Everywhere you look in Sequoia National Forest, and especially along the Boole Tree Trail, you see pine trees. There are actually nine cone-bearing trees in this forest of which five are pines. The texture of the bark, the size and shape of the cones, and even the scent of the individual tree species are all clues to their identities. The namesake of the Forest, the giant sequoia is one of the oldest and certainly the largest living thing on earth. Young sequoias resemble giant Christmas trees, with a classic spire shape.
Older trees show their maturity in their craggy branches held high above the ground.
This pine's name comes from its long slender trunk used in making teepees. The western white pine's bark is gray and blocky. The cone scales are smooth and usually curved. You probably know this tree more intimately than you realize, as it is the one most commonly used to make pencils. Mature trees can be recognized by their shreddy bark and fragrant wood.