An exposed section of bristlecone bark spans thousands of years. It's amazing to stand next to a living thing so ancient that this photographer's life will have been just a tiny spec of the record recorded in the twisting wood. This tree was extreemely interesting, having stripes that seemed to have been burned, perhaphs in past fires. This makes me wonder if this tree is particularly unlucky in getting struck by lightning. The wide spacing of bristlecone pines generally offers some protection from forest fires. Although no living bark can be seen in this picture, this tree was still very much alive with strips of bark on the opposite side.