Andreas Canyon Part 2 December 8, 2008

As we continued our walk through Andreas Canyon, we continued to be amazed by its beauty! Maybe it was the autumn leaves, or the long afternoon shadows, but AC was truly an inspirational place!

Andreas Canyon is VERY different from Palm Canyon, as I previously posted. It has sycamore trees that line the stream and when we went to visit it, they had changed into the beautiful fall colors. AC has stark rocks that contrast well with the trees. And, the wild grapes were GORGEOUS! What a beautiful spot. A sign said that when the Spanish came through the Coachella Valley and found the Indian canyons, the Indians were growing fields of squash, beans, and corn. These canyons are and still are sacred to them. I can see why. They have a great energy there.

I thought the rocks looked like a sitting dog, so I called it "dog rock". Can you see the dog?

Andreas Canyon Part 1 December 6, 2008

After leaving the quiet calm of Palm Canyon, we stopped at Andreas Canyon. AC is right past the entrance to the Palm Springs' Indian Canyons' entrance. It is very different from Palm Canyon. We were fortunate to have decent sunlight when we arrived there and the wild grapes had turned beautiful fall colors! While Palm Canyon seemed to have a quiet elegance, Andreas Canyon, to me, seemed to have more energy! Maybe that was because the water there is in an active stream? I just felt more energy there and really enjoyed exploring it. This photos are part 1 of our trip to Andreas Canyon.

Leaving Palm Canyon Fri Dec 5, 2008

As we left Palm Canyon to travel to Andreas Canyon, off in the distance was a terrific thunderstorm. It appeared to be over Joshua Tree National Monument. You can see the rain coming down from the thunderheads! What a beautiful day to visit the canyons! Tomorrow...Andreas Canyon!

Canyon geology December 4, 2008

When hubby and I were leaving Palm Canyon, I noticed the rocks jutting out of the earth. Must be a fault line right there, I thought. Yup. Notice how the rocks come out of the earth at an angle? That's why there is a stream through the canyon and why so many palm trees grow in that area. You can always spot fault lines in our southern California deserts...just look for palm trees and an oasis! Look at the rocks coming RIGHT out of the earth!

The Cahuilla Indians even have a legend to explain earthquakes. Tahquitz, according to one version of the legend, lived in the canyons and when he stood up and moved, he caused an earthquake! Since he was a HUGE man, this helped them to explain earthquakes in our region. An earthquake! Nah....it's just ole Tahquitz moving around, shifting his position! Isn't that clever? I was actually on top of Mt. San Jacinto once during a fairly good-sized earthquake. Being on top of 10,000 feet of granite, it was a rather sharp jolt, unlike our desert earthquakes, which seem to rumble through the region. This one was sudden, sharp, and strong. During desert earthquakes, I can usually hear them moving through the sand FIRST and they are more like waves. This one was definitely a sharp jolt!

Palm Canyon and Cahuilla Indians Dec 3, 2008

The Cahuilla Indians lived in these palm canyons during the desert winters and moved up into the mountains and the oak groves during the summers. They had water nearby from the streams and the palm trees provided excellent shade. They also provided materials for their houses and baskets. I used to visit the Palm Springs Desert Museum with my classes and see their beautifully woven baskets which were also made from the palm tree fronds. They were woven so tightly that they were waterproof! Incredible! These photos show how they used the palm fronds.

Inside Palm Canyon December 1, 2008

Hubby and I walked down the trail to the bottom of Palm Canyon. Now, mind you, I was very hesitant to do this because of my leg. I wasn't feeling any pain, but I didn't want my muscles to tighten at the bottom of Palm Canyon and then have to be airlifted out! How embarassing! So, it was with some trepidation, but also confidence that I did so! I was feeling pretty darn good and I didn't wish to spoil a beautiful day or an unique hike! So, down the trail I went. I'm so happy that I did! The view from inside the canyon, looking up at the majestic palm trees was absolutely one-of-a-kind! And, since the earth was still damp and wet, the odors enhanced our experience.