Took a fun hike to Hells Hole yesterday. According to my GPS we went 9 miles - started at 9400 ft and topped out at 11500 ft. At about 11k feet you reach the tree line which is the where there is not enough O2 for trees to grow. This in combination with winds cause the Krummholz formations.
"Krummholz or Krumholtz formation (German: krumm, "crooked, bent, twisted" and Holz, "wood") — also called Knieholz ("knee timber") — is a particular feature of subarctic and subalpine tree line landscapes. Continual exposure to fierce, freezing winds causes vegetation to become stunted and deformed."
It was a fun hike and I'm a little stiff today
Got some really cool shots of strange trees...Photos coming shortly.