On a guided hike by botanist, Molly Ferry, accessing the subalpine ridge of the Carson range, we were greeted by a spectacular display of wildflowers that transitioned into a treasure hunt once we entered the rocky alpine terrain with low-lying alpine plants. At a first glance, most of these look miniscule and fragile hugging the ground to stay out of the path of freezing winds since there are barely any shrubs or trees to help buffer against savage weather. In reality, approximately two-thirds of the plant's biomass is underground to help store moisture and nutrients in a protected place, keeping it from freezing. 

Glyphosate spraying has become a very divisive issue in Tahoe, so we felt compelled to learn about it and form our own opinions as regular citizens and workers in the forest. The Sugar Pine Foundation is not involved in any decision-making or application of glyphosate; this is only a small attempt to summarize our findings on the issue.

Christine brings exactly the kind of voice our board needs: someone who has loved trees since childhood, understands wildfire from lived experience, thinks boldly about conservation, and knows how to build organizations that last.

We're planting for the next generation, and for the conditions they'll face — not the ones we grew up with.

Digging a hole may seem simple, but planting the future forest takes care and precision, especially when those trees will have to survive in a much harsher world than the forests before them. I came back to Tahoe looking for ways to be more involved in my community. Sometimes that starts with a shovel, a seedling, and the decision to show up for the place you call home.

Michael Taylor is currently on a mission to identify the absolute tallest specimens of the Pacific Northwest’s primary conifers. His "Target 10" species list includes the Incense Cedar, White Fir, Sugar Pine, Jeffrey Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir, Red Fir, Sitka Spruce, Coast Redwood, and Giant Sequoia.