Highest Colorado tree?

[HikerGuy]

Krummholz is a tree, so yes, it is included.

[rmcpherson]

Adding another data point. On the Trinity Traverse last Saturday, I noticed an Engelmann Spruce near the ridge line between West Trinity and Trinity. Based on the location from the EXIF data, CalTopo places the elevation at 13419 feet. The tree is 3-4 feet in height.

[Scott P]

I wonder what the age of some of these trees are? Supposedly temperatures in the Colorado high country have increased by 2.3 degrees since 1980 and 2.9 degrees since the late 1800s. If that's true, it's enough to raise the timberline by more than 750 feet since 1980 and nearly 1000 feet since the late 1800s.

[SkaredShtles]

Adding another data point. On the Trinity Traverse last Saturday, I noticed an Engelmann Spruce near the ridge line between West Trinity and Trinity. Based on the location from the EXIF data, CalTopo places the elevation at 13419 feet. The tree is 3-4 feet in height.

That, frankly, is amazing.

[Tony1]

Adding another data point. On the Trinity Traverse last Saturday, I noticed an Engelmann Spruce near the ridge line between West Trinity and Trinity. Based on the location from the EXIF data, CalTopo places the elevation at 13419 feet. The tree is 3-4 feet in height.

Trees like that are all over the Grenadiers on their southerly slopes, up to at least 13,400-500 feet as you noticed. It's pretty interesting. On any peak with a southerly route you'll see them, like Vestal, Guardian, etc. Lots of them on the Trinity traverse. It seems to be a unique area because I've never seen such an "abundance" of high trees like that anywhere else in Colorado.

[deepdarkseas]

I may have found a winner on the northeast “Cupid” ridge of Ypsilon Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park (TR if interested: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... trip=23321 ). This little guy was almost at 13,400 feet, and probably gets a few hundred feet of extra credit for being so far north in the state. Seems like it gets a lot of shelter from the wind underneath this east-facing headwall. Fairchild in the background.

[GUTstring]

I may have found a winner on the northeast “Cupid” ridge of Ypsilon Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Cool find, and great pictures

[Scott P]

Nice find. Of course the highest tree in Colorado would also be the highest tree in the United States.

[deepdarkseas]

Nice find. Of course the highest tree in Colorado would also be the highest tree in the United States.

Thanks Scott. You don't think there could be a higher tree in the southern Sierra? I hiked the JMT last month and was fascinated at how the treeline breaks 12k in many places.

[Scott P]

Nice find. Of course the highest tree in Colorado would also be the highest tree in the United States.

Thanks Scott. You don't think there could be a higher tree in the southern Sierra? I hiked the JMT last month and was fascinated at how the treeline breaks 12k in many places.

I don't think there are any higher in the Sierra. Although there are microclimates, the timberline is generally lower there in Colorado. Of note, the highest elevation tree in California was recently "discovered" to be at 12,657 feet. Even if someone finds one higher it is very unlikely that it would be over 13,000 feet.

https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/ne ... ghest-tree

[jkirk]

I don't think there are any higher in the Sierra. Although there are microclimates, the timberline is generally lower there in Colorado. Of note, the highest elevation tree in California was recently "discovered" to be at 12,657 feet. Even if someone finds one higher it is very unlikely that it would be over 13,000 feet.

Check this out, on the west slopes of University Peak last September:

1236.jpg

13,030'

[Scott P]

I don't think there are any higher in the Sierra. Although there are microclimates, the timberline is generally lower there in Colorado. Of note, the highest elevation tree in California was recently "discovered" to be at 12,657 feet. Even if someone finds one higher it is very unlikely that it would be over 13,000 feet.

Check this out, on the west slopes of University Peak last September:
1236.jpg

13,030'

Nice find. You should seriously send that to the link above as they may be interested.