Gnarly

Sierra juniper just off the Pacific Crest Trail about 5 miles south of the Ebbetts Pass trailhead, on the way to Noble Lake. Sierra Nevada, California. These twisty trees are the only trees that can survive on the open slopes! Elevation here is about 8700 ft/2560 m. Dunno how old this tree is--maybe a thousand years? Just shows that stress makes you live longer! ;)