Too often considered monotonous “drive-over country”, California’s deserts are actually quite varied and richly reward those who make the effort to know them. Winter temperatures in the south tend to warm, sunny days and cool, clear nights, so “three-season” clothing and equipment are usually adequate for outdoor activities. Just west of Joshua Tree National Park is Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, a relatively unvisited park holding a true oasis in the desert due to a fault that forces groundwater to the surface. Unlike the smaller and tidier palm oases in the nearby national park and in the Coachella Valley to the south, Big Morongo is a riot of greenery, a veritable jungle covering hundreds of acres. (The entire preserve is about 31,000 acres.)…
Throughout the poem Inferno Dante uses the outline of a hero’s quest to complete his character’s journey through Hell. The hero’s quest is often used because it is familiar to readers. Dante uses an abstract idea of a hero’s quest by departing Earth, descending through Hell, and finally realizing the mistakes he makes in life can lead to eternity in Hel Dante’s departure is the beginning of his journey through Hell. Dante is in a dark time in his life, known as “The Dark Wood of Error” (I.3). Dante soon realizes his loss and finds “a little hill”, which stands for earthly joy.…
In contrast to the Greek’s wealth of myths but lack of evidence, in Anasazi communities in the American Southwest during the twelfth century CE there is direct evidence of cannibalism, but no myths containing the subject. This may be due to quickly evolving environments and situations as well as possibly feelings of fear associated with these changes. The Ute Lands Archaeological Project excavated three residential pithouses (features 3, 13, and 15) from Cowboy Wash in the Mesa Verde Region from 1992-1998, finding the disarticulated remains of at minimum seven individuals between the three features. In feature three, a minimum of five individuals were discovered, differing in sex and age, containing both an eleven-year-old as well as an old…
El Diablo killer of most and the fear of all was born June 6. El Diablo lived up to the name given to him at birth “Devil”, is what his name meant and lived up to the hype. Diablo had a fiery attitude. Ever since Diablo was young he would cause damage to people's lives. In his teenage days Diablo’s father killed his mother.…
When the wind prowls over these lion-colored hills the grasses race along as if they were live things. Regardless of the season, to a native Californian this environment is a handsome and familiar sight, distilling the very essence of Sierra foothill…
Many years ago, laying out on the trampoline late at night, I remember hearing the coyotes howl and yip in the field bordering my friend’s house. The sound so frightened us that we promptly rushed inside. To children that grew up never truly in the country, only on the edge of town, coyotes seemed so wild. However, as Dan Flores illuminates in his book, Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History, that encounter was not an unusual experience at all. In the past century coyotes have spread across all reaches of the United States.…
The land and rock-based history of Mesa Verde National Park represents diversity as much as the cultural history. Mesa Verde is located in Southwestern Colorado which is one of the four states that is included in the Colorado Plateau. It became a national park in 1906 in order to preserve and protect the famous cliff dwellings and artifacts. Beginning back in 550 A.D to 1300 A.D, Ancestral Puebloans came to realize the diversity of Mesa Verde National Park and used its landscape to create and maintain life. It was the Spanish explores who created the name Mesa Verde for this area, translating to “green table”.…
The Historic Iron King The Prescott area offers a diverse network of trails. Some of these trails can have treacherous hazards like large trees, sharp rocks and steep cliffs such as Smith Ravine trail number 297, Salida Gulch Trail number 95, and the Constellation Trail System. Whereas, some of them are flat maintained pathways of gravel like the historic Iron King Trail. The Iron King Trail was forged on the weathered foundations of the railroad tracks for the Prescott & Eastern Railroad which used to provide service to the Iron King Mine. The trail is in the Town of Prescott Valley and is popular for those that enjoy walking, running, biking, horseback riding and even bird watching.…
So it finally snowed! I’m happy that it finally did and I built a snowman during the storm and it looks kind of…squared you could say. Since the snow is heavy, more of the leaves are now fallen off and it’s starting to look like winter. Today I went to my grandparents’ house to spend the few nights until thanksgiving. While driving out there, the corn fields and the bean fields were all covered with snow, you could tell that the deer were out and about since you could clearly see the footprints in the snow.…
Purpose: to get people interested in the desert, to inform readers about the dangers of the desert –educational appeal, to make people laugh. You should come and visit the desert but take care of it. Invites you as a recruit to come and protect what’s left of American wilderness. Pg. 17 “Nevertheless all is not lost; much remains, and I welcome the prospect of an army of lug-soled hiker’s boots on the desert trails.”…
There are multiple reasons participating in the Brush Creek Ranch program would be beneficial. I would like to be given an opportunity to visit an area different from the city where stars can be seen and birds can be heard. Living in the city, the sky is fogged with pollution and songs of nature are blocked by noisy cars. My visit to Vermont expanded my love for science and I wish to learn more. While in Vermont not only did I enjoy the energetic birds, colorful trees and beautiful oblique mountains--but I learned scientific context.…
When I hiked up Bishop Peak in San Luis Obispo, I enjoyed it so much I wrote it up for California Explorer (May/June 2014). Since then I’ve wondered about the other ancient volcanic plugs that make up the nine sisters, a group that starts with Morro Rock and ends at Islay Hill in the southeast corner of San Luis Obispo. I decided to trek down to the area with the idea of exploring the other morros, or at least the ones open to exploration. Morro Rock is environmentally sensitive and closed to climbing. Chumash Peak has no access, and Cerro Romauldo is used only by the National Guard.…
wilderness area in Montana's Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks and valleys running to the Canadian border. It's crossed by the mountainous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Among more than 700 miles of hiking trails, it has a route to photogenic Hidden Lake. Other activities include backpacking, cycling and camping. Diverse wildlife ranges from mountain goats to grizzly…
Deer hunting with my dad always brings joy to my life. He has taught me everything I know about shooting a gun, and being able to patiently wait for the animal. My dad is a great teacher and super supportive if I miss a shot. Instead of getting enraged, he encourages me try again. Deer hunting is one of the many events my dad and I can do to bond, and strengthen our father and daughter relationship.…
this time the novel is about a boy and his fox Attention kids ages 10 to 14: explore the world of “Pax” by Sara Pennypacker in this awesome program just for summer readers like you! What: Books Alive: “Pax” (Ages 10-14)…