[Pines: The Genus Pinus in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Whitebark Pine, White-bark Pine

Pinus albicaulis

Synonym: Apinus albicaulis

Whitebark Pine, White-bark Pine: Pinus albicaulis (Synonym: Apinus albicaulis) - Whitebark Pine, White-bark Pine: Pinus albicaulis (Synonym: Apinus albicaulis)

A fairly mature whitebark pine at left still surviving along the Ironstone Trail #1141, William O. Douglas Wilderness........July 25, 2015. The photo at right shows a whitebark pine along the Timberline Trail #600 about one-half mile south of Cloud Cap, Mt. Hood Wilderness......September 2012. This particular tree was heavily impacted (scorched needles) by the June 2021 heatwave and also has suffered damage to its roots via hikers boots, so it may not survive much longer.

Whitebark Pine, White-bark Pine: Pinus albicaulis (Synonym: Apinus albicaulis) - Whitebark Pine, White-bark Pine: Pinus albicaulis (Synonym: Apinus albicaulis)

Maturing female cones of whitebark pine as seen atop Lookout Mountain, Badger Creek Wilderness.........July 30, 2021. It was a good year for seed production on whitebark pines on Lookout Mountain in 2021.

Whitebark Pine, White-bark Pine: Pinus albicaulis (Synonym: Apinus albicaulis) - Whitebark Pine, White-bark Pine: Pinus albicaulis (Synonym: Apinus albicaulis)
The photo at left shows an old whitebark pine at about at the top of a tall waterfall that drops off to the east on the South Fork Conrad Creek (at about 5700'), Goat Rocks Wilderness.........July 22, 2016. This spot is about 200 meters east of an old pack trail that travels north to the North Fork Conrad Creek and Devils Horns. The photo at right shows several large whitebark pines atop a cliff at about 6600'. This site is about one-half mile uphill the one at left.

Whitebark Pine, White-bark Pine: Pinus albicaulis (Synonym: Apinus albicaulis)

A whitebark pine seen on slopes near Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood, OR.........October 19, 2010.

Seedling of Whitebark Pine: Pinus albicaulis (Synonym: Apinus albicaulis)

A germinating whitebark seedling as seen along the summit ridge of Lookout Mountain, north edge of the Badger Creek Wilderness........June 21, 2014.

Whitebark Pine: Pinus albicaulis (Synonym: Apinus albicaulis)

Whitebark Pine: Pinus albicaulis (Synonym: Apinus albicaulis) - Whitebark Pine: Pinus albicaulis (Synonym: Apinus albicaulis)

Heat damage suffered by young whitebark pines along the Timberline Trail about one-half mile uphill to the south of the Cloud Cap trailhead, Mt. Hood Wilderness......July 18, 2021. Record heat and hot winds probably dessicated the tops of these young pines while the lower portions of the trees was still under snow during a late June 2021 heatwave.

Whitebark Pine: Pinus albicaulis (Synonym: Apinus albicaulis) and Common Juniper: Juniperus communis var. saxatilis (Synonyms: Juniperus communis var. alpina, Juniperus communis var. jackii, Juniperus communis var. montana, Juniperus communis var. sibirica, Juniperus sibirica)

Whitebark pine and a large mat of the low growing conifer, common juniper as seen on slopes above Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood, OR.........October 19, 2010.

Paul Slichter