One of the oldest stumps in the Northern Hemeshpere ~ Goshutes Mountain Range, Utah 1987

The Bristlecone pines (Pinus aristata) are some of the oldest trees on the planet. They live on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, along the border of Nevada and California. These pines are puny compared to the redwoods and are even small in comparison to different species of conifers nearby. Nevertheless, some of these specimens are over 4,000 years old -- as old as the pyramids of ancient Egypt.

The bristlecones thrive high above sea level (10,000 ft or about 3,077 m) and in dry, rocky environments (10 inches or about 250 mm of rain annually). While these conditions prevent youthful bursts of growth, they're just right for slow growth, which can also result in extended life. With comparatively little tissue to nourish compared to their large cousins, in some years, the bristlecones add perhaps only an inch to their girth per century.