Colorado peak questions, condition requests and other info.
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myfeetrock wrote: ↑Wed Jun 25, 2025 2:59 pm
I've saw this in a thread here a few years ago. Someone here mentioned treeline in South America being over 14k feet.
The camping area at 14k on the south side of Orizaba (19 degrees north) is a full-on forest:
Orizaba-Malinche-1-of-12.jpg (655.48 KiB) Viewed 1053 times
I don't remember higher forests in Ecuador or Peru, but the towns and infrastructure in Peru are certainly higher than in Mexico.
dwoodward13 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 25, 2025 9:07 am
I recall seeing a very small (1-2') pine tree very near the summit of White Dome, 13,628'. I tried to look for a photo but must have not taken one. I remember us commenting on how high it was.
I recall one there as well. And it’s been decades, but north of Antero - between 05 and 10 - I saw a conifer 8 or so feet high off the north slope, so no longer 14k but mid 13s.
I have phenomenal route-finding abilities. Specifically, I have an uncanny knack for selecting the path of most resistance.
We encountered a tree growing on the backside of Vestal and someone in the group thought that it was the highest tree in Colorado. It was right around 13,200’ and fairly small krumholz tree.
It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. - Mahatma Gandhi
"If we don't change direction, we'll end up where we're going."
"Bushwhacking is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're gonna get."
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timewarp01 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 25, 2025 6:46 pm
There's gotta be a potted plant in the Pikes Peak summit building
Probably not, since it'd die from lack of sunlight, but you could drive one up there any time you want.
Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall — it's great when you stop. -- Chris Darwin
I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go home now. -- Forrest Gump
cougar wrote: ↑Thu Jun 26, 2025 8:08 pm
Seems like Lidar could be used to locate it with the vegetation return layers if it can distinguish tree from willows and other vegetation
AFAIK, even the high resolution aerial lidar only returns a handful of points per square meter, would be challenging to differentiate a tree from a rock, unless paired with multispec imagery. ASO flies just about every bit of snow covered area in CO though.
The highest I've seen is Colorado is one on the ridge of Anderson around 13,500'. It isn't big, but definitely isn't a bush. I'm looking forward to seeing that White Dome one eventually!
I'm horrible with names...
But will never forget a mountain's face!
