CA Desert Indian Class Nov 1-2 Joshua Tree

A hike to 49 Palms Oasis, Joshua Tree National Park! This is an area used extensively by Native American people for centuries, for habitation, resources usage, shade, water, and aesthetic beauty, no doubt. Every plant was used in some way for food, shelter, tools, and other necessary survival items, such as medicine. For example, palm tree fronds were (and still are!) useful in creating shade shelters and temporary small houses, and the berries from the palm trees themselves, which drop in early fall, are a terrific food source.

49 Palms Oasis feeds on spring water, and is an amazing splendor in a sharp-rock landscape, and nestled deep in a steep and remote desert canyon in the park. It contains one of the dozens of natural Washingtonian Fan Palm Oases, trees that are indigenous to the southernmost California deserts - this one is one of the farthest-north groves - and are only found here, and in a few locations in western Arizona.



I taught a wonderful workshop in early November for the Joshua Tree Desert Institute that focused on California Desert Indian literature and people. Not only did we read a vast selection of works, from creation stories to numerous tellings of the Willie Boy story to contemorary works by and about California Desert Indians - Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Quechan/Yuma, Paiute, Serrano, Mojave, and others - but we aso went on a wonderful hike to nearby 49 Palms Oasis.


The pictures above and below were taken during our hike to 49 Palms Oasis, which is one of my favorite hikes in the park, if a bit more traveled and crowded than I remember from the last time I'd hiked it, back in 1989. In fact, I have a very cute picture here on my desk of little Tarah at the age of 15 months, in blue Oshkosh overalls and mini-hiking boots, at the trailhead, from a long-ago and very memorable hike to the same spot! It's really true. They DO grow up too fast.

Enjoy! I'm not in any of the pictures, because I was the photographer! Joshua Tree ROCKS!