There is a newly crowned champion bristlecone pine on Mt Charleston that is larger than any in the ancient bristlecone forest of California or in the Wheeler peak grove in Nevada. It is listed in the American Forests .org web page as the largest in the world.
Upon learning of it I launched an investigation into its location which is a close held secret among the local rangers (with good reason). I asked around among other hikers and naturalists, and the sierra club and no one knew of its location. I finally got some clues from an out of town organizations that enabled me to start a search for it.
The hike to the tree is 11 miles round trip and gains 3000 ft putting it right at the limit of my current abilities. It is off trail and not visible from a trail or overlook. You cannot see it until very close because of other trees in the way. It is in a very steep and unstable area that is highly susceptible to erosion damage from foot traffic. I will not publish its exact location because it will be over run by tourists just like Raintree has. Probably much more so because of it relative size and age.
The area around the tree is generally rugged. This is another tree that illustrates the type of terrain surrounding the tree.
On our first attempt we found this large bristlecone which we assumed to be the one but later learned that it was not. This one is 11 feet average diameter if measured from below the large low limb on the left to the top side at ground level. It was named "Primo" by one in our group who saw it first.
This is the backside of the Primo tree. Since it is so much larger than Rain tree, and much more gnarly, I assume that it is much older than Raintree as well. The actual age of Raintree has never been determined notwithstanding the articles that say it is 2000, 3000, and 5000 years old. It has never been cored or estimated by scientists.
Upper limbs of the Primo tree showing how massive it is.
Another tree in the area that is also large. There is a tree of similar size on the trail to Raintree shortly past the trail highpoint only about 6 feet off trail on the right.
Our group in front of Champion Tree. This one is 12 feet in average diameter as documented in the American Forests Champion tree database. We found it on the sixth exploratory trip.
Author and wife in front of the Champion Great Basin Bristlecone.
We tried measuring it with a line and got its circumference at 35 ft, 8 inches. Which is a little short of its official measurement. We are probably not experienced enough to measure the correct way. BTW Raintree is 19 feet in circumference. Much easier to measure because it is easy to get around and has a straight trunk.
View from the downhill side.
Big lower side limb that complicates the measurement.
Another random tree in the area.
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