Читать книгу Tahoe Rim Trail. The Official Guide for Hikers, Mountain Bikers and Equestrians онлайн

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Cedar tree

Jeffrey Pine Jeffrey pine is the dominant pine tree in much of the Tahoe Sierra and, though it is especially prevalent near lake level, it can grow at elevations up to 8000 feet. The Jeffrey pine can reach a height of 180 feet. It has thick gray to reddish bark, which turns redder as the tree matures, and smells like butterscotch, vanilla, or pineapple, depending on what kind of nose you have. It also has large roundish cones with upturned prickles and long needles of three.

Lodgepole Pine This usually straight tree (hence its value as a lodge pole for Native Americans) is very common in a variety of soil conditions from below 6000 feet to higher than 9000 feet in elevation. It has thin, scaly, light gray, sappy bark and small cones. The needles are in bunches of two and can be made into an “L” for lodgepole. The tree prefers wet areas, and its presence often signals mosquito territory.

Mountain Hemlock Mountain hemlock prefers high snow areas above 7000 feet and are common above 8000 feet in many north-facing areas along the Tahoe Rim Trail, generally in areas of maximum snowpack. A beautiful and majestic tree reaching heights of 25 to 100 feet, with smaller trees at the highest elevations, mountain hemlock has short, dark green needles on branches that cover the tree from bottom to top. The branches have a gentle sloping appearance; the cones are small and dark brown. What makes the mountain hemlock especially magical is the way the top of the tree droops over like a wizard’s hat.