January 11, 2011/3:45pm – Willis Palms Oasis

The Coachella Valley Preserve in Thousand Palms, an area that the Friends of the Desert Mountains helped save, has many interesting places to explore, incredible bio-diversity and “that damn lizard” affectionately known by me and my friends as the Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard  and places to imagine and wander in solitude…

The Willis Palm Oasis is along the Indio Hills and right smack on the San Andreas Fault Zone.  Wandering among these, our own, California Fan Palms with the breezes blowing was heaven to the ears.  The constant whoosh was pure audio-indulgence like an internal massage for your head.  And, peaceful.  You couldn’t help but feel connected in the oasis.  It is a life spring.

November 26^th, 2010 for some particular reason either by nature or by some perverted disconnect from common sense, there was combustion and the Willis Palms Oasis became a short lived torch.  Long, lanky black rods with jagged yellow arrowheads pierce the sky.  Strange black coiled rods extend from palms both tall and small.  It takes a minute to see the abstract form as a palm frond burnt to the core bracts.  It’s quiet, desolate, windy but no sound.  No indulgence for the ears today or tomorrow I fear.

January 11, 2011 for some particular reason, I decided to return to visit my friends who had received burns to over 97% of their body.   I wandered around the oasis and looked at the devastation.  It was so complete.  It must have burned “hot”.  It must have just “cooked” everything literally sterilizing the ground.  There was a dense undercoat of grasses and small palms.  I think it melted the plumbing in the oasis as in the center of the oasis there is a spring with water running out of it probably, 5 to 7 gallons per hour.  That’s when I noticed I wasn’t alone.

A lone coyote was on top of the hill above the oasis.  I ventured closer to his side and as I walked up the hill he vanished.  When I turned around, I almost walked right into a fire ring.  I wondered if this was where someone was sitting down trying to heat up a can of beans.  It was from here I watched the sunset and as I departed, I began to notice something I hadn’t before.  The very base of the fronds on all the blackened palm stalks had 2 to 5 inches of bright green stock showing.  I walked off the hill and saw small green grasses beginning to shoot up out of the ashes.  The baby palms were growing too.  A slight change of perspective allowed me to see the best in an old friend and I got all excited inside for the palms.  They would make it through this incident and become better and stronger from it. 

Many good things can happen to plants after fire.  I expect to see a great recovery of the oasis and look forward to visiting my friend more in the future.  You will find its rewarding to watch life come back to this “new” oasis as you return again and again.  PLEASE REMEMBER: Try not to hike through the ashes.  Erosion will be a problem and the less we walk on or around the fire the better.  The hike out to the oasis is easy mixed rock and sand for about 15 minutes from your car.  Park your car at the small parking lot (room for 5 cars) on the left (west) side of Thousand Palms Road BEFORE you drive through the Indio Hills.  There is a nice loop hike you can do from this trailhead too so, these’s 4 to 6 hours of good hiking from here.

By: John Warden Interpretive / Hiking Programs Volunteer, Friends of the Desert Mountains

December 22, 2010/7:45am – Waterfall Search in the Carrizo Canyon Ecological Reserve

By: John Warden-Interpretive /Hiking Programs Volunteer, Friends of the Desert Mountains

With it raining all of last night, I knew today would be the day to see it. I’ve been waiting years to catch a glimpse of the waterfalls. Rain gear? Check. Camera? Check. Starbuck’s? Check. The Carrizo Canyon ER lies within the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument and it’s accessible only from OCTOBER 1st to DECEMBER 31st. The reserve is protecting critical habitat for the endangered Bighorn Sheep who use it for forage, water, protection from predators and most importantly, for mating and raising lambs.

I was the only one in the canyon and the rain just kept coming down, absolutely enchanting to experience. I’ve always loved hiking in the rain. But, hiking in the desert, in a deep canyon in the rain tops the list of all the great experiences I’ve had here in the Coachella Valley . As you hike up the canyon from the open wash at the trailhead, the canyon splits (Indian Creek/Carrizo Canyon) at a large rock. It was just before this point that I first saw a creek, only an inch deep and a foot wide, running along the surface and then it sank into the sand. But, the creek was migrating over the surface down canyon indicating the water volume was increasing up canyon which meant flash floods were possible so, I made this a quick trip. I began to hear the sound of cascading water and in a minute was face to face with my reward.

The double cascade reminded me of a miniature waterfall somewhere within the recesses of Waimea Canyon in Hawaii. It’s constant flow calmly streaming down the 15 foot face into a small pool. The moss and greenery was lush and full. It is such a different scene from the normally dry, sandy canyon I’m used to seeing.

I took a few pictures and some video narration footage and then headed back out so nature’s sights and sounds could prevail. I felt warm and in love with the land. Totally connected and gifted for the opportunity to see the rare and elusive waterfalls. The creek had continued to flow down the canyon another 40 feet or so from where I’d first seen it so, it was definitely time to head out to avoid a dangerous situation. Wind and rain struck my face making me feel alive and unconfined in this great place. My spirit was lifting higher and higher as I realized I might be the only one brave enough to venture out on this blustery day. But, I hoped others would get to see it too.