A Brief Visit With the Oldest Living Thing in the World.

Some say it is over 80,000 years old, others think 14,000 - but damn,, that's old.

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I first heard of the Pando Tree a few years ago while mapping out a motorcycle ride from Phoenix to Glacier with a run through the middle of Utah.

From Wikipedia: Though the individual trees average at 130 years old, the root system is 80,000 years old, also making it the oldest living organism in the world. You can visit this stand at the Fishland National Forest in Utah. Unfortunately, Pando is currently thought to be dying according to ecologists at Utah State University.

Pando is Latin for “I spread” something this tree knows about. This one Aspen tree has consumed over 107 acres and has well over 40,000 “limbs” which we see as trees.

While the mature trees are about 80 years old, the root system dates back to the end of the last ice age.

In addition to being the oldest living thing, it is also the heaviest living thing.

Somehow, it seemed a fitting destination for the day after my 75th birthday.

Ya know.

The Pando is located high on the side of a mountain and within a mile of breathtaking Fishlake. The road up the side of the mountain is well-maintained, steep, and breathtaking. It is paved and any vehicle will do.

Despite its grandeur, Pando faces ecological challenges. Overgrazing by deer and livestock has hindered the regeneration of new stems, threatening the organism's future. Efforts are being made to protect Pando through measures like fencing and controlled grazing.

An added beauty provided by controlling the grazing is the nearly primordial forest floor. This place is truly an environmental photographer’s canvas waiting to be explored.

I only had a few minutes to wander with my iPhone, but I am putting together a plan to spend at least three or four days up there to spend quality time with this Quaking Aspen tree.

And even more interesting is that there is still some scientific discussion that may lead to a far older organism than we think. According to Treehugger;

While Pando's estimated age of 80,000 years may be staggering, even more amazing is the possibility that experts have underestimated its age. Because the age of the organism cannot be determined through tree rings (the average age of the stems being around 130 years), many factors such as the history and climate of the local environment over millennia. Taking different factors into account, some experts think that Pando could be closer to 1 million years old! There is a lot of debate and speculation around Pando, but one thing is certain: this organism is mind-blowing.

Possibly a million years old.

It’s so cool to walk among this quiet, stately, and staggeringly unique forest.

If you go, be sure to visit the Escalante, Torrey, UT, and Capitol Reef.

Oh, and the mountain faces south east so in the afternoon it is in shadow… just so you know.

Tomorrow, off to see petroglyphs and a massive outdoor model railroad.

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