave the Bristle Cone Pines alone. Can you imagine standing on that mountain for nearly 5,000 years and some idiot comes along and cuts you down for firewood? If those trees could talk imagine what they could tell you about what they've seen.

Official laments hikers' assault on area of ancient pine trees - News - ReviewJournal.com

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

Most of you will never make it to the meadow on Mt. Charleston at 10,000 feet elevation, but if you do please leave the Bristle Cone Pines alone. Can you imagine standing on that mountain for nearly 5,000 years and some idiot comes along and cuts you down for firewood? If those trees could talk imagine what they could tell you about what they've seen.

Official laments hikers' assault on area of ancient pine trees - News - ReviewJournal.com

The old rule use to be that dead wood on the ground was fair game. Nowadays the Federales protect even that.

I was not convinced by the stories. Most who can hike above 10,000 feet are into the take care of nature mode. And they may have burned some downed timber which would otherwise have rotted.

I can see a technical crime right up there with speeding. But I see no evidence anyone damaged a bristle cone.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by olecapt

The old rule use to be that dead wood on the ground was fair game. Nowadays the Federales protect even that.

I was not convinced by the stories. Most who can hike above 10,000 feet are into the take care of nature mode. And they may have burned some downed timber which would otherwise have rotted.

I can see a technical crime right up there with speeding. But I see no evidence anyone damaged a bristle cone.

Well, don't quote me on this, but I think it may be a couple of things. Bristle cone that looks dead may still take root and live another 5,000 years...I think...maybe not, but sounds plausible the way that wood on the ground always seems to be dead but isn't.

But for sure, downed wood is habitat to critters who need it more than some nimrod on his first hike up the mountain.

Also, I gathered they were afraid seeing the wood being burned in fire rings would encourage people to cut it for firewood.

I've met many a fool on top of Mt. Charleston that managed to make the trip even with no experience...and even on mountain bikes.

Remember this: damaging or destroying an ancient 4,000 year old tree in Nevada is akin to damaging an ancient Roman aqueduct in Italy. A lone hiker could destroy in minutes what it took nature 4,000 years to create. You wanna wait around to see it come back...if it ever does?