Help Protect an Iconic Tree Species of the Pacific Northwest

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) trees stand as one of the true sentinels of the alpine world—battered by wind, sculpted by ice, and vital to our ecosystem. These rugged trees help hold the mountain landscapes together, shading snowpack, feeding wildlife, and anchoring fragile soils.

However, they are facing significant challenges.

On December 15, 2022, whitebark pine was officially listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Across its range, this keystone species is disappearing due to invasive blister rust, mountain pine beetles, changing fire patterns, and the accelerating effects of a changing climate.

To protect this threatened species, the U.S. Forest Service requires precise data on the location and status of whitebark pine trees. They can’t gather that data alone. Adventure Scientists and the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation have partnered to create a comprehensive database of whitebark pine trees in Oregon and Washington, providing agencies and researchers with the information they need to conserve and ultimately restore this keystone species.

Washington & Oregon | Experienced Mountaineers, Backcountry Skiers, & Hikers Volunteer Opportunity

Whitebark pine trees grow where few things can: on the ridgelines, scree slopes, and wind-whipped summits of the Cascade and Olympic Ranges. These high-elevation forests are notoriously difficult to reach, which means data about the species’ condition and location in Washington and Oregon are severely limited.

That’s where YOU come in.

Collecting accurate, on-the-ground data is essential for guiding restoration, identifying health resources, and protecting these forests and alpine environments.

Be a part of whitebark pine research in Washington and Oregon

Join us and a community of skilled mountaineers, backcountry skiers, and alpine hikers to collect vital data in Washington and Oregon’s national forests.

You Will:

• • Document whitebark pine locations in targeted management zones (non-wilderness areas) with precise GPS coordinates.
  • Assess individual trees and environmental conditions.
  • Identify trees for future research and potential cone collection.

Photo credits: Top left and right: Lila Sadler; Center Top and Bottom Left: Matt Leitzinger; Bottom Right: Belfield/Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation

Conservation Impact

Every data point you collect strengthens the foundation for recovery.

Your efforts will help:

1. 1. Update models of whitebark pine presence and absence in high-priority conservation areas to inform forest management and protect this keystone species.
   2. Identify locations for additional data collection on critical threats to whitebark pine, including blister rust and mountain pine beetle.
   3. Locate areas where future whitebark pine cone collection could occur, for potential seed conservation and to focus forest health efforts.
   4. Advance restoration planning so that whitebark pine forests, and the wildlife that depend on them, endure for generations to come.

“The data collected by the Adventure Scientists would help the USFS to identify priority areas for protective and restorative management actions as well as identify areas where cone collections can be completed to acquire seed for restoration activities. While some information exists on the distribution of whitebark pine in Region 6, we believe this project will provide valuable data to help inform our efforts, while also providing spatial data that can be made available to collaborators working on various projects…” – V. Erickson, USFS Region 6 Regional Geneticist

Where Can I Search for Whitebark Pine?

Curious to what heights we’re going? Check out the project areas in the map below! We’re focusing our tracking of whitebark pines in select conservation areas in Oregon and Washington national forests. Sign up to learn more!