United States Tangled Creek “Bobby Socks” Trees

3 images 1 contributors Shoot with care

Joe Becker

Shoot with care
If you wander off the road to take photos within the forest of dead trees, please take care to avoid damaging the plants growing in this sensitive area, particularly avoiding wet areas. Also, wildlife are common in the area, please keep a safe distance and do not disturb any wildlife you see.

About this spot
There are many places in the park where you can see “Bobby Socks” trees. These trees are dead Lodgepole pines found near some hydrothermal areas. The trees died because of shifting hot spring run-off. The trees look as if look as if they are wearing bobby socks because the dead trees soak up the mineral-laden water. Dissolved minerals in the water leave a crust of white silica on the bottom of the tree. When the water evaporates, the minerals are left behind, turning the lower portion of the trees white. This silica impregnates the wood and over time can petrify the wood. Some of these trees have been standing like this for decades.

In the 1950’s they were called “Bobby Socks” trees after the popular socks teenage girls wore at the time. The name has stuck.

This particular stand of Bobby Sock trees is south of Tangled Creek. A small distributary of the creek runs through the trees.

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