The Wisdom of an 11 year old

[AKP]

THIS IS A TRUE STORY...

A few weeks ago I was vacationing in New Mexico and Colorado with my kids.  On one day, we were heading up to Pike's Peak to take the train to the summit. 

On the way, I pointed out the van window and said "See the mountain up there with no trees on the top?" 

My son replied, "Yea". 

"That's where we are going," I Continued, "That's Pike's Peak".

So then he asks "Why are there no trees up there?'

I reply, "Well... the air is too thin for trees to live up there."

After a long pause from the back of the van, he asks another question, "And we are going up there.... why?"

[gyrene81]

ROFL...sometimes the kids have the right outlook on things. 

[opposum]

LOL you should have answered him with - to meet God!

 





opposum

[RipChord929]

The classic reply would be, "Because its there!"... Leave him with a question to ponder for the rest of his life!

RC

[Maverick]

Proper response.

Because that's the best place to throw kids off of a mountian. No trees to slow them down.
 

[oakranger]

I was in New Mexico and Colorado on the first week of August.  my parents lives in Gallup, NM and we went to Droango for a few days. 

Anyway, your reason for the absents of trees  on top of the mountain (ecological term:tree line) is good but unfortunately not the case.  The reason for the absents of trees that high is due to the extreme cold weather.  Air has nothing to do with it.  If you have been observant, you should have recognized small vegetation on the top of the mountain like flowers, grass and brush. 

While up there, did you see a group of pinus species that are short but have a big base.  They are called Bristlrcone pine.  In your case, Rocky Mountains Bristlecone  Pine (Pinus aristata)   They are found in vary high altitude  2500 - 3700m in cold dry climate.  They can live for over 1500 years, the oldest recorded is 2, 435 years old on Mt. Evens.  Their sister tree, Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) have been document to live longer with the oldest around 4,700 years old.

Anywho, my wife was as Pikes Peak a few years ago and went on that cable cart ride.  During the ride, one of the passengers asked the tour guild, "How high dose a deer have to been to become a elk"?  I would have toss that person out of the cart for a dumb question like that.

[gyrene81]

       oakranger were you in a hurry or watching television while trying to type?

Durango
absence
pine
bristlecone
Mt. Evans
cable car
does

[AKP]

I was in New Mexico and Colorado on the first week of August.  my parents lives in Gallup, NM and we went to Droango for a few days. 

Anyway, your reason for the absents of trees  on top of the mountain (ecological term:tree line) is good but unfortunately not the case.  The reason for the absents of trees that high is due to the extreme cold weather.  Air has nothing to do with it.  If you have been observant, you should have recognized small vegetation on the top of the mountain like flowers, grass and brush. 

While up there, did you see a group of pinus species that are short but have a big base.  They are called Bristlrcone pine.  In your case, Rocky Mountains Bristlecone  Pine (Pinus aristata)   They are found in vary high altitude  2500 - 3700m in cold dry climate.  They can live for over 1500 years, the oldest recorded is 2, 435 years old on Mt. Evens.  Their sister tree, Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) have been document to live longer with the oldest around 4,700 years old.

Anywho, my wife was as Pikes Peak a few years ago and went on that cable cart ride.  During the ride, one of the passengers asked the tour guild, "How high dose a deer have to been to become a elk"?  I would have toss that person out of the cart for a dumb question like that.

Hehe... then we were in the same area at the same time.  We were at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron for a week.  Anyway... I wasnt sure if it was the thin air, the cold, or the combination of both.  Just seemed like the best answer to give him at the time.  

[oakranger]

Hehe... then we were in the same area at the same time.  We were at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron for a week.  Anyway... I wasnt sure if it was the thin air, the cold, or the combination of both.  Just seemed like the best answer to give him at the time.  

Cool.  No worries.  Most ppl who think of the same reason too.

[1Boner]

When I was a teenager living in Avenel,NJ ,we used to go hang out and drink beer at a cemetary in Woodbridge.

Our favorite spot in the cemetary was at the tombstone of Zebulon Pike.

On the "kids say the darndest things" side: I read my 4 year old to sleep one night. When I went in to wake him in the morning, his response was, "wow, that was a quick night!"

[Nwbie]

Hehe... then we were in the same area at the same time.  We were at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron for a week.  Anyway... I wasnt sure if it was the thin air, the cold, or the combination of both.  Just seemed like the best answer to give him at the time.  

Philmont - what a great opportunity - did he love it?

[AKP]

Philmont - what a great opportunity - did he love it?

Oh yea!  I go every 2 years to the Training Center at Philmont.  While I am there, both of my kids are in programs designed for their age.  My son, 11, is too young to go on a trek yet... but he did get to do an overnighter in the backcountry, and got to see a lot of the area.  On the night they went into the backcountry, his group did 10 miles in... and 10 miles out the next day.  My daughter, 14, did 7 days of COPE courses, trail riding, and hikes.

On the Training Center side, they get to do all that stuff, while I am in leaders conferences.  But we eat our meals together, and we sleep in cabin tents all week. 

They are already asking when are we going back... and I cant wait until he's 14 and we can do a real Philmont trek.  I did one when I was 14.

[Anaxogoras]

Latitude has just as much to do with it as altitude.  Go to Canada and trees don't grow at 7k ft.

[oakranger]

Latitude has just as much to do with it as altitude.  Go to Canada and trees don't grow at 7k ft.

If you are referring to the thinning of the air and plants ability to grow.  Once agiane, there is NO correlation at all.  It has to do with how planes evolved and adapt to the environment. 

[texasmom]

   Nice!