Lazy Day at the Preserve

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIVE

I have just finished my eleventh month of hiking every day and I have to say it has been an incredible experience and one that has been a pleasure to participate in. Also, I'm tired and my feet hurt.

I have one month to go and I think I'll be able to tough it out until the end but if you have any suggestions on places I can hike within an hour of the Coachella Valley, let me know. I have been to some great places and I still have a few special spots planned for this next month but I'm open to suggestions. I don't want to have to keep doing the same hikes over and over again if I can help it.

There is one hike I never get tired of, though and that's the hike to the McCallum Pond in the Coachella Valley Nature Preserve. It's interesting, it's flat and it's pretty, perfect for a day when I'm tired and my feet hurt.

It always feels so nice to come here for some reason.

Last year they started to redo this walkway with new handrails but I guess they've just decided to leave it how it is. That's OK with me but it just seems a little odd.

The Pond is just the perfect distance for me today. Nothing more, nothing less.

It's not a Lazy-Boy but it'll do.

I'd like to go and stop at the Visitor's Center but that would mean walking a few hundred extra yards so I'll bypass that today. My feet will thank me. They are really looking forward to the shoes coming off and a little massage. And actually, the trail to the pond is so well traveled and sandy it's almost like a walk on the beach. I wonder if I could make it without shoes? Next time I think I'll try that.

Birthday Boy

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY ONE

Today is my son Nikolas' birthday. He is eleven years old. What an exciting time in life. At eleven years old you can still be anything in life, a movie star, a doctor, an astronaut, the President. You may even grow up to be a bellman. If you're lucky, that is. None of those other jobs allow you to hike every day. OK, maybe a movie star could but only some old has been, who's not really working much anymore, like Robert Redford. Of course, Nikolas wants to be a marine biologist so I guess if he wants to swim every day he could do that. When you're eleven anything is possible.

I had so many great plans on where to go today but since we had a big party for Nikolas planned I had to stay close to home and do the wife's bidding. That only gave me a little time for hiking so I went on my monthly sojourn to the Coachella Valley Nature Preserve.

There's this really cool palm totem pole.

And today I noticed, for the first time, that the poles on the cabin are all carved. I have no idea how I missed it before. I guess I just bombed right past it without even looking. Attention to detail is not one of my better traits; I'm more into the big picture.

I wanted to go in and ask if the carving were original but the Center was closed. Next time.

I want to see if the work is finished at the McCallum Grove. September 30 was their target date. This walkway isn't finished yet and this project started earlier. At least the original guardrails are in place to keep you from tromping through the vegetation--as if you would.

The work at the pond is done and it looks good. I don't spot any crawfish in the water and most of the reeds have been cleared out.

They still won't let you go swimming, though.

This is one place where the palms are incredibly healthy and expanding.

With all this water, it is easy to see why.

This is where the water actually bubbles out of the ground. This is the first time I have ever noticed this, as well. I guess you don't have to be eleven to see a world full of possibilities and new experiences. You just have to slow down and look through the eyes of a child.

Summer Hours

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND TEN

This morning I went to the 1000 Palms Oasis for a little restful hike. It's a good thing I got there early.

For summer the place is only open for four hours a day. Of course, by ten o'clock it's too hot for most people to be hiking. Actually, by eight it's too hot for a lot of people. When I pull in the parking lot is completely empty.

The place is definitely being worked on. There are some fallen palms that have not been moved. Here's one that's collapsed right on this bench.

And this one is toppled upon this picnic table. With the oasis closing by ten no one will be staying for lunch anyway.

The oasis itself is quite overgrown and it looks like it's been a while since someone came this way with some loppers.

This walkway is even more overgrown. Who would've thought you could hike through a jungle in the desert?

You don't have to worry about that today. With the trails so overgrown going off them would be taking your life in your hands. Who knows what critters you might stumble upon?

Like this deadly creature! Look at the ears on that beast!

Don't think this could be dangerous? I've seen Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I know what these creatures can do. And I did not bring any Holy Hand Grenades.

I get over to the pond and it's closed and easy to see why. No temptation to ignore the No Swimming sign today.

On the way back I am not tempted to hike back to the oasis. That'll have to wait until fall. It's kinda creepy in there right now.

Summer Session

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SIX

Sticking close to home I went to a place I've been quite a few times this year: The Coachella Valley Preserve. Today, though, was quite different than any other time I'd been so far this year.

The first thing I noticed is that there were no cars in the parking lot. None! This is the first time I've ever been to the Preserve when I had it all to myself.

The next thing I noticed is that the mesquite were in full fruition. The mesquite pods were long and green and almost ready of harvest. I'd like to see how these taste since they were a food staple of the Cahuilla Indians.

Finally, I noticed that the place is closed down tight. No wonder there are no cars here; there's no one to greet visitors. I don't mind that because I do my own thing anyway but sometimes it's nice to have company.

Not only is the Visitor's Center closed but the McCallum Grove, my favorite short hike, is also closed. I don't know what type of work would require four months to complete but let's hope they don't try to turn it into Disneyland. Just keep it simple.

While they're doing summer maintenance I hope they do a little trimming since the reeds are already starting to take over this walkway.

Finishing the walkway would also be nice. This project started several months ago and it looks like it's on hold. I don't know but maybe they should finish this before starting on the pond. The pond seemed OK last time I was there.

A little trimming around the trail would be good, too. Maybe I can bring loppers next month when I come.

Well, the pond is definitely closed and there a couple of trucks with workers there.

I decide to go to the vista point instead. I can't go to the grove but at least I can check it out from above.

On the way back I see the unmistakable track of a Sidewinder. I pay very close attention to every step from here on out. I definitely don't want to accidentally step on this guy.

Although I don't see another soul on this hike, I see enough critters out on the trail so I know I'm certainly not alone. It's only the tourists who leave in the summer; we locals are still around.

Easy Does It!

DAY NINETY SIX

Mondays are typically one of my days off. They allow me to take longer hikes, further away from home. Today was an exception. I had a couple of appointments that I will tell you about later because I don't want to spoil the surprise. Instead of a more difficult hike, I did a nice easy one. It's a good thing, too. I'm in agony.

At work, we went to new uniforms and I got a brand spanking new pair of shorts yesterday, a pair of shorts with the consistency of iron. I got chafed mercilessly and nothing makes it feel better. I've tried soaking, Bag Balm®, Desitin® and Neosporin®. If you know of any secret remedies for chafing (aka, Monkey Butt) let me know. I've got to go hiking tomorrow.

For my hike today, I went with someone to the Coachella Valley Preserve and we hiked out to the McCallum Palms. This is probably one of the top three easier hikes in the desert. Along with Andreas Canyon in the Indian Canyons and Dead Indian Palms (when it is open in the fall months) in Palm Desert, it is a hike that you can do with kids and newcomers and not worry about overdoing it.

The parking lot at the Preserve was packed. I have seen this lot full before but never this full. On the trail to the oasis, I passed probably twenty people, by far the most people I've seen on this trail. At the oasis, there was a group learning about the Preserve, its history and geology.

The pond at the McCallum Grove is something out of a movie. A palm lined body of water out in the middle of the barren desert. If you didn't know it was naturally occurring, you'd swear that someone built it.

There were lots of lizards out today but before I could get many pictures, they scurried under rocks or into bushes. This Zebra-tailed Lizard, Callisaurus draconoides, was kind enough to pose for me. Everything else was just too fast or maybe today I was just moving a little bit too slow.

I've got a big hike planned for Saturday and I want to be in perfect shape for it so this week I will probably be taking a couple of easier hikes until my, uh, condition clears up. That's OK, though, even an easy hike beats being at work, especially since I can choose my own shorts.

Blowin' In The Wiind

DAY NINETY THREE

I'm always looking for new places to hike. I don't mind doing the same hike over and over again; I just don't want to write about it, so I try to change it up a little.

This morning I was back at the Coachella Valley Preserve, one of my favorite places to hike. I've done all the oases, explored the Moon Country and visited the pond at the McCallum Grove but I figure there's gotta be something else I haven't done.

Looking up on the hillside, I see my destination for the day. (Click on the photo to enlarge it and you'll see it, too).

I start on the trail to the McCallum Grove always keeping my eye on the prize.

Who comes up with these signs? What they should say is, "Don't cut through here. Six rattlesnake bites recorded in this area". That'd stop 'em.

Before you get to the McCallum Grove, stay to the left where all the sign tell you to go right.

Just past the home there, go left.

From here there is only one way to go, straight up!

As I get to the top, the terrain is loose rock and sand and the wind is screaming! In order to stay up I literally have to put my hands on the ground and crawl up the hill. If I let go, I am sure I will be blown all the way back to the car.

And it's a long way down.

The cross is probably eight feet tall and guyed with wires. If it can withstand this wind, it is not going anywhere. Gusts were probably over 50 MPH.

I am NOT going down the way I just came up. I look for another way and find this little trail but it peters out.

I wander around until I finally make it to where I can see the road that leads back to the parking area and the oasis.

How many roads must a man walk down?

I come upon a strong water flow from the oasis but I've got a bottle in the car so I pass.

A quick left, hop a fence and I'll be back where I started.

I am constantly amazed by the amount of tourists that visit the natural places in the Coachella Valley. On most days, they far outnumber the locals. I don't know if people living here are too busy or just too lazy to come out but they're missing out on the best time of year in the greatest place on earth. Pretty soon, it'll be hot, the tourists will be gone and I'LL be the only one out there.

At least it won't be windy.