California, Palm Springs - Indian Canyon

My flight from Toronto to Calgary was delayed resulting in missing my connection to Palm Springs. I have to give Westjet credit, they readily stated that it was a mechanical issue (not weather as we had all assumed) and therefor they paid for my hotel stay overnight in Calgary, gave me vouchers for dinner and breakfast and had me on a plane to California the next morning. Mind you I had no clothes appropriate for -17 and snowy Calgary!

I love having a window seat. The Rockies go on forever.

From -17 to +27, Eve picked me up at the airport and we spent the afternoon swimming and then in the hot tub

with hummingbirds in aerial battles over territory around the flowering shrubs and fruit trees.

Today we drove up to the Indian Canyons for a hike as it was not excessively hot.

Looking back down the road we had driven up from Palm Springs. Dry and brown hills.

There are a number of trails in this area but the Palm Canyon Trail was the only one open.

It follows the canyon where a stream supports palm trees and other vegetation

as well as Rattlesnakes, Mountain Lion and Big Horn Sheep. We saw none of these.

We took a short side trail

through a little rock tunnel

to a small waterfall, unusual here as it runs all year.

Good place for a photo op.

Then we walked down into the canyon with its small stream,

massive unpruned California Fan Palms

and little ones

with the white hairs curling from the "finger tips" of their fronds.

Some of the trail wove through the forest of palms at the base of the canyon

and parts of it were open and sunny. The berries hanging at the top of this picture are the fruit of the Fan Palm.

We crossed the stream

and the sides of the canyon got steeper

with more views of the cacti growing on the rocky hills. I think this is a Barrel Cactus.

Pretty intimidating prickles!

Pretty

and pretty lethal too. This may be one of the Chollo Cactus varieties.

When the trail started to steeply climb the canyon walls we turned around and retraced our steps.

We hiked a few miles, about 8,000 steps, in and out of shade and putting jackets on and off. We figured we had earned it and went to Rick and Eve's favorite place for a milkshake.

George liked cactus, especially the ones that look like a man with arms. He loved the variety of cacti when we visited Palm Springs in 2012. I am just now beginning to develop an appreciation for them.