Hiking the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail with Dave & Kathy in Borrego Springs, CA

Dave and Kathy love to hike and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Campground was chosen because it's close to hiking trails.

They are camped near the

Borrego Palm Canyon

Trailhead.

Eric and I brought our hiking poles and CamelBak hiking packs to learn how to comfortably use them.  As experienced hikers, Dave and Kathy have a wealth of hiking equipment tips to share with us.

Dave, Kathy, Eric & I
stop at this Octollio &
read the Nature Trail
Guide.










Not all desert plants are cacti or succulents.  This plant leafs out after a rainfall.  During dry weather, the leaves turn to autumn colors and drop off.

After two days of rain to the

northwest, the creek bed

is flowing.

Kathy offers water to Dave.

Staying hydrated while
hiking is very important.










Eric bought Camelbak packs for us so we didn't have to carry a water bottle or stop to dig into a backpack for a drink.  Dave told us that taking short breaks is as important as staying hydrated..

The shadows of clouds cross

the mountains we are hiking

between.

Eric & his hiking poles.

My shadow, as I hold them
in my left hand to take
this picture.

The movement of the Earth's crust 

formed these mountains.

Immense pressure created the

outcrop that is tilted to the left.

Our Nature Trail Guide alerts
us to this mortero, or hole.

Cahuilla Indian Women ground
seeds here for centuries.





Cahuilla Indians who settled here had a reliable water source.  The mountains provided shade during the day and sheltered them from the wind. 

Dave found a nearby shelter.

It's very small.

Our hiking poles help steady

us on the rocky terrain.

I'm feeling confident.

The main reason that I haven't been interested in hiking in uneven terrain is the fear of falling.

This boulder is not like others

 in the area.

It's an Erratic, from another

region.

The Ice Age Glaciers extended into the San Bernadino Mountains, to the east of Borrego Springs.  Did melting waters from the retreating glacier bring this unique boulder here?





These steps were constructed
by the Civilian Conservation
Corps during the Great 
Depression to allow easier
access to Palm Canyon.

This staircase is part of the CCC's construction of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.   

Eric & Kathy stand in the

narrow trail to the Palms.

The Palm seeds were dropped
by birds.

They happened to land in a
wet area between mountains
& the Palms grew & grew.

Eric takes this picture at the

turn around point of 

today's hike.

We take our time as we descend the trail.  After two and a half hours, I notice that I'm starting to tire.  To combat this, we take short breaks along the trail.

Because of the hairy spines, I
think that this is a Cow's
Tongue Cactus, a form of
Prickly Pear Cactus.

The short white structures in the
 distance are Yurts that local school
 children stay in when they come to
 Anza-Borrega Desert State Park to
learn about the region's history,
wildlife & geology.

We continue to use our hiking

poles over uneven terrain as
the hike comes to an end.

Dave and Kathy promised us refreshing beers and a hearty Turkey Gumbo and I don't want to be distracted by ripped, torn clothing or a swollen ankle.

Today's hike makes me confident that Eric and I will enjoy future treks in uneven terrain.