Engelmann Spruce at Blue Lake

Engelmann Spruce is the largest tree that grows near Washington Pass in the North Cascades--picea engelmannii towers above the subalpine fir and whitebark pine that grow alongside. They're rarely seen outside the east slopes of the Cascades. This old stump, which I viewed above Blue Lake just west of Washington Pass, on the west side of the Liberty Bell massif,  judging from the size, is the remnant of a tree that may have been up to 90 feet tall. Because of their great height, Engelmann spruce are very vulnerable to lightning strikes and that may have been what killed this tree.

To the right is a photo of a living specimen further down the trail, in a moist forested area, which these trees seem to thrive in. It's a mature tree, probably nearly 75 feet tall, with bark dramatically fissured into rectangles.

Comments

[Simona]

Beautiful trees! The landscape reminds me of the Sierra Nevada. Our redwoods are also vulnerable to lightning strike, but they may survive.