Aerial View of Fishlake Basin, Pando's Home

An aerial view from 1,000 feet above Pando details the rugged land it calls home in the Fish Lake Basin. A land carved by glaciers and re-shaped by volcanism here on the boundary between Basin and Range and Colorado Plateau Ecological provinces. The scale of Pando is visible from this perspective. If you put your finger in the middle of the image where the waters end, and trace your finger around the green, that green Is Pando. Unlike the other trees around it that have turned yellow, Pando has not yet changed yet in this picture. In fact, the fact that all its leaves grow out together in Spring, and change color at the same time in Fall, was what first tipped off scientist that Pando may be a giant aspen clone.

Entering Pando

A road sign the boundary of the Pando Forest along Highway 25 in Fishlake, Utah. The road, built before Pando was discovered, bisects the 106 acre clone over the course of 1.8 miles. Until 2018, many people were not aware of the where the Pando was. Today, plans are underway to create a visitor center, trails and maps to welcome and educate those make the botanical sojourn every year.

Pando Portrait

A late summer portrait of the Pando tree captures the edge of Summer fading to Autumn. Pando's leaves erupt in spring and change color in Fall all at once, a clue you are witnessing an aspen clone.

Sunrise In Pando

The sun rises over Pando's crown in the portion of the tree above the road. As Pando runs north by northwest to south by southeast along the Fish Lake Basin, the tree spends a number of hours a day in the shadows of the surrounding mountains. A nuance of its life that make its size and scale all the more intriguing.

One Tree, Many Branches

A close-up image of two stems reveals the underlying root system that connects the tree across the 106 acres it calls home. Pando is a male tree and although it produces pollen and can breed with other trees, it primarily reproduces asexually through a process called "suckering" . That is, by sending up new stems from its roots. Although each stem appears to us as individual "trunks", they are in fact, genetically identical parts of the same tree.

In Three's

As tree's go, Pando has a unique characteristic we do not yet fully understand. A genetic strategy known as "triploidy", where the tree has three sets of genetic material to reproduce itself. Although this genetic strategy is common in the tree world, with some trees having four, five and even eight sets of genetic material by which to reproduce, scientist are still working to understand if this characteristic, plays a role in sustaining Pando.

Anywhere the Sun gives advantage...

The common concept of Aspen trees as tall and straight has been popularized in media for over a century, but may need revision if we are to better understand these magnificent light-hungry pioneers of the tree world. A better way to think of trees is not as subjects who grow straight or, any dominant direction once they mature, rather, lifeforms who, over aeons, have learned to eat light. Once a tree reaches above the surrounding canopy, every branch, leaf and also tells the story of the tree following the sun as it perambulates in the sky throughout the seasons and light changes throughout the day.

Land of Lichen and Leaves

As all aspen love disturbed land, land radically shaped and re-shaped by glaciers, landslides, avalanches, volcanism, the land Pando calls home was once shaped by fire and ice. Pictured here, the waxy body of a leaf is in full view after a summer monsoon, as it the kaleidoscopic menagerie of lichen slowly eating way at the volcanic rock that underpins the land Pando calls home.

The Neighborhood

Pando's 40,000+ stems spread out over 106 acres, with each stem playing a role in defense and energy production feeding the entire tree. Pictured here,the regenerative cycle of the tree is on full display. On the ground, downed elders. In the distance, a collections of middle-aged trees. In the foreground, new growth shoots skyward from volcanic formations.

The Balance

As detailed in other pictures and the Friends of Pando website, scientist believe the level of re-generation in the Pando tree is out of whack. Here in the lower portion of Pando's 106 acres span, an explosion of new growth takes up amongst middle-aged trees. Although a vibrant scene, the meager under-story growth indicate a struggle.

The Shadows of Disease of Distress

A young stem of Pando shows veibrancy while an ancient tree rife with a Target Canker infection captures shadows of the younger tree. In the distance, a large void where the tree is no longer regenerating show a void still working to restore balance in the system. As Pando is the largest known organism, scientist are still working out how a tree this large coordinates energy production, defense or, fights off disease. Today, we know Pando is endangered by three threats, over-browsing by cattle, deer and elk and two infections; target canker and bacterial infection that are common to aspen. What we don't know, is how a tree this size manages to ward off infection. More research is needed.

The Giant Unmasked

Despite their ability to clone themselves, Aspen trees do not live very long. A mere 100-150 years at most. A blink of an eye compared to their cousins the Bristlecone Pine which can live well over 5,000 years. Pictured here, tree bark from dead stem of Pando that has succumbed to disease is withering away as it is being pulled from the trunk by the high mountain winds.

Weathering the Storms...

The dead branches of a stem of the Pando tree denuded by diseases and wind reach---toward a storm in the summer monsoon season. Living at 9,000 feet, Pando has a number of unique adaptations that allow it thrive in such a harsh environment. Although it may be a helpful concept to marshal support, the idea that aspen are "fragile" could not be further from the truth. In fact, aspen actually can form a positive response to fire, landslides, volcanism, earthquakes or as they are master pioneer trees. The question for us to pose to ensure future generations can enjoy Pando, may be, what can we do to help the tree restore and maintain it's natural balance.

Southern Boundary, Moving?

Running from the northwest edge to the southeast corner of the Fish Lake Basin, Pando---the periphery of Pando offer tantalizing clues about its movement across the land through time. A land shaped carved by a glacier that receded 12,000 years ago, revealing the place where two tectonic plates are spreading apart creating volcanic fissures. Here on the southeastern most edge of the 106 reach of the tree, a tantalizing question. Did Pando start in the valley beneath the glacier, or did it start up on the edge of the nearby mountain where there was better drainage?

Flicker

Aspen leaves, including Pando's, grow at right angles to their branches. A strategy that allows them to deflect wind and retain water. The famous "flicker" of the leaves, and the moaning sound of their trunks as they sway in the wind have earned them the nickname "quakies" by locals. In fact, their scientific name "Populus tremuloides" means---the trembling poplar.

Two Futures

The land Pando calls home hgosts not only 300,000 visitors a year who recarte at Utah's largest freshwater lake---it is also home to rich wildlife. Beaver, elk, deer, foxes, wolves, mountain lions, bears, and birds all call Pando home. Pictured here, a hatch bird egg miraculously caught in a shattered trunk host a piece of fall foliage.

Landscape A Road Runs Through It

Shades of autumn color abound on the road through the Pando. In the foreground, viable new growth runs along the edge of a boundary-fence designed to to keep out ungulates like deer and elk who feed on new sprouts the tree sends to maintains its balance. The area around Pando has been in use since pre-historic times but, evidence for the true size of the massive 106 acre tree was unknown until 2008. A time well after this road and other facilities were cut through its heart.

A Pando Year

Pando is a destination for all seasons, from the bright green explosions in spring, to the golden signatures of autumn. Pictured here, a palette of Pando's year is told by land artist Hope Smith. The bright green leaves of spring and summer growth, and the fading gold of autumn. The red leaves, taken from of a nearby bush, also plays a role in Pando's winter high mountain repose. The bushes fix minerals in the soil that will help Pando survive the harsh winters of its home in Utah's wild heartlands. (Layout by Hope Smith, Photo by Lance Oditt)

Winter's Cloak

An early autumn storm cloaks Pando in snow. Winter at 8900 bring winds that can rage over 40 miles per hour and bury the Pando in 10 feet of snow and ice.

Solstice Lines

The story of Pando's circuitous track toward the sun is on full display in late winter. Every twist, turn and branch scar marks the time when the growing tree dropped branches and shored itself up against wind, snow and downed trees.

Mountain Blue

A winter-denuded crown of Pando seems to vibrate against the otherworldly blue skies.

A Feast of Light

Pando, the worlds largest tree is cast in sharp relief as it takes on moonlight. As all aspen do, Pando's bark features chlorophyll allowing it to create energy through photosynthesis without leaves.