Long before I was interested in bonsai, this tree on the rock caught my eye years ago when I was backpacking. Wish I had more photos. I'm thinkng that is probably a lodge pole pine (Pinus contorta).
Very cool. I happen upon trees like those while getting lost in the Trinity Alps. Once you reach a high enough altitude, everything begins to shrink and become more scarce, seeming to be clinging to the edge of life. Very good inspiration indeed.
Nope. Truthfully I don't recall where this location is. I think it might be Jenny Lake out of Courtright Reservoir. It has been about thirty-five years with a lot of backpacking trips since then. Those trips tend to get jumbled in my memory but I'm pretty sure there were mosquitoes present!