Spring Cleaning

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE

After two days of hiking in the San Jacinto Mountains, I was back in the desert today. Since yesterday's hike was about 15 miles long, I decided I'd take it easy today and go do one of my favorite easy desert hikes, the McCallum Palms Trail at the Coachella Valley Nature Preserve.

I notice the new summer hours with the Preserve opening now at 6 a.m. That's nice to know since I'll probably be hiking here during the summer. It's very unlikely I'll ever be coming at 6 a.m. but it's nice to know.

As I pull into the parking lot, I notice that there is a big pile of palm fronds on the left side. Looks like they've been doing a little spring cleaning around here.

It also looks like they've been doing a little maintenance on the walkways as well.

Although this job still has a ways to go.

Considering how many flowers were here earlier in the year, there is an almost complete dearth of flowers. The only flowers I notice are these Arrowweed blooms.

As I come upon the McCallum Grove, it looks like they've been doing a little spring cleaning here as well.

They really took the weed whacker to these reeds.

Thankfully, they left enough so this dragonfly has a place to land. Despite the warmer weather, I have probably seen more wildlife today than on any of my other excursions here. There were also a lot of flies, bees and other insects.

I saw tons of lizards although they are tough to photograph. They bolt as soon as I get close but, occasionally, I can catch one sunning itself on a rock.

I catch this little cottontail just before he vanishing into a brier batch.

About the only critter I don't see is the one that they warn you about at the entrance. I have yet to see a rattler this year but I have no doubt I will be seeing one before the year is out. I don't mind seeing a rattler. It's the ones I don't see that worry me.

Usually when I've come here the parking lot has been filled with cars. This time, there were four. I guess the snowbirds have gone home. But if you're an early bird this is a great place to come to hike. Or, if you're like me and NOT an early bird, the summer also holds forth the possibility of seeing more wildlife and fewer people than any other time of year. Just make sure you have ample water and keep those hikes short. And, like the sign says, keep an eye for rattlers.

Suitable For Framing

Day Twenty Six

The Palm Springs Desert Museum is a local museum that has been here in the desert since 1938. It is set up against the San Jacinto Mountains and is the starting point for the aptly named Museum Trail.  This trail is short but steep.  It climbs directly up the mountain face and joins both the Lykken Trail and the Skyline Trail.  

I found the trail to be in not very good shape.  A lot of hikers use it to access the Skyline Route and, in an effort to make time, have created several of their own use trails by cutting the switchbacks on the official trail.  This has caused considerable erosion and difficulty in finding the actual trail.  Far worse than going up this trail is coming down.  Due to the erosion, there a large number of loose rocks on the trail and the potential of tripping and falling are great.  While I highly recommend the trail, I would suggest that unless you are extremely sure footed to consider coming down the Lykken Trail and then walking the surface streets back to your parking area.  That's just my take.  

On the drive over I stopped to take a picture of the Desert Angel.  See it?

Maybe this will help.

The beginning of the Museum Trail.

Think someone is trying to get a message across here?

OK, we get it already!

Steep and rocky.

Some picnic tables make a great place to stop anytime for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

A warning about the Skyline Trail.  Each year, several people ignore the warnings and are rescued.  At least, the lucky ones are.  Some hikers have died on this trail.

Another more potent warning.

The Museum Trail affords some of the best views of Palm Springs available.  It just needs a little work.  Maybe we can get a infrastructure grant in the government's forthcoming stimulus package to handle this.