Pine Alpha - First Tree Discovered Older than 4,000 Years
Height: Elevation: 10,310 ft (3,142 m) GPS Latitude: 37.38801
Volume: Creek: Black Canyon Creek GPS Longitude: -118.17969
Width: Grove: Schulman Grove Discovery Date: 1953
Age: 4,345 y Park: Inyo NF Discovered By: Edmund P. Schulman

Notes: Pine Alpha is the first non-clonal tree confirmed older than 4,000 years. University of Arizona Associate Professor of Dendrochronology Edmund P. Schulman named the tree Pine Alpha after the first letter in the Greek alphabet. Other trees older than 4,000 years Schulman identified later include Pine Delta and Methuselah.

Pine Alpha appears in Schulman's article entitled Bristlecone Pine, Oldest Known Living Thing, published in the March 1958 issue of National Geographic Magazine.

Pine Alpha is directly in the path of the May 3, 2106 total solar eclipse.

Nearby famous bristlecone pines include Dead Sentry Methuselah Patriarch

Drive: Pine Alpha is 234 mi (377 km) east of San Francisco near the community of Big Pine.

From U.S. Route 395 near Big Pine, transfer to California State Route 168 East. Drive east 13 mi (21 km) on California State Route 168 East and turn left onto White Mountain Road toward Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. Drive north 10 mi (16 km) on White Mountain Road and turn right into the Schulman Grove Visitor Center parking lot.

Road Warning: White Mountain Road is unmaintained during winter. Depending on snow levels, White Mountain Road is usually open from May through November. Visit fs.usds.gov for more information.

Hike: From the trailhead at the northeastern end of the parking lot, hike north/uphill 0.4 mi (0.6 km) on Discovery Trail, past the fourth trail exhibit panel (Pathways of The Ancients), to the trail exit point near 37.38786 -118.17982. Leave the trail here and hike northeast/uphill 70 ft (21 m) off-trail to Pine Alpha. After visiting Pine Alpha, hike north 0.3 mi (0.5 km) on Discovery Trail to Dead Sentry.

Rating: Easy One-Way Distance: 0.4 mi (0.6 km) Ascent: 297 ft (91 m)
Time: 15 min Off-Trail: 70 ft (21 m) Descent: 75 ft (23 m)
Pine Alpha Tree Hike Map

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Photos: Pictures of Pine Alpha Tree taken from different sides

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