Mt. Nusatsum

Mt. Nusatsum

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Krummholz

Spending time in the alpine almost anywhere and you will quickly run into the Krummholz formation of trees.  In our area of the inner Coast Mountains and the mountains in the Rainbow Ranges the species of trees that form Krummholz is most often alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa).  Krummholz or also fondly called 'shin tangle', are interesting formations of trees that are so battered by wind and snow that the best they can do is grow in dense clumps, low to the ground, and once in awhile, one it's members may rise up and eventually form a proper tree.
If you don't have to walk through long formations of Krummholz, they are lovely features, but if you get stuck and have to hike through them, then it's really miserable.  They make great areas of habitat for birds and small animals.  Grizzly

2 comments:

  1. I've seen and admired them but never knew they had a name. the always looked like bonsai to me.

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  2. Thanks for explaining that, I've often wondered exactly what Krummholz was.

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