Coachella Valley Preserve, Thousand Palms, Ca

March 23rd, 2016

The winds finally died down and we decided to go to the Coachella Valley Preserve.  When we got there the car park looked full and there were cars parked along the roadside, obviously a popular place.  We went into the car park and fortunately a few people had left and there were a couple of empty parking spots, yay!!!!

We went into the small Visitor Center to get a trail map.There is no entrance fee here but you can give a donation.  They didn't press for a donation until we asked for a map and then they suggested that we either return the map or give a donation.  We already had our money out for a donation and it wasn't a problem. There are 10 different trails and they vary from very easy to moderate.

We chose the McCallum Pond Trail.  It's a 2.02 mile round trip and is classified as easy.  It goes through a palm oasis, across an earthquake fault zone(San Andreas), and through a desert wash, before reaching the McCallum Oasis.

The fan palms are huge.

Fan palms are the only native palm in California and are found only in areas where water is at or near the surface.They can grow up to 60 ft tall and their leaves over 6 ft wide.

They retain their dead leaves if they are not disturbed to form a skirt of dead leaves.

 I actually found it a little creepy and as there was a sign out saying that rattlesnakes were out and about I was watching for those as well.  Stomping along the boardwalk to let them know we were coming, ha!!ha!!

There is an oasis(pond) ahead somewhere.

There were quite a few wildflowers and the colors and contrast were interesting.

Desert Five Spot

Creosote

Phacelia

A mile later we arrived at McCallum Pond.  An oasis in the desert. This pond is formed by a natural earthquake seep, the water seeps up along one of the several faults contributing to the SanAndreas fault zone.

The palms were reflected in the lake

Love this picture and the clear reflections

We didn't expect to see the pupfish but there they were.  The leaflet said that the red swamp crayfish that had been introduced to the pond had displaced the native species, including tree frogs, toads and the endangered pupfish.  Hopefully the crayfish have gone and the native species have returned.  We didn't see any frogs though.

Desert Pupfish

We sat and had a snack in the shade before starting the trek back. At least we knew there would be shade toward the end of the trail. While we were sitting we could hear a bird in the tree above us but neither of us could see it.  We didn't see or hear any other birds the rest of this hike.

If you look closely you can see the back and tail of a lizard disappearing under the bush in the center of this picture.

Still no sign of the Visitor Center

I was glad I had my sun hat

Back near the visitor center, this palm trunk had formed what looked like a bridge

Schott's Smokebush

Looking back from the car park.

That was a nice short hike to start out with and our knees and backs held up really well, so we were happy.

March 24th, 2016

Nothing much to report for today as we stayed in.  I watched some tennis and Bryan some baseball.  Bryan has been walking at night before he goes to bed and the last two nights I have joined him.  It is so peaceful out there and the sky is so clear with the stars shining brightly and the full moon.

Good Night all..........