I love to walk or ski out into my forest. I call it my forest even though it really isn’t mine. It belongs to a few lucky people and the rest is what we call National Forest. Meaning, it is set aside for all people who enter.

There are two kinds of trees up here in the Colorado Mountains. Conifer and Aspen. There are a few different kinds of pines. Lodge Pole, Bristlecone, Englemann Spruce, and Limber Pine. The Bristlecone pine is one of the trees that I see most. They have tell-tale bottlebrush shaped branches. They are everywhere here. They thrive up here in this environment. They replace the Ponderosa Pine and the Douglas fir trees that thrive at a lower altitude.

In the deep winter time of January the trees are all dormant. Meaning, they are temporarily at rest. It makes sense being it is so cold up here! I love skinning in the forest. I love hearing the trees as the wind blows them. Some trees creak as they are blown. It is a sound only a tree makes.

The Aspen trees are amazing! They have these incredible attributes:

Key adaptations of aspen trees at high altitudes:

• Vegetative reproduction:Aspen trees primarily reproduce through root suckers. These suckers sprout from their extensive lateral root systems. This process creates large clones of genetically identical trees. 
• Shallow root system:This allows them to access moisture readily in the shallow soil at high altitudes. 
• “Quaking” leaves:The flat petioles of aspen leaves enable them to move easily in the wind. This movement prevents damage from strong mountain gusts.
• Short growing season tolerance:Aspens can quickly grow and reproduce during the brief growing season at high elevations. 
• South-facing slopes preference:At higher altitudes, aspens tend to grow on south-facing slopes where they receive more sunlight. 
• Thin bark with chlorophyll: The thin bark of aspen trees allows some sunlight to penetrate. This enables photosynthesis even during winter. During this time, other trees are dormant.

I know people who have tried growing Aspen at lower elevations without success. They simply do not thrive down low. Every Autumn, many visitors come to our area. They drive up just to photograph the lovely yellow, orange, and gold coloured leaves. There are many springs that bubble up out of the ground that water these majestic trees. It is quite the harmony up here. With it comes the beautiful wildflowers. I am looking forward to Spring already when they start growing and blooming.

Thank you for reading my blog! I hope you are happy, safe, and warm!

Tschüss! A bientôt! Salud! Cheers!