We were "up" for a hike on Sunday, it being a nice, mostly sunny day, with a 75 degree temp. And we were dressed for the weather, too (unlike some days, right? haha)! Coachella Valley Preserve was our destination, not too far away. Last year we hiked a trail in the Preserve and debated the entire time about if we'd done it before. This year, we chose Pushawalla Palms Loop Trail, and we knew this was a new one for us, 'cause we'd never heard of it.
The trail starts out flat, but soon you'll ascend a rocky bluff. We'd be going up where I've placed the red checkmark. Pushawalla, the name? "According to longtime Thousand Palms resident and chronicler Paul Wilhelm, Pushawalla was the name of a famous local desert Indian who lived to be over 100 years old ..."
We made our way along the spine of the bluff (hill?), and in a number of places, we kept our eyes looking straight down, neither peeping left nor right, such was the steep drop-off on both sides. People on the trail appear ant-like in the above pic at the red checkmark. That's where we're headed. Thank goodness we remembered to take our hiking poles!
In the photo above, the palms we saw below our trail are not the Pushawalla palms, but obviously water seeps here. The "famous" San Andreas fault lines run right through this area, allowing water flowing underground to rise to the surface. Hence: Oases. In the foreground is a Desert Sunflower plant. We saw lots today.
We'd climbed 700' thus far, stopping now and then to catch our breath. From here we'd go down. Dislike those loose rocks on the downhill; I picked my steps carefully. Do you see the red x? We could see the Salton Sea from this height and it's roughly 50 miles away! The camera didn't exactly pick it out. Wonderful views for us in every direction.
Few people were on this trail except for the couple (above) making their way down. We passed each other a few times. No dogs allowed, either.
From there, we entered a winding rock-strewn canyon, down-down-down to the Pushawalla palms. This was proving to be quite the hike!
We clambered our way over and around rocks and boulders, and now the palms were in sight (middle of your screen). Shady areas and sandy places under the north-facing wall were still damp from last week's rain. Seemed to me parts of this trail were washed out by the heavy rain. I kept my eyes peeled for snakes, but all I saw was one small lizard. Snakes might not be out yet. Can you spot me?
Finally at the palms -- we made it! Jimmy is walking through the wash as we tried to figure out if we should go left or right. Notice the trickle of water to Jimmy's right. Seeing water, even a tiny bit, is a marvel in this arid land. While the signage up to now had been all right, here no sign was seen. The other couple appeared and were also mystified. We decided to turn left (the way Jimmy is heading), through the palms, and see if we could find a sign.
These fan palms are so stately.
This was a large grove.
Some of their long skirts touch the ground! The frond skirts protect the tree trunks from the hot summer sun, and they're also a home or a hiding place to lots of critters. The tiny stream is colored a rust red, probably from iron in the water. We heard birds calling, but I saw none and couldn't identify what I heard; otherwise, it was truly quiet.
Following a narrow path, we walked among the palms.
Almost a canopy overhead.
Coming out the other side, we continued on, looking for a sign and a way back to the VC. This is a loop trail. The other couple didn't follow us. You know people are around when you're Out and About on a trail, you just know it, but there are times when you really feel as though you're wandering the wilderness by yourselves. Kind of a strange feeling.
The only chink in the solid wall of a bluff was this rock-strewn canyon that had seen better days for hikers. No real path was visible, but there also wasn't any other choice, so we started up, picking our way towards the top, We ran across this old, OLD junker of a truck that somebody must have pushed off the cliff a very long time ago. An artifact!
Yay, at the top, at last! (above) And, by gum, there was the sign we'd been looking for! We looked around and the other couple were also making their way up. Jimmy whistled at them and I called out, "this is the way."
Jimmy is standing next to the signpost.
Enough with the signs and rocks and climbing. How about some obligatory flower pics? Top is a very large (see my walking stick?) Brittlebush, and bottom is Notch-leaved phacelia (Phacelia crenulata), love the purple color. The desert is beginning its spring bloom.
Aha! Appears we'd have a far piece to go before we'd see the car, which is way over there somewhere by the red checkmark. Part of our trail is visible.
And a bird picture, too! Here's a California Thrasher.
Three brothers
and a Creosote.
Not quite five miles, this moderately strenuous hike took us maybe three hours. I don't mind telling you, we were pretty spent by the time we got to the car. More importantly, we enjoyed the hike, the lovely palm oasis, being up on the ridge, and the sense of accomplishment at its completion.
And what did we do when we returned to Tergel? A bite of lunch, and then to the pool, where we eased into the warm water, soothing those tired muscles, sighing, smiling, "Life is Good."
