Wednesday, December 31, 2008

A Visit to Palm Oasis

Within site of the Salton Sea is a genuine oasis call Palm Oasis. Cheryl and I drove in for about four miles or so and then hiked in to it. The first photo was taken from about a half mile away. The Salton sea is about a half mile to the west (right).
As we approached on foot the vegetation became greener. Signs reminded us to watch for rattlesnakes. This excited Cheryl quite a lot.
A view of the trail leading in to the oasis. This oasis exists due to several fresh water springs in it.
As we enter the oasis it remined me of a jungle movie, dark and eerie as well as very quiet.
This is a pool formed by one of the fresh water springs. According to the lady at the Salton Sea visitor center there are some very rare fish that live in these pools. They were indeed rare when we were there.
Another pool. None of them made us want to swim in them.
A view though the edge of the oasis towards the outside.
Looking back as we came out of the oasis on the other side. It would have been almost impossible to have walked throught here without the trail that is maintained. The oasis is on BLM land and is cared for by volunteers. In bye gone times local natives camped and got water as well as palm fronds and food from here. There are several oasis in the area. This is one of the more accessible.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I don't know if I would have made this hike for fear of rattlesnakes! Looks like a totally weird place- as you say, Mike, like something from a movie set. Patti

McCullough Bridge

McCullough Bridge