Cove to Lake and McCallum Pond and Whitewater

La Quinta Cove to Lake Cahuilla/

Whitewater Canyon Ridge

The hike to Lake Cahuilla always seems like a good idea at the time but when the sun climbs directly above us and we start to hike back uphill we realize that we didn't want to do this trail again the last time...  It is like walking along a soft beach each step taking more effort, there is little shade and today there was no wind just the sun directly overhead. I guess it builds character...

View looking south from the top of the cove.  The lake is just around the corner to the left, at the end of the valley.

The Quarry golf course has this wild stallion gracing the golfer's view from below.  

Another view south, on the right is a private golf course and community.

The golf course also tries to show some of the old equipment used for gold mining.

Trail heading back to the Cove.

Here is a very rare sight out on the trails. The sheep have been on the watch list for a long time but there is so many people hiking these days that they usually stay higher up.  They blend in very well with their surroundings.

Coachella Valley Preserve/McCallum Pond

The centre of preserve is on the San Andreas Fault. Water comes up to the surface and allows the plants to flourish in a very dry area.

McCallum pond is a great pond for taking shots of reflections...

This is how the palms look in the wild, quite often the branches will be cleared off the trunk due to fire and high winds.

Bees are drawn to the pond for their water.  The pond is alive with the sound of their buzzing as well as many birds that make this place home.

The base of the palms offer great hiding places as well a place of shelter.

Reflections

We had a few days of high winds that stir up the sand.  The hills in the background are getting the sun's rays and the hills below are dark because of a cloud of sand.

Whitewater Canyon - Ridge Loop

View of the lower canyon and the field of wind turbines. 

Morning sun providing a mosaic of shadows on the surrounding hills.

Our hikers following the ridge trail, we hope to come back in February to see a sea of yellow flowers on the tops of all these shrubs.

Red-tail Hawk was gliding overhead hoping we might scare up something for him to eat.

Looking down on the Whitewater River which isn't too full of water right now.  This part of our trail is also part of the Pacific Crest Trail.  If you take a wrong turn you could find yourself in Canada or Mexico!

Must be a water source in those hills. Interesting to see a splash of colour in only that one spot.

The start and finish point of our hike is an old fish hatchery. It is a great place for watching the fish, birds and people.  Thanks for the pics...Terry.

The coot wasn't too sure of that rainbow trout swimming underneath him.