Monday, April 28, 2008

Fun Monday








This is the assignment from Angela, this week: I'm going to make it a nice and easy Fun Monday this week. All I want you to do is take me on your favourite walk. In words or pictures. Or both of course! Tell me why it's your favourite and point out things of interest on the way.


The short hike to the Vernal Pools is a fave of mine. Oden, 8, and I went on this hike plus a longer on near the Visitor Center, last month.


This is the definition of a Vernal Pool: A vernal pool is seasonal pool that is present in the spring and dries up in late spring or summer. It doesn't have water in it again until winter rains recreate the pool. This makes it fundamentally different from a year-round lake. In particular, fish are absent, since they require year-round water. Some years, there is no water. No rain = no water.

Here are some more photos of that hike:







Here are two hikes I like at the Indian Canyons, near Palm Springs. I only go in the winter, because it's too hot for me to hike there the rest of the year. This week it was about 100°, all weekend.






The difficult hike is Andreas Canyon. The contrasting greens of the magnificent fan palms and more than 150 species of plants within a half-mile radius beckon the desert-weary traveler to this lush oasis. A favorite scenic foot trail leads through the canyon, passing groves of stately skirted palms, unusual rock formations and the perennial Andreas Creek, where one can still see bedrock mortars and metates used centuries ago for preparing food. This tranquil setting is excellent for photography, bird-watching or a picnic at one of the tables along the trail.






Murray Canyon is an easy hike south from Andreas Canyon. Foot and equestrian trails lead to beautiful recreation areas among the many palm trees. Lucky visitors may catch a glimpse of the peninsula Big Horn Sheep (an endangered species), or other wild animals still roaming the high ground above the canyon. Less visited, Murray Canyon has its own secluded beauty; and the endangered Least Bells Vireo bird is known to nest here.

20 comments:

Alison said...

those hikes sound lovely. I wish I lived closer to them. thanks so much for sharing.

Aoj and The Lurchers said...

Murray Canyon looks a wonderful place for walking.

Thank you for playing!

Hootin Anni said...

Beautiful....so peaceful and quiet looking. I could go with you next time, yes?


My Fun Monday is a walk on the beaches. With just a few photos of the views! Hope you can stop by. And may your day be filled with sunshine!

ellen b. said...

It definitely sounds like a great WINTER hike. There are a lot of hikes in Southern Cal that don't inspire me in the heat of summer!
I love the bird!!

Jill said...

cool. that's awesome.

Greyhound Gap Official News Blogger said...

Murray Canyon looks stunning what wonderful places to walk

Karmyn R said...

Those hikes sound very interesting. Especially the pools.

Dreaming What Ifs...

ChrisB said...

What an interesting place to hike, and I've learned something about Vernal pools today which is a bonus so thank you :)

Unknown said...

You had me wanting to come hike your area until I heard 100! I don't like it much above 70. :) Still a beuatiful area and I'm glad I have you there to share it with me. :)

Vered said...

Looks like a fun hike. These photos are great. Thank you so much for sharing!

Nikki said...

That is really fascinating! Thank you for sharing!

nikki

storyteller said...

I didn’t know about Vernal Pools … and I found your photos most interesting as they remind me of walks I’ve taken when I’ve been on vacation in different locales. I don't know how much walking I'd do in 100 degree temperatures because I'm a 'beach' dweller. Mine’s up at Small Reflections ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Patience-please said...

So very different from my city walks! Thank you for sharing.

Jo Beaufoix said...

Wow, I never heard of a vernal pool before. Great. And the hikes look amazing. :D

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the information on vernal pools. I have never heard of them before.

Walking in an area such as this would give much joy to do.

the planet of janet said...

these look wonderful!

IamwhoIam said...

Intresting hike I would love to explore the area a little. Murray conyon looks so wonderful but AZ in summer no thanks, maybe winter or fall.

Molly said...

I liked going on your walk. This quite different with what we have in Indiana.

Peter said...

Along similar lines Jan, some of our inland rivers in Australia dry up in the summertime (or in times of drought... which is quite often) the deeper pools retain water, usually for the entire year (so fish survive in them in all but the driest years) these pools are called "billabongs".

Pamela said...

I can't take the heat either.

One of the most fun times hubby and I hd was a long weekend in palm desert. But it was early spring.

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