While in Palm Desert we checked out the Tahquitz Canyon and hiked the 2 miles or so up the canyon to where it ended at a waterfall. This two-mile loop trail is a great way to explore some of the local wilderness considered sacred to the Ague Caliente Cahuilla Indian people. Though much of the hike is in open canyon (and therefore, unshaded and hot), the trail leads to the 60' Tahquitz Falls, where there is shade and a refreshing creek to splash in. Because of a 350' elevation gain on this hike and lots of steps we got our workout. Did I mention it was hot? We did have a lot of water with us so we didn't mind the heat or the climb.
The next photo is of the Remnants of the Lebacho-Tahquitz Creek Ditch. Originally built in 1830 by the Cahuilla to bring water from the canyon to the village for drinking and irrigation.
Ah - we made it to the waterfalls and shade.
Thank you for the shade. It was really comfortable here but alas we needed to hike back down to Palm Springs. That is Palm Springs off in the distance as we hiked down the trail.
Centuries ago, ancestors of the Agua Caliente Cahuilla (Pronounced Kaw-we-ah) Indians settled in the Palm Springs area. They developed complex communities in the area. With an abundant water supply, the plants, animals and Cahuilla Indians thrived. They grew crops of melons, squash, beans and corn. They gathered plants and seeds for food, medicines and basket weaving. Today, remains of Cahuilla society like rock art, house pits, foundations, irrigation ditches, dams reservoirs, trails and food preparation areas still exist in the canyons.
One of our next visits was to Cabot's Pueblo Museum. Nestled in the scenic hills of Desert Hot Springs overlooking Palm Springs, a Hopi-inspired pueblo sits against a hillside. Not just any pueblo, but one build with re-purposed materials collected through the desert. Cabot's pueblo spreads an impressive 5,000 square feet, divided into 35 rooms and adorned with 150 windows and 65 doors. What a sight it is to see!
Through the tour, we had the chance to get to know the man behind the Pueblo: a bright and ambitious man, who followed his heart, traveled the world and accomplished countless things. In a modern world where everything we need is at our fingertips with a touch of a button, a flick of a switch or the sound of a voice, it's hard to imagine having to walk 14 miles for water.
Cabot Yerxa's masterpiece, built mostly from found materials between 1941 and 1950, was his home and personal museum until his death in 1965. The museum displayed artifacts from his travels, his collection of Native American crafts, and his own paintings. He told personal stories infused with his shrewd observations and philosophies.
As we walked through this massive structure we were amazed by his ingenuity. The way he was able to keep this place cool and comfortable in the desert without air conditioning.
Remember, this was all built with materials he found in the desert and surrounding area - amazing.
Bev with our tour guide.
View of Palm Springs down in the valley from the museum.
One very unique site at the museum is "Waokiye" and the Trail of the Whispering Giants.
"Waokiye", meaning "Traditional Helper" in the Lakota language, was carved in 1978, by Hungarian-born sculptor Peter "Wolf" Toth (rhymes with "oath").
During a 21-year period (1971 - 1992) Toth carved 67 giant Native American heads; at least one in each of the 50 states plus several in Canada. The first giant, which he began at the age of 24, was carved from the cliff at Wind and Sea Beach in La Jolla, California. All of the subsequent colossi have been made from giant logs. Waokiye was the 27th sculpture in the "Whispering Giants" series.
The Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce invited Toth to come to California and carve a sculpture. Toth, later joined by his wife Kathy traveled the US in a Dodge van, spending summers in the north and winters in the south, and stopping wherever local officials would allow or invite him to carve one of his "Whispering Giants". He did not accept money for his work and lived on donations, sales of small carvings and sales of his self-published book.
A 45 ton giant Sequoia redwood log was donated through the efforts of the Riverside County Fire Department and the state Division of Forestry. The 750-year-old tree, which was almost 200 feet tall, was originally from the Sequoia National Forest near Porterville. It had been struck by lightning in the mid-1950s. Moving the log which had been earmarked for the sculpture, a segment 10 by 20 feet and weighing 40,000 pounds, from central California was no easy task.
Toth used power tools for the rough shaping, and then set to work with a #5 chisel and a hammer. All of the work was done on site. The finished face is 22 feet high, eight feet in diameter and weighs 20 tons. The feather is made from an Incense Cedar from Idyllwild, it is 15 feet tall, four feet width and one-and a-half feet thick. The pedestal is 5 feet tall, extends 4 feet into the earth and is made of 2,000 pounds steel and 33 yards of cement. The overall height of the sculpture - base, face and feather - is 43 feet.
We are fortunate that Waokiye has survived the years in relatively good condition. Other giants have not been so fortunate.
Some RVers have made it their goal to see all 67 Giant Native American Heads throughout North America. You really must see some if not all of them. Now that Bev and I are aware of these great carvings we will visit them in our travels.
Some websites, such as this one from David Schumaker, can provide current information. http://www.dcschuaker.com/. For you guys in Connecticut check out the one in Groton. Oh yes, Pam and Kent - you can check one out in Loveland Colorado.
Another site we had to see was in old Palm Springs.
We just couldn't miss the 26 ft. tall sculpture of Marilyn Monroe by American artist and Johnson & Johnson heir Seward Johnson.
The sculpture is inspired by the famous photograph by Bernard of Hollywood from the film The Seven Year Itch. She is located at what many call the corner of "Main and Main", Palm Canyon & Tahquitz Canyon Way in the heart of downtown Palm Springs.
Marilyn Monroe has many legendary ties to Palm Springs. In May of 2012, "Forever Marilyn" made her journey to Palm Springs.
We had a great time in the Palm Springs area but our 3 weeks were up and it was time to move on.
October 8th we hit the road for Wilderness Lakes, Menifee, CA another Thousand Trails Preserve.
We finally returned to trees other than Palms and desert plants. We still seem to be in the desert though because the hills around us are dry and dead.
We traveled around the local area and even took a trip south to the San Diego area to check out Pio Pico Thousand Trails, Jamul, CA where we will be spending Christmas and New Years. We didn't take any pictures though but will when we finally move to this area in December.
While in Wilderness Lakes we relaxed a lot, Bev line danced every day and I road my bike around. I guess we were to relaxed to take picture in this area other than that of the campground.
We had a great 3 weeks in Wilderness Lakes but our time there also came to an end so we headed a little north to Soledad Canyon, Action, CA. We will be here for 3 weeks when we will return to Palm Springs and warm weather again. What a shock, it's cold here. The days have been in the 60s and the nights have been in the 40s. Nothing like the upper 90's of Palm Springs. Oh how I love heat!
I have been using our little electric cube heater but I hate the sound of the fan blowing so I went to Walmart and picked up an electric oil space heater. I love it! It keeps us toasty warm and no fan. It has a great thermostat that keeps a nice constant temperature all night.
Our campsite at Soledad Canyon has fantastic views. Every night we are also serenaded by quite a few Coyotes that live in the canyons.
We are by the Angeles National Forest so yesterday we followed the Angeles Forest road to check out more great scenery.
As we drove up the road we passed many areas that were freshly burned. There was a very active forest fire in this area.
Along the way we crossed over a canyon on this bridge.
On the side of the bridge we followed a path that lead to this overlook and a view of the bridge and the canyon below.
At least we started taking photos again. I sure don't know how we made it for 3 weeks in Menifee, CA without taking any photos. Oh Well!
We will be here for 3 weeks and then move back to the warmth of Palm Springs. While here we will have to keep the camera clicking so we have photos to post on the blog.
So many interesting things to see in this great country of ours and so little time to see them but we are working at it.
Bev and Tom Livin and Lovin the RV Lifestyle.
