The Indian Canyons of Palm Springs, CA
Posted: March 30th, 2009 | Author: Roger Ludwig | Filed under: California | Tags: Agua Caliente Reservation, Coachella Valley Preserve, Palm Springs, San Andreas fault | No Comments »
Professional education took me to Palm Springs, California in January, 2009. My friend Dan spent time in the area while in the Air Force. “It’s ugly” is all he said. Dan loves granite peaks and pines. But Dan, I don’t think you made it to any of the Indian Canyons.
The broad Coachella valley is dry. The Indio hills to the north, the Santa Rosa mountains to the south are hot, sere, ragged ranges ripping into this Sonoran desert sky. They are the earth’s angry cry, unwilling rock moved by unrelenting earthquakes.
The San Andreas fault transects the valley. Here the great Pacific Plate forces itself upon the resisting North American Plate. Unforgiven, each injury to earth remains raw, open and exposed. Harsh to the eye and to the touch.
Yet deep below the earth where the faults open, waters escape, rising to the surface. Springing, pooling, overflowing to rivulets, gathering to streams, creating an explosion of life. Verdant green midst stark brown. Birdsong in an expanse of windblown silence.
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