The texture of the bark of the ancient bristlecone pine trees in the White Mountains in Inyo National Forest is extraordinary. These ancient, slow growing trees, some several thousands of years old, have very distinct features. Most have trunks that are twisted and ridged, whorled and striated. I was charmed by the look of this stump with its burned out center and broken off top. Even at the time I took the photograph it reminded me of a wolf howling at the moon.
