The trees near this cache are a well-known feature of the Colorado mountains. Known as Lodgepole pines, their trunks were often used for building historic cabins because they grow straight to about 80 feet with a fairly uniform diameter as the tree strives to get sunlight. The scientific name is Pinus contorta, which appears to be an anomaly compared to the straight trunks, but was first described from the Oregon coast, where the winter storms from the ocean make these trees and branches bent.
The typical Lodgepole forest is a dense mixture of these trees, all about the same height, with few needles near the ground, and dense shade on the ground. This has been called dog hair forest, since it reminds some people of the idea of standing on the skin of a dog looking up at its hair. The close packing of the trees helps them resist high winds, which can topple them due to their relatively shallow root system. However, when these trees are located separately they are able to spread their branches, and have needles closer to the ground, since they are not competing for sunlight with close neighbors.
The needles are up to 2 to 3 inches long, yellowish to dark green, attached to the branches in packets of two fused at the point of attachment. They are stiff, pointed, slightly flattened, and often twisted.
The female cones are shiny and yellow when first developing, egg shaped and about 2 inches long. As they mature, they develop a darker gray-brown color with raised, rounded, tightly closed scales covering the seeds and a tiny bristle point. They hug the branches closely, and remain on the tree for years without opening. (above right photo)
Fire is critical in the life cycle of this tree. The cones are serotinous, meaning that they typically open after a fire. This is a major reason for the dense stands of similar age, since when a fire burns the forest, most of the trees are burned due to thin bark, and all the seeds are released within a short time. When they germinate, many seedlings in close proximity start to grow, and as they increase in height, they must struggle to get enough sunlight. They drop their needles that don’t get enough sun, and only those near the top can get enough for photosynthesis.
The bark is thin, light brown, and has small scales on the surface. To people of sufficient age, it resembles a cereal brand pasted on the surface of the bark, known as “Post Toasties”. The inner bark was used as an emergency food source by native peoples, as well as for their horses.
These trees are common in Colorado in the 9,000 to 10,000 foot elevation, but can be found from about 6,000 to 11,000 feet. In the past decade, there has been an explosion of the population of the mountain pine beetle, which has resulted in killing thousands of square miles of Lodgepole forest. This is well known in the Grand valley and up into North Park and Wyoming. These standing dead trees are a hazard to recreational users of the forest, as well as a major concern related to widespread forest fires.
As with all conifers, these pines are wind pollinated, and both male and female cones grow on each tree. (above right photo) When the male cones mature, they are shorter than 1 inch, and develop in a cluster on the branches. They produce the yellow pollen which is blown by the wind and some lands on developing female cones on adjacent trees. When these female cones are fertilized, they will produce seeds for the next generation of the species.
This cache is located within Staunton State Park, which has one public entrance along S. Elk Creek Road, six miles west of Conifer, about 1.5 miles off U.S. Highway 285. Parking along either side of S. Elk Creek Road and Upper Ranch Road adjacent to the park boundary is prohibited. All vehicles entering the park must have a daily park pass ($10) or a CO state park annual or special pass.
The Park is open year-round, and day use hours at 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. A walk-in campground (up to ¼ mile from parking) is open for public use, and overnight parking is currently permitted only for those staying in the campground. During summer and autumn weekends, the park may reach capacity, and cars are allowed to enter only if a parking space is available. Horse trailers are admitted if space is available for parking trailers, in the new, dedicated, unpaved parking lot. All Park trails are natural surface, some trails are hiker-only, but other trails are multiuse for bicycles and horses also. Information about the park can be found at Staunton State Park website
All visitors must follow park rules and regulations. These include dogs on leash at all times, clean up after pets, travel on developed trails to the extent feasible, leave no trace, respect areas closed for resource management, and be careful around wildlife (especially mountain lions, coyotes, and black bears). Fires are strictly prohibited, except for camp stoves with an on/off switch in the designated campsites and grilles found in the picnic areas. No motorized vehicles are allowed on trails within the Park. An exception is the special tracked chairs that the Park offers to visitors who cannot access selected trails on their own mobility. Pack your own trash out of the back country, and trash receptacles are located near the parking areas. Also, be prepared for changing weather, bring adequate water and footwear, and trails may be snow-covered or icy in winter.