Tree of Life,' a Sitka spruce in Olympic National Park, is nearing the end of its life on the Washington coast.

old trees with dead tops and exposed heartwood, and ancient trees of great character. Flying snow crystals have etched and polished trunks and roots that have been exposed to the winter wind.

Repeat this process several times over the course of a few months, and eventually the rock salt will kill the tree roots.

Bristlecone pines can liberally spread their roots and expand their ... lessened by the relative paucity of dead bristlecone needles in a landscape where trees are few and far between.