It wouldn't be out of line to describe some of these areas as a "moonscape."  It's amazing that trees can grow in such an area, even more so when you think of how ancient these trees are.  The ground is very rocky and doesn't appear to have conventional soil.  Part of the success of the bristlecones is that they can grow in such barren environments with little water.  There isn't a lot of natural resources up there, but there are few other living things to compete for those resources.  The desolation is part of its appeal of this area.  Those hills in the background are every bit as forlorn up close as they appear from a distance.