Foxtail Pines Across The Klamath Mountains
The last week of July I was on a mission to see foxtail and whitebark pines from north to south across the Klamath Mountains. I was doing this for two reasons. The first was because I love the high elevation habitat where these two species are found—because of above average snow levels this winter I had not accessed the high country much yet this summer. The second reason was to observe if climate change was affecting these populations. I have recently written a literature review exploring ways—both positive and negative—that a changing climate might effect these beauties. These species literally survive as outliers. They are in the fringe habitat in the Klamath Mounatins and there is no upward expansion to be had—they are already at the top of the mountains. I wanted to see if I could find any evidence of white pine blister rust (WPBR) or bark beetles on the negative side of the effects of climate change or increased seedling recruitment with respect to some positive effects.
For the majority of the week I spent time with foxtail pine and came away with the feeling that this species is still doing very well. There was some recent evidence of mortality, possibly caused by WPBR, but there was more evidence of vigorous seedling recruitment where snowbanks had typically lingered late into summer but were now melting away earlier and providing new habitat for high elevation species. Whitebark pines I only saw at the end of the trip on China Mountain—they are the true high elevation species and I did not see them in the south—or in the Trinity Alps as I had expected. In the Scott Mountains they grow alongside foxtail pines. Again, they seemed to be doing well. There was some evidence, though slight, that WPBR might be causing some mortality but I saw this on only a handful of trees over several hundred acres of forest.
What follows is a photo-blog of the trip...enjoy.
The sun sets on North Yolla Bolly Peak and the relict foxtails here at the southern tip of the Klamath Mountains.
The sun also rises—notice King's Peak on the Lost Coast far on the horizon.
Windswept foxtails grace the meadows on the summit of North Yolla Bolly Peak.
Climbing into the higher Trinity Alps, foxtail pines begin to appear as competition diminishes—with the help of a serpentine substrate.
A charismatic foxtail pine hangs from the south face of Seven Up Peak.
High above the Stuarts Fork, hanging south-facing valleys hold picturesque foxtails. I found a certain pine here that I need to return to and measure as it may be one of the largest on the planet.
Quill-leaf lewisia (Lewisia leana) carpets the ground below a grove of foxtail pines.
A view toward Seven Up Peak from above Luella Lake. Notice the sparse vegetation on the left characterized by foxtail pines—due to serpetine soil. On the right the granite fosters a much richer forest of Shasta fir, white fir, and western white pine.
This vast foxtail and whitebark pine forest is surely one of the largest in northwest California.
Ian Nelson ponders an old giant with views toward Mount Shasta—and wonders why the PCT doesn't traverse this ridgeline...
With foxtail pine next to Jeffrey pine, the boy was happy!
Need more of a foxtail pine fix? Follow this LINK
For the majority of the week I spent time with foxtail pine and came away with the feeling that this species is still doing very well. There was some recent evidence of mortality, possibly caused by WPBR, but there was more evidence of vigorous seedling recruitment where snowbanks had typically lingered late into summer but were now melting away earlier and providing new habitat for high elevation species. Whitebark pines I only saw at the end of the trip on China Mountain—they are the true high elevation species and I did not see them in the south—or in the Trinity Alps as I had expected. In the Scott Mountains they grow alongside foxtail pines. Again, they seemed to be doing well. There was some evidence, though slight, that WPBR might be causing some mortality but I saw this on only a handful of trees over several hundred acres of forest.
What follows is a photo-blog of the trip...enjoy.
North Yolla Bolly Peak | Yolla Bolly Wilderness
The sun sets on North Yolla Bolly Peak and the relict foxtails here at the southern tip of the Klamath Mountains.
The sun also rises—notice King's Peak on the Lost Coast far on the horizon.
Windswept foxtails grace the meadows on the summit of North Yolla Bolly Peak.
Trinity Alps Wilderness
Climbing into the higher Trinity Alps, foxtail pines begin to appear as competition diminishes—with the help of a serpentine substrate.
A charismatic foxtail pine hangs from the south face of Seven Up Peak.
High above the Stuarts Fork, hanging south-facing valleys hold picturesque foxtails. I found a certain pine here that I need to return to and measure as it may be one of the largest on the planet.
Quill-leaf lewisia (Lewisia leana) carpets the ground below a grove of foxtail pines.
A view toward Seven Up Peak from above Luella Lake. Notice the sparse vegetation on the left characterized by foxtail pines—due to serpetine soil. On the right the granite fosters a much richer forest of Shasta fir, white fir, and western white pine.
China Mountain | Scott Mountains
This vast foxtail and whitebark pine forest is surely one of the largest in northwest California.
Ian Nelson ponders an old giant with views toward Mount Shasta—and wonders why the PCT doesn't traverse this ridgeline...
With foxtail pine next to Jeffrey pine, the boy was happy!
Need more of a foxtail pine fix? Follow this LINK
Posted by Michael E. Kauffmann at 8/1/2010 1:56 PM 
Categories: Conifers:Pinus balfouriana, Klamath Mountains
Categories: Conifers:Pinus balfouriana, Klamath Mountains
Michael is not just filling a niche here, he is creating one. And doing so without drama, just letting these trees speak for themselves without gushing. Great stuff.
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Was the giant foxtail near deer creek pass?--We found a big one near there and it has not been measured.
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I've heard rumors of the foxtail showing up in Oregon, on Lake Peak? This would be truly exciting to see.
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Thanks for the information Michael. It was my plan to do just what you have already done.
Today i got word from a Professor at the University of California at Davis that studied the Foxtail pine. He told me that the Foxtail pine population in Oregon was composed of only a few trees that were likely cut down for Christmas trees. The trees have never been found, but stumps have been.
This is only a rumor, he has never seen the actual stumps.
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