Wisdom from the Ancient Bristlecones
Hello friend,
Our 2023 Visit to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
On one of our very first writing road trips, back 2023 when we were car camping in our RAV4, we made it out to Bishop, CA to visit our family. That was the trip where we first visited the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. The lessons gleaned from those trees have lived rent free in our heads ever since. So, when we found ourselves back in Bishop a few weeks ago, we knew we wanted to visit them again and make a post celebrating their ancient wisdom.
After being without our home for a week while the van was in the shop getting a new radiator, our spirits were low. All we wanted to do was get to a safe spot where we could spend a few days making uninterrupted progress toward our goals. There are few better feelings in the van than having a full tank of fresh water, stocked fridge, clean laundry, and an open calendar. Most of California was in the midst of an oppressive heat wave, so we decided to head for higher elevation in the White Mountains near Bishop. The road to the bristlecones was closed for the season, but we thought we might find a spot just outside the forest.
The drive up the mountains was gorgeous. Down below, the Owens Valley was lush with new life. Its streams were fat with snowmelt and zigzagging down from the high, jagged peaks of the Sierra Nevadas. The roads and the sky were clear. Our spirits were high, both literally and figuratively. Finally, we felt like things were really getting back on track.
Eventually we got to a trail that led to a few promising campsites on iOverlander (an open source app for sharing overnight parking spots). It only took a few minutes for us to figure out that the area wouldn’t work. The spots were either too narrow, blocked with debris, or on steep slopes. No big deal. We’d just turn around…or so we thought.
After attempting a 3-point turn, we ended up stuck on a slope. Our van didn’t have enough power to reverse our load uphill, and a tree blocked our way forward. The slope hardly looked like anything to be concerned about, but the angle was deceiving as we were already on the side of a mountain. Add in the reduced engine efficiency from the high altitude, and our front-wheel-drive rig simply couldn’t do it.
You can imagine how we felt when we realized we were stranded.
High up on a mountain in the middle of nowhere and lacking any other good options, we began doing everything we could to get unstuck. We tried digging out trenches behind the tires to create more of a downward slope to get the van moving backwards. That didn’t work. We tried rocking the van (Tim pushing while Courtney feathered the gas). No go. A nearby camper graciously offered to help push (thank you, Jackson, wherever you are). But even that wasn’t enough. Our van was just too heavy. We drained our 40 gallons of fresh water and removed nearly everything to lighten the load. Still no luck.
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better”
We were disappointed. frustrated. exhausted.
But of all the places to get stuck, it happened just outside of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. These trees don’t just survive harsh conditions — they’re shaped by them. The wind, the cold, the altitude…the very things that test them are what make them beautiful, and they don’t back down from their environment. In the spirit of the Bristlecones, we kept going.
The tree we were facing had sharp branches sticking out at all angles, which is what was preventing us from driving forward. When all else failed, we decided to just drive forward and allow those limbs to leave a few deep gouges in the side of our van. In the end, the only way to get out was to lean into the hardship.
We learned from the process and we got what we asked for – great content inspired by the Bristlecones. And now this experience, this mess, is part of our story.
So, when life feels heavy and you can’t catch a break, remember the quiet strength of the Ancient Bristlecone Pines. Be patient. Embrace the challenge. With the right mindset, you can accomplish anything.
With love,
Tim and Courtney
