Sunday, February 10, 2013

Whitewater Preserve


The Wildlands Conservancy manages a 2,826-acre preserve on the Whitewater River that flows from San Gorgonio Mountain into the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs. A short drive from where the Scheers live, it is a busy but tranquil place on a winter weekend.

Once a trout farm, there is a pond for fish and duck gazing, and the maze of flat trails on the valley floor are about the right level of difficulty for a man and a dog named Zoe. Meanwhile, some in the party have been known to stay in the car and read the Sunday newspaper. Here are some snapshots from a recent visit.











The boulder as you exit the trail leaves hikers with food for thought from the often quotable Emerson. It reads: "What lies before us and what lies behind us is a tiny matter compared to what lies within us."

Coming up: Old West glossary, no. 56

6 comments:

  1. We were just there yesterday! We spotted 3 bighorn sheep up on one of the lower ridges. It was COLD, however, and the wind was blowing!!!!! Brrrrrr!

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    1. I didn't think to look for Bighorns. Good to know they're there. A week ago it was pleasantly warm and no wind.

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  2. Here's my post:

    http://desertsandbeyond.blogspot.com/2013/02/whitewater-canyon.html

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  3. What beautiful images. That quote is pretty cool, but the rock is a little bit cooler if you ask me. :)

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  4. Mighty fine photos and some mighty fine "catchme's" in the pond.

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  5. Looks like a great place - some of the photos look like home here in Wyoming.

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