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Limber Pine
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The Limber Pine on Mount Baden-Powell is a well-known, ancient tree that's a point of interest for hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail. This particular tree is thought to be over 1,500 years old and has stood the test of time through all kinds of weather, from snowstorms to high winds.
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The Limber Pine is found near the summit of Mount Baden-Powell, at about 9,000 feet. It's along the main trail that hikers take to reach the peak.
This tree is incredibly old-so old that it was alive before much of modern civilization! Its name, "Limber Pine," comes from the flexibility of its branches, which bend instead of break under pressure from snow and wind. This toughness has helped it survive for centuries.
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Many hikers stop to take a picture with the Limber Pine because it's not just a tree-it's a symbol of survival and the wild history of the mountain. It's also one of the oldest living things in the area.
Just like the tree, the mountain itself is a big draw for hikers. Named after Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts, it's a peak that offers incredible views and a sense of accomplishment when you reach the top.
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The Limber Pine isn't just a part of nature-it's like a living piece of history on the mountain, reminding hikers how long these natural wonders have been around.
Limber pine is a slow growing, long-lived species, sometimes taking several hundred years to reach maturity. Mature trees may exceed 1000 years of age.
Limber pine stands are broadly even-aged, though populations also occur in uneven-aged stands and on very harsh sites as widely spaced, isolated individuals.
Trees often have an irregular or multi-stem growth form, and rarely reach over 50 feet (15 m). At high elevations they sometimes form krummholz (stunted, twisted shrub-like formations caused by exposure to wind. German for "twisted wood").
Trunks may reach 6.5 feet (2 m) in diameter. The species is cold and drought tolerant. Trees are ectomycorrhizal, have deep taproots, and are very windfirm. Limber pine has relatively thin bark.