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| no partners | | I had bypassed Dos Palmas on both my Bradshaw trail trips; in a way glad I did because surely I would not have allotted enough time this wonderful place deserves. Current management is BLM, Nature Conservancy and Ducks Unlimited with some past Ca Game and Fish involvement. At the main gate you park in the small lot and can walk the road in to one of the old ranch houses of Rancho Dos Palmas, about a mile. From the parking area is a trail to a small grove I had explored the last time I was there.
I love history and beautiful palm oases' in the desert and this exceeded all my expectations. The San Andreas fault is responsible for the prodigious springs here, helped by development of wells' and wetlands. You would never expect what you find here if you
judge by the surrounding stark and lightly vegetated landscape. A network of roads enclosed by reeds and berms forms a grid which takes you to many ponds, startlingly large, and to small clear blue and green pools.
I did not see a lot of wildlife; I expect that varies with season and migratory patterns. Evidence of a lot of scat with the palm fruits in it. I didn't see any evidence of older habitation but the area has been altered quite a bit by its' more recent owners.
The most beautiful spots to me of course where things hadn't been "managed" for some time. Quiet water moving among giant palms, with the play of light and the wind ruffling the tops, still and the only noise made by me as I wandered in the sheltered secret places. This a great place to wander, relax and just enjoy the amazing juxtaposition of water in the desert.
I saw no one while I was here.
A little history:http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/salton/DosPalmasHistory.html
A little geology: http://www.desertsun.com/story/life/home-garden/james-cornett/2014/02/15/san-andreas-fault-causes-dos-palmas-preserve-to-spring-to-life/5522969/ |
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