One of the wonders of the world is right our back yard. Bristlecone pine trees are some of the oldest trees in the world. We have been to see these trees at Great Basin National Park where there are trees that are over 4000 years old.

On Mount Almagre right near Pikes Peak there is a grove of Bristlecone pine trees that are between 2 and 3 thousand years old.  Many of the trees have number plates on them from a few studies that have been done. These Bristlecone Pines are a living climate history of the Pikes Peak region.

Up the road from the pine grove the top of Mount Almagre can be walked to. There is an old dam called Stratton Reservoir that is no longer being used.

Stratton Reservoir

Walking beyond the old reservoir to the saddle and you can look over the south slope water district which includes a number of reservoirs for collection of water for Colorado Springs.  

LJ Looking over the South Slope Watershed