Pfad der Pioniere 01: Pioniere des Waldes

The trail of the pioneers leads along the valley flank above the river Albula. Normally, mainly spruce trees grow at this altitude. Here, however, they share the place with pine trees. It is too uncomfortable for the spruces: too little precipitation, too many avalanches and debris flows. The pines like it much better. The pioneer plants grow where the living conditions are too harsh for other plants. Their pioneering character enables them to immediately colonize the rubble heaps after avalanches, rock falls, rüfen or forest fires. Provided they get a lot of light, pine trees defy cold, heat, frost and drought. The up to 45m high forest foresters have a rather reddish bark, the up to 25m high mountain foresters can be recognized by the grayish bark. Special characteristics of all pine species are the needles. They are pointed and pungent. Two of them have grown together at the base. Pine wood is rich in resin.