196203 Desert Magazine 1962 March

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ever has thedesert been more beautifulthan nowand never haveReal Estate opportunitiesin the desert been greaterthan now!

1E D I T H E D D Y W A R DREALTOR73-661 HIGHWAY 111 PALM DESERT

HOMES, HOMESITES, ACREAGECOMMERCIAL AND INVESTMENT

PROPERTIESG O L F C LU B I N F O R M A T I O N

SUNFLOW ERS: AFTER BO TA NIC AL SKETCHES BYE D M U N D C.JAEGER - FROM HIS BOO K "DESERT WILD FLOWER S" (STANFORD UNIVE RSITY PRES


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OF THES O U T H W E S T 25TH YEARPalm Springs Spashown on ourcover, and the bath house pictured at the right werebuilt on the same groundhistoric site of the hotwater springs at Palm Springs. This oasis was longused by the Agua Caliente band of the DesertCahuilla Indians. The photographs, taken 52 yearsapart, serve as a dramatic reminder of the greatchanges that have and are taking place in theCoachella Valley portion of California's ColoradoDesert.This special issue will give you a picture of the

Coachella Valley as it is today, and what it will betomorrow (for a story on the future, see page 35).This area's interesting and significant Indian heritageis discussed in the paragraphs below. The Valley'sreputation in the period from Indian days to the

Volume 25 Number 3CONTENTS FOR MARCH, 1962

Special Issue: Coachella ValleyThis Month's Cover

One of the most popular places in Coachella Valley to snap a pictureis at the impressive Palm Springs Spa. (See story on this page).Photograph by Milton W. Jones of Taylor-Jones Associates, Inc.The Past

6 Building thePalm Springs Image20 A 1913Midsummer Motoring Trip26 Coachella Valley 's Exotic Date Industry

The Present10 A Guide for Motorists andHikers17 A ir -Condit ioning: Key to Summer Comfort22 Making theDesert "Blossom as the Rose"24 A Transformed Desert Valley

The Future35 Coachella Valley in Twenty-Five Years

Other Features4 Desert Detours

46 EditorialColor Photographs. Photographers

23 Bougainvillea, by Josef MuenchIndian Wells Country Club, by David Muench

TONY BURKEU. S. GRANT IV

NINA SHUMWAY

CLARENCE SMITHPHIL AULT

GEORGE RINGWALD

GEORGE O.WHEELER

2425 Swimming Pool and Palm Canyon Drive, by Western Ways Photos;Palm Springs residential street, by Ralph D. Cornell; Salton Sea,by Josef Muench26 Date Garden, by Harry Vroman

start of the Valley's two most important industriestourism and agricultureis touched on by U.S.Grant IV (page 20). In those days (1910-1930)the outside world regarded Coachella Valley as asuburb of hell. The tourist industry's early days(page 6), and agriculture's early struggles (page 26)are the subjects of articles by on-the-scene partici-pants."Coachella Valley, 1962" is covered in fourstories: The urban development (page 24); air-conditioning which has tamed summer heat (page17); guide to Coachella's outdoor attractions (page10); and how the desert is being made to "blossomas therose" (page 22).A word on the local Indians: The 100-memberAgua Caliente band still owns the hot water oasisin downtown Palm Springs (the land was leased tothe Spa developers for 99 years), plus 31,000 otheracres checkerboarded throughout the Palm Springsarea. A few years ago a valuation of $10,000,000was placed on the band's real estate within the citylimits. What the whole of their gold-plated reserva-tion isworth staggers the imagination.The modern Spa's coming into being representsBig Money's first merger with the hitherto undevel-oped Indian lands. Prior to the building of the Spa,these valuable holdings could only be leased forshort-term periods. The Spa developers obtaineda long-term lease by promising to spend $200,000 ontheir project. They actually spent $2,500,000.This favorable treatment of the Indian propertyso impressed Congress that the way was cleared formore development of Indian lands by private capi-tal. The Spa itself is building a $2,000,000 hotel.Canyon Country Club, when completed, will repre-sent a $50,000,000 investment on Indian lands.Economically, the Desert Cahuilla bands in thesouth end of the Valley are not so fortunate as theirPalm Springs cousins.Of the Torres-Martinez band on the northwestshore of Salton Sea, their beloved pastor, FatherCollymore, says: "They are the abandoned ones. . . almost alone, and surely almost forgotten."Their reservation has many square miles of fertilelands, but canal water has come to only parts of it.The accentuated development of property rimmingthe Salton Seapromises a better tomorrow for theseIndians.

The Cabezon band, located near Indio, has goodagricultural land, but no water; some rentals arereceived by clan members from small businesseslocated on land parcels fronting Highway 99.Augustine Reservation, near the Coachella ValleyHigh School at Thermal, in time will be rich whenwater is brought to it. There are only five membersof this clan still living. / / /DESERT is publ ished monthly by Desert Magazine, Inc., Palm Desert, Calif. Re-entered as second class matter July 17, 1948, at the postofflce at PalmDesert, Calif., under the Act of March 3, 1879. Title registered No. 358865 in U.S. Patent Office, and contents copyrighted 1962 by Desert Magazine,Inc. Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs cannot be returned or acknowledged unless full return postage is enclosed.Permission to reproduce contents must be secured from the editor in writing. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $4 per year (12 issues)in the U.S.; $4.50 elsewhe re. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: subscriber should send notice of newaddress by the first of the monthpreceding issue month. DISPLAY ADVERTISING: address all correspondence to Aaron D. Vil ler , 8217 Beverly Blvd., LosAngeles 48, Calif. Phone: OL 1-2225. CLASSIFIED ADVERTIS ING, EDITORIAL, CIRC ULAT ION: address all correspondenceto Desert Magazine, Palm Desert, California.

CHARLES E. SHELTONPublisher EUGENE L. C O N R O T T OEditor EVONNE RIDDELLCirculation ManagerTo subscribe, send $4 (12 issues) or $7 (24 issues) andy o u r n a m e andmailing address to: Deser t Magazine , Pa lm Deser t , Cal.


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"Those can't be dates. They're not in a plastic bag !

"Come ye yourselves apart into a desertplace, and rest a while. " Mark 6:31

This is a very special issue for Coach ella Valley. Well fine;that's a very special area. I asked some Chambers of Com-merce for Facts about it, and got a plethora of statisticsconcerning climate, farming, dates, hotels and such, but nota word about the region's Number 1 assetits people. "Peopleeverywhere are all alike," you argue? Not so! It takes a veryspecial Man and Woman to envision Opportunity on a desert,then show the strength to give that vision reality. You CofCpublicists get hep. ^"We hardly ever go to church out here," one grinning nativeof Mecca told me. "We just don't believe there could be anybetter living conditions Up There!"

Lots of well heeled movie stars flee out to Palm Springs.The fortunate ones return to Hollywood well healed.One of our fearless Palm Springs ministers caught arevved-up movie mogul on a golf course there and told himthis: "You have no more right to consume happiness withoutproducing it, than to consume wealth without producing it."B e s t thing about the desert i s that it has no built-inobsolescence. ^Personally I prefer the well-developed female movie starsregardless of sexwhich is not easy to be regardless of. Amovie male trying to unwind on our desert is likely to becomea touseled, unshaved, unlovely creature somewhat resemblinga burned-over cholla cactus. Screen females normally let go

quicker; they intuitively respond to the desert's warm handof friendship offered them, they quickly sense its kinship withthe hum an spirit. Man figures he always has to put up a fight.Bill Borden of Banning said he had postponed his weddingby two days, and we asked him why. "Well," he explained,logically, "I figured it out that my silver anniversary wouldcome on a Saturday, and I always play golf on Saturdays."

Wasted, weakling words in any business or home "/ toldyou so." ^Tom Miller moved his family out to suburban Indio to findthe desert's infinite peace and quiet, but frustration has set in."I'd take that new record player back to the dealer if I could,"avows he. "When I bought it for Christmas, the man assuredme it would reproduce symphonies, operas and hymns withdelightfully high fidelity. But he never mentioned that myhigh-enthusiasm high school sophomore daughter would keepit screaming constantly with high-volume rock-and-roll. Thedesert birds have left us, and even my dog won't slink homeuntil after midnight now."Our family bank account is low this third month afterChristmas, but maybe we are getting ahead anyway. DesertSteve Ragsdale once told me that all progress is based oneternal desire to live beyond income.E v e r y now and then t express a normal masculineyen to move out to a wild desert shack and let mywhisker s grow wild for s ix months or so. "Nothingwould come of it," warns my Adele each time, "exceptloneliness. But I could forward your mail."If you want a perfect hatch, mister, just brood over yourtroubles. ^Up in Twenty-Seven Palms, Alaska, where I was born in asplit-level igloo, people think our California desert is nothingbut sand dunes like the Sahara. But we remain friends. Fo rChristmas I sent ten pounds of Coachella Valley dates upthere, and got back ten pounds of prime whale blubber. Anall-American exchang e. ^You wanta know what started that fight at the PalmSprings rodeo? A dude from New York stepped out of hishotel, looked around the street then said, "Never before haveI seen so many half pints in 10-gallon hats!"Secret capitalistic report to the Krem lin: Even the desertdwellers of America, with little or no visible means of report,now have one automobile for every three persons.Yes, it gets warmish around Indio in summer, but wenever notice it. One of us did check out, go to his reward ,and foolishly start complaining about the temperature. "Ohbut it's a dr y heat," Satan explained blandly. "Really notuncomfortable at all.""Nuts," scoffed the Indio m an. "I've heard th at old guffbefore.""Certainly," agreed Satan. "In fact you told it. Tha t's whyyou're here." ^" I have a seve re allergy t o g rass , " says Milt Hoffmanof La Quinta, "which regrettably precludes any contactwith i t such as mowing or trimming. Fortunately, i t i sinoperative on a golf course . "Whenever I get near the Salton Sea my mind reverts to theBible. Daydreamer that 1 am, I envision men in long beardsand robes populating the area. Seems to me that O ne in

particular would fit in there; seems as if He would sometimesbe sitting on a rock, gently showing the rest of us how toorient our lives, much as was done near the D ead Sea. Cometo think of it, probably He does sit here and teachif only wehave the will to see and hear. / / /


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GILBERT ROLAND CLAUDETTE COLBERT GINGER ROGERS

BUILDINGAN IMAGE

By TONY BURKEThe photographs accompanying thisarticle were taken c. 1932 at theEl Mirador Hotel in Palm Springs

MY FAT HE R once told me: "It'sfun to have money, but whenyou don't the next best thingis to be where it is." I can't say tha tI deliberately pursued this policy asI grew up, but fate seems to haveplaced me in the secondary position

at times. For instance, there was PalmSprings at the zenith of its short-termed boom of the twenties! Afriend suggested I join him in hisreal estate business there. T ha t wasin the Fall of 1929, following a 1928season of great prosperity and prom-ise. Two top-ranking subdivisionswere being promoted between TomO'Donnell's private golf course andthe new million dollar El MiradorHotel.

With dizzy visions of sales pyramid-ing into commissions, into bank ac-counts, into that spiralling stockmarket, I plunged smack into thedensest void the market crash!Dreams of millions vanished over-nigh t. Quickly I was back where Istarted. Came here with little morethan hope, so lost nothing of sub-stance in the scrimmage. Needing toeat, and figuring that the new El

Mirador needed promotion to fill itsempty halls, I traded my former pressexperience for a room and bath atEl Mirador, meals with the payingguests, photographic expenses and$100 per month . It wasn't easy. Theother older hotels the Desert Innand the Oasis had a loyal clienteleof long standing but our lovely newpile of empty rooms had to beat thedrums for business in the toughestof times.Palm Springs was then a villageof utte r charm and serenity. Onedrug store, a deputy sheriff with noarrests, two doctors (winter only ),no fire station, two groceries, a coupleof swimming pools. The averagehome cost $2 to $3 a square foot tobuild.Palm Springs in 1929 was knownto but a minute percentage of sun-seekers. Those who knew its delights


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ALBERT EINSTEIN CHARLES I .AUGHTON E D D I E C A N T O R

and were in a position to enjoy a fewmonths here, returned again andagain. I t dawned on me that thereare always wealthy Americans whocan well afford to leave behind therigors of their home states to wallowin the glorious sunshine of our des-ert, despite the daily adversities ofthe t icker-tape kingdom . Whereverthey came from, with wife and chil-dren, they evidently were well-heeledto afford a whole winter away fromhome. I figured their home townsociety pages could well use picturesof them sun bathing against a back-ground of palms and cactus undera cloudless sky. Thus all the easternand mid-western, north-western andeven southern newspapers becameinnocent boosters for this little-knowndesert resort. We became confidentand dubbed ourselves "America'sForemost Desert Resort." Why not?

I had to manufacture news photosand stories. El Mirador possessed ahand som e 75 - foot - long swim mingpool, so along in November I ar-ranged an aquatic show that wowedthe newsreel audiences of those days.Remember please, there was no TVthen and movie theaters were crowd-ed, so newsreels were the best medi-um for a promoter with an alluringsubject like ours. As guests of ElMirador, all four newsreel companieswere invited to send their cameracrews and wives for a weekend inreturn for a morning of picture-takingat ou r swimfest. Also as guests of th ehotel were the finest swimmers andexhibition divers of the era, to stagea show seldom seen since. Fam ousyoung aquatic stars, professional andamateur, entertained an audience oflocal and Southland visitors whilethe cameras ground away. Our per-

formers included Johnny Weissmul-ler , "Dutch" Smith, Esther Will iams,Marjorie Gestr ing, Georgia Coleman,Mickey Reilly, Eleanor Holm andteams of racers from Los Angeles andHollywood Athletic Clubs.These annual events became thesignal for opening each season andtended to fill our hotels at an earlydate. They also attracted Holly-wood's glamorous screen personali-ties, thus furnishing me and my cam-era with more and more publicityma terial for weeks to come. W he nzero weather sprawled across muchof the continent, the frozen halfgazed enviously upon a photo oflovely Constance Bennett in a flimsy

sunsuit peddling a bike along a palm-lined road, or Errol Flynn with hisFrench actress wife, Lily Damita,playing tennis in shorts, Al Jolsonwith his Ruby Keeler sunning at the


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poolside, John and Lionel Barrymorevisiting Leslie Howard over herefrom England to thaw out and do apicture. Too, there were Pola Negri,Paulette Goddard, George Raft,Richard Arlen, Gracie Allen andGeorge Burns, Charles Laughton, theMarx b rothers, and Marlene Dietrich.Soon the writers and directors andcameramen and technicians followed

the stars to the desert, week afterweek soaking up the sunshine, gam-bling at the tables of the elegantDunes Club and the homespun 139Club in Cathedral City (illegal, ofcourse, but popular), riding horsesacross the wide open desert terrain,or playing tennis on the village's onlytwo courts, at the Desert Inn and ElMirador. These became so congestedwith players like Charlie Farrell,Ralph Bellamy, Johnnie M a c kBrown, Paul Lukas, Gilbert Roland,Charlie Butterworth, Bill, Jack andGeorge Hearst, that Charlie andRalph decided to build a couple ofcourts for themselves and friends,thus, the Racquet Club.One person responsible for someof the earliest and best publicity ona national scale was the New Yorkattorney, Samuel Untermyer (thefirst lawyer to receive a legal fee of$1,000,000). Each year he wouldspend most of the winter in his Span-ish-style home built into the hillsideback of the Desert Inn. Upo n hisarrival I would visit him for a state-

ment and come away with pages ofcomments and opinions, partly po-litical, partly advice and partly ob-servations on the world of that day.Untermyer invited Professor andM r s . Albert Einstein of Germany tobe his guests at his New York homeand later in Palm Springs. Th is waswhen the Nazis were making threat-ening gestures towards the Professorand his colleagues, so off to the U.S.they fled.Though the average American

knew nothing about Einstein's theoryof relativity or his development ofthe quantum theory of specific heat,the public's interest in Einstein re-mained high. I saw before me achance to exploit this vast curiosityabout the remarkable man to thegreat good of my beloved PalmSprings. Untermyer saw to it that Iwas the only photographer of Ein-stein and his wife while they stayedhere. Though the Nobel Prize win-ner detested cameras, photographersand noise, I was the exception. Aftera week or so the Einsteins even ac-cepted the invitation of El Mirador'smanager, Warren Pinney, to beguests at the hotel. I had the good

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EDWARD G. ROBINSON ANDDIRECTOR ERNST LUBITSCH JEAN AND AUGUSTE PICCARD,FAMED SWISS BALLOONISTS

GARY COOPER

RUBY KEELER AND ALJOLSON JIMMY DURANTE AND HIS FATHER

fortune to enjoy many a meal withthem, to drive them around the val-ley, explore the canyons with them,and provide him with a borrowedviolin with which he would wanderout in the moonlight and play foran hour or more. This enabled meto turn out reams of publicity andstacks of rare photos for the nationalpress. We parted good friends.These were rich experiences indeedfor an immigrant to wander into withno more purpose in mind then than

to peddle a few bits of real estate fora living. I blundered into the greatgood fortune of knowing and meet-ing daily with the greatest of modernAmerican musicians, George Gersh-

win; the late and brilliant playwrightMoss Hart, just after his first success.I dined and traveled with John JacobRaskob, builder of the Empire StateBuilding. Furthering my duties I ar-ranged the studio in El Mirador'stower for the Amos and Andy radioprogram to be broadcast over thenational networks by Freeman Gos-den and Charles Correll, so theycould enjoy a winter here instead ofin Chicago. I went with John HayesHammond, dean of mining engineers,to the gigantic tunnels being boredthrough the mountains north of herefor the Metropolitan Water Districtto bring Colorado River water over

300 miles to the Southland. I per-suaded good Jimmy Durante to takeover the entertainment during thedepths of the great depression at ElMirador's New Year's Eve party,helping us all forget the midnighthour and our miseries. Bing Crosbylearned to love our desert in thoseearly '30s, when I invited him andother members of his famed trio atthe Ambassador Hotel in L.A. tospend a weekend at a bungalowinexchange for a little free entertain-ment at El Mirador's pool and diningroom.Even Death Valley Scotty cameover here to sneer at us and ourdecadent way of life. / / /


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B O R R E G O D E S E R T5 S T A T E P A R K

C O A C H E L L A V A L L E YA Guide to ItsO u t d o o r W o n d e r s

B y C L A R E N C E S M I T Hdirector, Palm Springs Desert Museum

TRIP NO. 1: TAHQUITZ CAN-YON, for the driving hiker. Mostunique of the desert canyons thatrim Coachella Valley is Tahquitz,with its roaring waterfall withineasy walking distance of a pavedroad.How to get there: Ramon Road inPalm Springs spurs west a few hun-dred feet toward the rugged cleft mark-ing the canyon of Tahquitz. You canpark at road's end and walk the IVimiles to the beautiful Tahquitz pool;or you can drive a half-mile closerover the wheel ruts extending from

Ramon.Hiking and climbing above thefalls is a dangerous pastime; the can-yon is sheer-walled, rocks are slick

and slippery, and safe - appearingstretches are treacherously loose un-derfoot.TRIP NO.2: ANDREAS, MURRAY,WEST FORK, PALM AND FERNCANYONS, for everybody. Theseare the famed canyon oases of theDesert Cahuilla Indians.

How to get there: The toll gate tothe canyons is on Palm Canyon Drivefour miles south from the center ofPalm Springs. Just a very short dis-tance beyond the gate, turn right wherethe sign points to Andreas Canyon.You can drive right to AndreasOasis cottonwoods, sycamores andnative palms beside a bustling stream

of excellent water. Here are picnictables, wading pool, and rest rooms.Stir around just a bit and you cansee thebedrock mortar holes in "Gossip Rock"; creep among the cracksand crannies at the base of the cliffand see the remnants of old Indianpictographs; wander up the streamtrail a short way and see the modi-fied rock shelters once lived in by theIndians; try to separate the stonehouses of the Andreas Club, up onthe ridge, from the natural bouldersthey were built among; and look forthe stream orchids growing in shadedshallow water along the stream.

Murray Canyon, which cuts intothe mountains south of Andreas, also


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For delightful desertwinter and summervisit

It's just a step from Yucca Valley to the outdoor wonderlandof Joshua Tree National Monument.

Pioneertown's "Mane" Street Five minutes from YuccaValley's busy Main Street.

GATEWAYTO

THESHELTEREDHI DESERT

VACATIONLAND

Y u c c a V a l l e y o f f e r s y o u : Fun-filled weekends and vacations . . .unsurpassed all-year climate . . . fine restaurants, motels, shopping centers . . . twoart galleries . . . hiking and riding trails into the Hi Desert Joshua b elt (Joshua TreeNational Monu ment is minutes away!) . . A8-hole golf course . . . recreational play-ground for children . . . old western movie location at Pioneertown . . . abando nedmines, rockhou nd country nearby . . . on the most direct route, San Bernard ino to theColorado River (boating, fishing) .

F R E EWrite for colorful brochure

Yucca Val leyChamber of CommerceBox 10Yucca Val ley , Calif. Don't forget Yucea Valley's"Grubstake Days"June 1, 2, 3-


12/48

On the Palms to Pines Highway, connecting the Coachella Valley desert floor with the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto high country

is marked by signs. (A trail windsaround the tongue of the hill onemile to Murray Canyon.) Here isanother live stream, with fine treesand other vegetation, but no comfortor convenience facilities and notmany people, either. Murray is awonderful canyon for the bird- andplant-lovers, or for those who liketo get off by themselves.

West Fork, Palm and Fern canyontrips all begin at the same place: atroad's end on Hermit's Bench inPalm Canyon.If you decide to tackle the WestFork Canyon trek, you should be pre-pared for some fairly rugged hiking,or should be on horseback. Warning:not for novice riders.How to get there: Just to the rightand behind the little store on theBenc h, a trail ascends the hill. It's abreathtaker for steepness the first quar-ter-mile, but then steadies off to a long

gradual pull trending west along thesouth side of West Fork Canyon.The West Fork hiker is rewardedwith wonderful views of the CoachellaValley, and the tops of palms grow-ing in both West Fork and Palmcanyons. There are several places-no trailswhere you can work steeplydown to the stream in West Fork.

The Palm Canyon hike is whatyou want to make it so far as easeor difficulty are concerned . This isa beautiful canyon with picnic tables,rest rooms, but no good water; thepalms are magnificent, the geologyis fascinating, birdlife is abundantand there are usually lots of people.How to get there: Drop down thepaved trail from the Bench to the floor

of the canyon.Follow the trail up-canyon for amile or soor hike the full 14 milesto the Palms-to-Pines Highway.

Fern Canyon and Dripping Springsoffer something special. The hikingis gradual and easy except for acouple of dry falls that must beclimbed.How to get there: Leave the Benchand turn left down-canyon at the footof the paved trail. For a hundredyards or so there is no trail, but thenyou pick it up on the right side of thecanyon and follow it up and to theeast over a low ridge, down into andacross a wash and into the mouth ofa canyon coming from the east. Th isis Fern Canyon in the Murray Hills.Dripping Springs is marked by a bankof maidenhair fern.

TRIP NO. 3: CATHEDRAL CAN-YON, for the easy hiker. This canyonoffers a perfect destination for thecasual hiker interested in a short andreasonably easy walk.

How to get there: In Cathedral City,turn south off the highway at the side-road next to the Security First National


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Bank building. The cove into whichCathedral Canyon debouches is underheavy subdivis ion development, androad directions would be confusing.You wil l get to where you want to gonear as possible to the mouth of thecanyonif you work your way towardthe hills then bear left. Local inquirywil l help.The lVi-mile hike includes twoscrambles up dry falls (both with cutand cemented steps). Destination is asandy-floored basin with an 80-footcliff barring further ascent of thecanyon. Th is is the place of fanciedresemblance to a cathedral's apse,from which the canyon got its name.TRIP NO. 4 : WHITEWATERCANYON, for drivers. This road ispaved for several miles and then isa graded dirt road, winding up thecanyon, fording the stream severaltimes, and finally ending at a private-ly operated trout hatchery. Here youmay rent fishing equipment, catchyour fish, have them cleaned, andproceed to cook them yourself in apleasantly maintained picnic area.

The fishing is good, if too easy;the canyon is scenic; there's usuallya cooling breeze; and the hatcheryis very interesting.How to get there: Drive north fromPalm Springs on Highway 111 to apoint just this side of the railroadstation where you will see a road lead-ing to the right over the tracks, andmarked by a sign reading "White-water." Follow this road to its junc-tion with Highway 60-70-99. Turn righton 60-70-99 just a fraction less than amile to a cross-over of the dividedhighway, then turn left on the White-water Canyon Road.For the geologist, the rift zonewhere the great San Andreas Faultcrosses near the lower end of thecanyon is extremely interesting, withits evidences of thrust faulting, over-riding, disconformities and fault brec-cia. The paleontologist will bepleased to find old marine depositsyielding fossil shells. The botanistwill be happy with Transitional andhigher elevation plant species thathave worked downward into thismoist, but still essentially desert,canyon.TRIP NO. 5: THOUSAND PALMS-DILLON ROAD , for drivers. Thisis a pleasant and easy drive throughdunes, sandstone hills and palmoases.How to get there: Begin in Thou-sand Palms. Paved Ramon Road leads

past Hidden Springs Ranch, then agraded county road swings left. Strungout along the flank of low mud hills isthe oasis of Willis Palms. The countyroad now swings slightly right andcurves left around the base of the hillsfollowing the side of Thousand Palmswa sh. In a short distance you rounda curve, dip through a trickle of water,and find Paul W ilhelm's Th ousandPalm s Oasis on your left. The dirtroad eventually reaches paved but nar-row Dillon Road paralleling the footof the Little San Bernardino Moun-tains. Turn either left (North PalmSprings and Palm Springs) or right(Indio) and you will pass gardens ofbarrel and cholla cacti.TRIP NO. 6: POWER LINE ROAD,for drivers.

How to get there: Proceed as onTrip No. 5, but where the overheadpower line carried on four-legged steeltowers crosses the county road contin-uation of Ramon Road, turn right. Thisis a very narrow, bump and dippybutpavedservice road which leads pastthe mouths of several intriguing can-yons .The first palms you see far backin the hills on your left clusteraround Hidden Palms Oasis. Thenext canyon beyond is Pushawalla(wonderful for a four-mile round-trip) .Continuing down the road, off tothe right and along the Pushawallaoutwash channel are clusters of ac-cretion dunes built up around mes-quite trees. This is the locale of anold Indian village, and is also a mar-velous flower area in the spring.The service road leads on throughsome malpais slopes, passes close toa number of palm oases growingalong the San Andreas Fault zone,and winds through the fringe of theMud Hills where fine examples ofwind and water erosion are seen.The road ends at Dillon Roadleftto North Palm Springs; right toIndio.

TRIP NO. 7, PAINTED CANYONAREA, for the driving hiker. If youhave most of a full day to spend,don't mind a few miles of dirt roaddriving, and are looking for magnifi-cent scenery, head for the PaintedCanyon area in the Mecca Hillssoutheast of Indio and north of Sal-ton Sea.How to get there: From Mecca turneast on State Highway 195 and drivetoward the wrinkled and eroded hills .Just at the edge of the hills, the high-way makes an "8" sweep across the

A m e r i c a ' sVaca t i on Parad i se

This Year Come toUTflH'i s u n j u n n FABULOUS RED-ROCK COUN TRY MOD ERN & COMPLETE TOURIST FACILITIES Monu ment Valley The Needles DeadHorse Point Rainbow Bridge NaturalBridges San Juan River Goosen ecks LaSal Mo untains . . .All InSA NJUANCOUNTYW r it ef o r F r e eB r o c h u r eSan JuanCountyCommission,Mont ice l lo ,Utah

1 R & ' ^ B *

H I D D E N T R E A S U R E SCOLO, SILVER, PRECIOUS METALS wi th tht fcmow M odtl27 Mtlal D.l.ttor. Lightweight, ultTa-MniiHn, lawcoi l . Nona f i n . t . Also OEIGER COUNTERS for uraniumand tht VIOUTE for hmgtton. INFORMATION HUE

O t t o n C o p i e d N e ve r E x ce l l e dMETAL DETECTORS

More accurate, it 's the first metal detectordesigned specif ically for detecting placergold, nuggets, and other small metal ob-jects. Depth range 7 feetcomes com plete,ready to use.MODEL 27instructions included $11 9.9 5MODEL 711with 21 ft. depth range $149.00

LAKEWOOD CHEMICAL KITThe Lakewood Chemical Kit can be used inconnection with all the principal texts onminerals such as Dana, Pough, O. C. Smith,Pennfield, Duke's Course, and many others.The Lakewood Chemical Kit, because ofthe acids it contains, is not recommendedfor persons under 18 years old. Priced$36.00 Express only.

SEND FOR FREE L ITERATUREdomfiton1405 S. Long Beach Blvd., Compton, Calif.NEwmark 2-9096South of Compton Blvd.


14/48

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TORRANCE, CALIF./aqaBtmdtaNEXT MONTH-a special issue on the wilderness

wonders of Southern Utah- i n the Apr i l DESERT

W H E R E V E R Y O U D R I V E . . .

d r i v e c o o l. . . a r r i v e f r e s h !AIR CONDITIONyour car now...a*discount prices

Enjoy air-condit ioned driving inthe hot sun . . . on smoggy free-ways . . . on vacat ion t r ips.ALL LEADING MAKES Instant, maximum refrigerated cooling. Easily tran sfera ble to your next c ar.A.R.A. factory trained mechan icsA S S O C I A T E D A I R C O N D I T I O N I N G C O .

25 00 W . 6th St ., L .A.DU 1-11144 hr. installation appointmen t not requiredOpen Mon. through Sat., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

S M O K E TR EE A N D P A L M S A T T H O U S A N D P A L M S O A S I S

Coachella Branch of the All-AmericanCanal, and then continues on throughBox Canyon. To reach Painted Canyonturn sharp left immediately aftercrossing the canal, taking the dirt roadthat dips into an old gravel pit andthen parallels the embankment of thecanal. About two miles from the gravelpit turn right on a track that climbsa low escarpment and then winds grad-ually across the outwash fan and intoa canyon of fantastic erosion and bril-liant colors.

The hills here are composed ofsedimentary materials sandstonesand conglomerates that have beencrushed and brecciated by earthquakeaction and then oxidized, producingthe characteristic "paint" color.After a couple of miles of road(bumpy, gravelly and sandy in places,but ordinary care will permit drivingany careven pulling a housetrailer

into this area) you reach a broa dflat marking the confluence of twocanyons. T he one to the right (mark-ed by a sign: "Painted Canyon

T r a i l " ) , the main canyon, is the mostspectacular of the two.It is an easy mile walk to a narrowand steep cleft barring further prog-ress. Now you can either go backor scramble through the cleft th ecanyon broadens and twists alongwith its eroded walls presenting intri-cate and puzzling geologic features.This whole Mud Hills region in-vites days of exploration; but be sureyou have plenty of water, be carefulof entry if the weather looks stormy,and try not to be under a cliff theday an earthquake is scheduled!

TRIP NO. 8: SALTON SEA AREA,for drivers, bathers, boaters. Thisisn't a single triprather, this wholeregion can and should be visited anumber of t imes.Let's start on the west side of theSea on Highway 99at the Indianpetroglyphs and the controversial


15/48

Fish Traps. The latter are walleddepressions in the tufa-encrusted talusbelow steep hillsides; they were ob-viously constructed by humans, butexactly when and for what purposeis amatter of conjecture and some-times heated arguments.How to get there: At Valerie JeanDate Shop, turn west to the base of thehills where signs indicate "Fish Traps."Travertine Point is a mass of gran-

itic boulders, once an island in theold Lake Cahuilla, with its lower two-thirds heavily encrusted with cal-careous tufa. All arou nd in the sandsare tiny shells, occasional bitsofbroken pottery, and still more occa-sional pieces ofchipped stone andarrowheads.How to get there: Return to Highway99 atValerie, turn right (south) anddrive 12 miles.Along this stretch of highway areSea resort areas where you'll findcamping, swimming, boating, water-skiing, food, lodging, gasoline. FromValerie, apaved road leads directlyto Mecca and Highway 111, whichskirts the east shore of the Sea. Moreresorts here, plus the Salton Sea StatePark with boat launching facilitiesand picnic ramadas.

TRIP NO. 9: PALM SPRINGS DES-ERT MUSEUM WILDLIFE SANC-TUARY, for hikers. These 230 acresoffer inaddition tothe identifiedperennial plant species, anumber ofinteresting geologic features, includ-ing a"climbing" dune, afine mal-pais slope, excellent examplesofgranitic erosion-forms, and some peg-matite outcrops with their giantcrystal types.H ow toget there: Turn westonPortola Drive in Palm Desert, follow itto its end, continue through the right-left jog to the signs opposite the en-trance gate toSilver Spur directingyou to the Wildlife Sanctuary. Pick upone of the guide leaflets from the box,the follow the self-guiding trail (two-mile hike).

TRIP NO. 10: DEAD INDIANCANYON, for hikers. The palms ofDead Indian Creek are easy to reach.How to get there: Prom the junctionof Highway 111 inPalm Desert andState Highway 74, drive west on thelatter road (Pines-to-Palms Highway).In 3% milesat the foot of the hillsturn sharp right just before the high-way crosses abridge, and park undera clump ofpaloverdes. Walk aheadand to your left into the sandy washthe canyon of Dead Indian Creek. Ahalf-mile from the car brings youtothe entrance of Grapevine Canyon, entering on your left. Ashort distanceahead you can see the palms ofDeadIndian. Atributary canyon steep,rough and quite difficult to get intocomes in from the west . Here you wil lfind more palms.

This complex of canyons is avery

Now Open . . .and Anxious to Welcome Youin Y U C C A V A L L E Y -n the highway

to Joshua Tree National Monument in the High Desert

P A C K S A D D L E G A L L E R YFeaturing ExclusivelyW e s t e r n A m e r i c a n Art

Gallery Hours: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily except Tuesdays.Mail Address: Box 236, Yucca Valley, Calif. Phone: 365-5925.

ARTISTSNow ShowingBill BenderBill HamptonJohn W. HiltonWilliam P. KrehmPaul LauritzKirk MartinEmil MorhardtRobert WagonerJuanita Reed(Indian Ceramist)

H e n r y R . M o c l c e l a n d B e v e r l y M o c k e lBox 726, Twentynine Palms,Calif.

have ashowing of their bigger ondbetter production inthe field off ine graphic art in booth 63 at theDATE FESTIVALINDIO, CALIF.February 16 through 26Featured are the WILDFLOWERS ofthe desert infull color, packagedas notes, with envelopes, one dozenassorted:Set No. 1Upper desert plantsSet No. 2Low desert plants$1.50 eachFor f raming, 11" x14" printsofWildflowers, Cacti andDesertScenes $1.50 eachThese prices include mailing in theU.S.A. and Canada.All are reproductions of H RMockel's work end show the charmof the desert in its various aspects.Suitable as gifts or souvenirs.Wholesale accounts invited.

Six-month-old hybridHeight: 9 ft.; spread: 8V2 ft.;trunk diameter: ^3/i in .

The NewR e e s e H y b r i d M e s t j u i t eMONARCH OF THE DESERTThe greatest tree ofall time for early, effective,economical shade and windbreak. Most beautiful,symmetrical, artistic, evergreen leavescommon tono other. Loves hot sun and drouth; controls thewind; stops blowing sand.Deepest tap-root system ever known. Flowers andlawns love it! No insects nor diseases; no droppageof leaves or sap. Ideal for yard and patio, shadingof pool; never molests fence, sidewalk, septic tank,cess-pool, water or sewage lines. Clean, ma jestic,attractive. Effective shade in one year; windbreakin two!

Every tree fully guaranteed. We ship anyw here in theworld, safe delivery assured.For detailed information, prices, writeT U P E L O G A R D E N SP. O. Box 242Desert Hot Springs, Calif.

Phone 329-5473Members California Nurserymen's AssociationHonesty, Integrity, Fair-Dealing

March. 19B2 /Dsssr t Mnamino /15


16/48

'" PALM SPRINGSV By the WeekV By the Month

B e a u t i f u l V I1 l a H e r m o s aDowntownone block from post officeTV Large Pool Electric KitchenSeven days: as low as $75 (winter);$40 (summer)

Write for free brochureVilla Hermosa, 1S5-DW. Hermosa PlacePALM SPRINGS CALIFOR NIA

RANCH VACATIONS!Finest FAMILY vacations. Ridethru deep forests, hike along amountain stream, enjoy bo untifu lhome-cooked meals, and the inestaccommodations. Swim ming , f ishing , cook-outs. You andyour family relaxing amongthe finest people in the world. Select yourranch from 58 ranches in the 11 westernstates, personally inspected by tee Crager.Know before you gofrom first-hand in-formation. Reserve now! Noservice charge.

Call or write for free informationGUEST RANCH RESERVATION CENTER

1 6115 Selmo, LoiA n g e l e l 28 ^ ^ e Hol lywood 3-3231

A n n o u n c i n gi i iuui iuny ~r(amelotFor Happy Ever Altering

W ith in a wall-enclosed resident ia l parkthere wil l be complete pr ivacy and seclu-sion in a t ree-studded acreage af ford ing aromantic and picturesque set t ing for yourcustom-sty led home . . . with in thewalls allutilities will be u n d e r g r o u n d , the avenuesand walks paved . . . the beauty of the en-tire terrain will be ever pro tected by acommunity associat ion . . . the 35 acresco mp r i s in g C AMELOT are a par t of Indio ,at thevery core of theselect suburban areaat Miles and Monroe.

O w n e d andbeing Developed by theStockholders ofP E A R S O N M O R T G A G E C O M P A N Y

an d to be offered throughJOE PENCE, REALTORH5-370 Jackson St., IndioDiamond 7-2250

pleasant one to visit; the hiking isshort. There aremany signs of sheep;hawks may be seen wheeling abovethe cliffs; occasionally you mayhearthe wonderful call of the canyonwren.TRIP NO. 11: CARRIZO CANYON,for hikers. Throughout this canyonis evidence of great and extensivegeologic activity; the rock strataallmetamorphic gneisses and schists-are twisted, curved, curled uponthemselves in unbelievable ways;there are whole boulders of biotitemica in the canyon floor; in severalplaces very small garnets occur inthe schists.The flora, too, is interesting. Ele-vation is great enough for both oco-tillo and agave to occur. The annu-als bloom profusely in the spring.

H ow to get there: Two-tenths milebeyond the Dead Indian Creek turnoff,Highway 74 conies to a second bridge.Park on the shoulder here, walk intothe broad wash between the road andthe hills, and follow the jeep trackssix-tenths mile into the mouth of Car-rizo Canyon. Soon your way narrowsbetween rugged and nearly verticalcliffs, twis t ing and turning and climb-in g all the whilethough at an easygradient.TRIP NO. 12: PALMS-TO-PINESUPLANDS, for the driving hiker.This entire region is of botanicalinterest, for the life zone lies betweenUpper Sonoran and Transitional.You will find some manzanita, somelow juniper, a few scattered pinyonpines, buckthorn, mountain plumand apricot, and any number ofgrowing things not seen at lower ele-vations. The Dos Palmas Palmsatan elevation of 3700 feet are thehighest growing group in the desertarea.

H ow to get there: Proceed up High-way 74 beyond the stretch of switch-continued onpage 41

I T R A I S E S IT L O W E R S

New York, New YorkFeb r u a r y 1 7 - 2 5Philadelphia , Pa.March 2-10Cleveland, OhioMarch 23-Apr i l 1Cincinnat i , OhioMarch 3-11Los Angeles, Calif.March 29-Apr i l 8Toronto , Ontar ioMarch 9-17fa The unique hydraulic m echanism which raisesthe camper top can be safely operated even by asmall child. Locks prevent accidental lowering.Th e top is lowered quickly by the simple turnof a valve.

R. D. Hall Mfg., Inc.9847 Glenoaks Blvd.,Sun Valley, Calif.U . S . Patent No. 2879103 Canadian Patent

The Alaskan Camper is quickly transformed fromits compact low silhouette on the road to roomywalk-in living quarters. Drive safely at any speedwith minimum drag and sway. Moments later,"Northwest U.S." "Eastern U.S."CAMPERS, INC. PENNA CAMP, INC.8819 Renlon Ave. P. O. Box 26 4Seattle 18, Wash. Manheim, Penna.

enjoy the comfort and convenience of a weather-tight, high ceiling, home away from home com-plete with three burner stove, sink, cabinets, icebox, beds, and many other luxury features."Eastern Canada" "Western Canada"CANADIAN MO BILE LIVINGCAMPERS PRODUCTS, LTD.77 Pelham Ave. P. O. Box54 8Toronto 9, Ontario Red Deer, AlbertaWrite today to thefactory nearest you formore information on themost advanced camper on theroad. Attention Dept. D

16 / D es er t M a g a z in e / M a rch , 1962


17/48

WEATHERBy PHIL AULTexecutive editor, Indio Daily News

E VERY YEAR as Memorial Dayapproaches, a mass of hot airsmothers the Coachella Valleylike an oppressive blanket. Th ewhirr of the air conditioner is addedto the sounds of the night, out-of-state license plates disappear fromHighway 111 and the permanent resi-dents of the valley prepare themselvesfor the torrid, languid months ofsummer.

They shed their pretences, muchof their ambition and many of theirclothes as they settle down to paythe unavoidable price for the gloriousweather of fall, winter and spring.Three summer months of intense,unbroken, all-permeating heat areinevitable in the Coachella Valley.Because of nature's arrangement ofmountains, ocean and wind currentsthe same alignment that makes therest of the year so delightfully sunnyand mildit can be taken for grantedthat almost every day from MemorialDay to Labor Day, and on beyondinto September, will have peak tem-peratures above 100 degrees.Nor do the summer nights cool offnoticeably. Tha t lyric line, " 'til thesands of the desert grow cold," appliesonly in the winter months.During the summer, 90 degrees atmidnight is not uncommon, andweeks pass without the temperaturefalling below eighty any time, day

or night. The w eather is so predicta-ble, in fact, that the U.S. governmentweather forecaster is transferred awayfrom the Coachella Valley in sum-

mer. It's going to be blistering hot,everybody knows it, and what dif-ference does it make, really, if tomor-row's high is 113 or 119?As a matter of fact, the all-timeofficial high temperatures in the val-ley's two chief cities are 125 degreesin Indio and 122 degrees in PalmSprings, both recorded in July, 1905.Knowing what is in store eachsummer, the residents of the valleyin theory can do one of two thingsduring June, July and August. Theycan pack up and "go outside," as theold expression puts it. ("Going overthe hill" to the coast is the currentphrase.) Or they can stay in thevalley and flip on the air conditioners.I say this choice exists in theorybecause in reality a large percentageof the Coachella Valley's residentstoday are permanent dwellers whosehomes and jobs are in the valley.

They cannot afford the time or themoney to leave home for threemonths, jeopardizing their jobs orbusinesses, any more than most resi-dents of Chicago can head for Cali-fornia during December, January andFebruary when the zero winds swirloff Lake Michigan.This is not to suggest that the val-ley's population remains as high insummer as in winter. Qu ite the op-posite; thousands of people head forcooler regions by mid-June, to returnin September or later. These are thetwo-home families, the wealthy orpseudo-wealthy who maintain a homein Palm Springs and another on thecoast; retired couples who have re-

tained the old house in their hometown and come to the desert for thewinter warmth, and employees andshopkeepers whose livelihood de-pends upon the presence of wintervisitors.After this semi-transient wintertimepopulation has evaporated in thesummer sunshine, there remains thesolid core of year-around residentsthe contestants in the annual warfareof Coachella Valley vs. the Weather.Most of them merely endure theheat with varying degrees of goodgrace and humo r. Others grumbleincessantly about it and the fate thathas forced them to cast their lot inthe valley du ring summ er. Some pre-tend to like the high temperatures;these are the heat snobs who brag totheir "outside" friends and relativesabout how hot it gets and how muchthey have endured . Still others, arelatively small but sincere group,really do enjoy the intense dry heatand look forward to it.Stripped down to the essentials, thestory of the Battle can be told in justtwo words: air conditioning.This is the story of the valley resi-dent's summer: he scurries from oneair-conditioned haven to another.One reason men can work out inthe broiling midsummer sun for ex-tended periodsand many do in farmand construction workis the knowl-edge that there is a cool place waitingto which they can escape when thetask is finished or if the heat becometoo intense. Contractors and ranch-ers often park air-conditioned trailers

I 17


18/48

110

ON EINCH

.90

.80

.70

Coachella uoWeather

D R YJanuarJ is

an averageofinch falls then

0.2omean inches. . I . . i , .

.90

50

30

10

os; =; f% M f a i n / | | a i A A | A / i r * Tapestry Wall Escalante River Music TempleKMINaUVW KKIUr t h H o l e i n t h e R o c k P'neer Crossing Crossing of then n i H I / V i r I ^ M I i r V h i Fathers A ncient Indian R uins and W ritings H iddenPassage Mystery Canyon Forbidden Canyon with its many swimming holes And many other scenic and historic sites.GLEN CANYON VOYAGEled by KEN SLEIGHT noted Utah Guide

1 9 6 2S C H E D U L E

1 Full Week of AdventureONLY $100 per person(includes Food and Guide Service). . . a $25 deposit securesyour reservation

This is the last year to see GlenCanyon in its primitive beauty.G L EN C A N Y O N T R IP S

April 18April 29M a y 9May 20June 20J u l y lJuly 11July 22August 1August 12August 22September 2September 12September 23

April 24- M ay 5 M ay 15May 26- June 26- July 7- July 17- July 28- August 7- Aug ust 18- Au gus t 28- September 8- September 18- Septem ber 29

More enjoymentn o more than12 gue sts to an expedition. Write today for FREE 20 pageRiver Recreation Literature.

WONDERLANDEXPEDITIONSKEN SLEIGHT, RIVER GUIDE

6575 South MainBountiful, Utah

kI*Ke Inc.R E A L E S T A T E B R O K E R S

MAILING ADDRESS P . O . BOX 910 , PALM SPRINGS, C AL IFO RN IAOFFICE LOCATION 70 23 7 HIG HW AY 1 1 1 , THUN DER BIRD A REA

P H O N E 3 2 8 - 2 5 9 0 P H O N E 3 2 4 - 1 5 5 7

Near Thermal and the proposed WILSON MEATPACKING PLANT, a cattle ranch to hold & graze1,000 head . Includes ho use s, barns, corrals, pastureand crops. Miles of fencing and 126 acres cottonallotment. Alfalfa fields, shade trees, dates and hasproduced sweet corn and melons. WATER: 5 goodwells, 3 artesian (no pumping necessary), also canalwater. Foreman willing to stay- 560 acres at only$800 per acre including improvem ents. Terms.* * *160 acres 10 minutes from Palm Springs and Vimile from $2,000 per acre lan d. You ca n bu y it for$750 per acre. Terms.

80 level acres near good development 12 minutesfrom Palm Springs. S weep ing view s. W ater andutilities available. Make excellent subdivision orinvestment. Nea rby land priced at $2,000 and up.This for $1,500 per acre. Term s.* * *Mountain Valley Ranch one hour from Palm Springs.Ideal for dude ranch or family club. 37 acre s ofsheer beauty with 3 lakes. Fish, deer, dove andquail. Stables. Ranch house 2 bedrooms, big sleep-ing porch, modern kitchen and bathroom, furnished.Guest house. Abundance of spring and well wateryea r around. Farm equ ipm ent Fruit trees, fenced,seclusion. O nly $50,000. $15,000 takes pos sessio n.

RANCHES AND DESERT ACRES FOR SALE AT REALISTIC PRICES


46/48

Jse tusee n Ifou an d

By RANDALL HENDERSON

G ENE CONROTTO, the editor, told me this issueof DESERT is to be devoted to the CoachellaValley sector of the Great American Desertandsuggested that editorial comment on some facet of lifein this booming winter resort area would be appropriate.This is a rather difficult assignment for an old-timerwho has never become fully adjusted to the migrationof so many people to this sun-kissed valley as has takenplace since World War II.My first glimpse of the then dusty streets of Indiowas in 1908 when I looked the village over from thetop of a boxcar. I was a student in Los Angeles, on myway to Imperial Valley to earn some vacation moneyas a fruit tramp in the cantaloupe fields, and since itrequired folding money to make the trip on a cushionseat, I was on the observation deck of those "side-doorsleepers." The Southern Pacific tra in crews were verytolerant toward Imperial-bound hoboes in those days.The more melon pickers there were in the fields, the

greater the pay-load for the outgoing refrigerator cars.On a return visit to Indio several years later I wit-nessed an Indian ritual which to me was no less amaz-ing than the snake dances on the Ho pi mesas. Th iswas during the embryo period of the Annual DateFestival when the affair was little more than a streetcarnival. But they had one act which no magician hasever tried to imitate.I saw old Ambrosio, one of the last of the Cahuillafire-eaters, reach into a pile of b urning wood, pluck ared-hot ember about the size of a hickory nut, and putit in his mo uth. He uttered g uttural sounds as he blewout the smoke, and when the fire had burned out, spatout the char.As the final act in this ritual he walked through thestill red embers of the bonfire in his bare feet. IfManager Bob Fullenwider would revive this ritual forthe Date Festival I am sure it would be a more popularattraction even than the annual ostrich race.But times have changed. The surviving members ofan Indian tribe which once gathered mesquite beans,juniper nuts and chia seed for sustenance now own someof the most valuable real estate in Palm Springs. Th edudes have been a godsend to these tribesmen. Or isaffluence beyond norm al hum an needs a blessing? Iam not sure.We whose homes are in Coachella Valley are fortun-ate in the natural assets with which this sheltered bowlis endowed. Th e lure of a mild winter climate andproximity to the Los Angeles metropolitan area hasbrought almost unlimited investment capital here. The

evidence of this is seen in the 15 golf courses locatedwithin a radius of 20 miles of Palm Desert where thisis being written, and the luxurious homes which linemany of the fairways on these courses.Two mountain massifs, snow-capped during the win-ter months, have insured a generous, though not un-limited, water supply. And at the east approach to ourvalley is the Salton Sea, which, although not a naturalcreation, has maintained a fairly stable level for morethan half a century. Since its source of supply is thedrainage water from 700,000 acres of irrigated farmlands around its shores, its future may depend some-what on the outcome of the Arizona-California waterlitigation now pending before the Supreme Court.From a recreational standpoint, this valley has assetsof tremendous potential which so far have been givenlittle recogn ition. I refer to the 30-odd scenic canyonswhich border this valley, extending back into the moun-tain ranges on both sides. At least 20 of these canyons

are the habitat of the native palm tree, which growsonly where there is water on or close beneath thesurface. On the south and west, in the Santa Rosa andSan Jacinto ranges, these canyons may be seen at inter-vals along the bajada all the way from Travertine Pointnear Salton Sea to Snow Creek opposite Cabazon. Onthe north side of the valley are three palm canyons andmany isolated oases along the fault line in the foothills.There are lew trails into these canyons, and thegoing is rough in places, but they offer an invigoratingand delightful challenge to those who like to explorethe virgin wilderness. Hik ing shoes and knapsacks arethe only special equipment you need for this sport.One of the most statesmanlike services this generationcould render to future Coachellans and the hundredsof thousands of winter visitors who come here eachseason, would be the public acquisition and preserva-tion of the most scenic of these canyons, not only forpark and recreational purposes but as added protectionfor the depleting water supply.From my scrapbook: Quoting from Aldo Leopoldin his Sand County Almanac: "It is a century now sinceDarwin gave us the first glimpse of the origin of species.We know now what was unknown to all the precedingcaravans of generation s: that m en are only fellow-voy-agers with the other creatures in the odyssey of evolution.This new knowledge should have given us by this timea sense of kinship with fellow creatures; a wish to liveand let live; a sense of wonder over the magnitude andduration of the biotic enterprise."


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Here's the HONDA TRAIL "SO".the Trail Machine That Does MORE But Costs LESSl

There's noother trail machine that looks like, isbuilt like,or performs like theHonda Trail "50".What other trail machine weighs only 121 lbs.,yet has5 horsepower totake you over desert, mountain and-timbercountry where you've never been able togobefore, even na jeep? What other machine gives youspeeds ranging fromzero to 30m.p.h.... and onupto 45m.p.h. with asimplechange ofsprocket?

These are only twoofthe many important differences.Check the comparison chart below.. .test ride every machineon themarket tosee oryourself.. .then take another lookat the prices. Produced in theworld's largest and most mod-ern motorcycle factory, theHONDA Trail "50" sells for $50to $150 less than other leading trail machines, butdoes somuch more somuch better!

Honda Trail "50"Mark 100-T $Luggage rack extra Only 275 plusdestinationand setupcharge Rugged tubular steel frame takesyo u andyour load safely overroughest terrain, gives youmanyyears ofdependable service. Full line of luggage racks,saddle bags andother acces-sor ies, optional.Ful l l ighting equipment fornightt ra i l i ng . Both ignit ion and l ightsare magneto operated, not de-pendent upon thebattery.

Fu l l 17 - inch whee ls equ ipped w i th2.25 x 17knobby traction t i res, f indfi rm footing even inloose sand . ..t a k e you up s te e p g r a d e s l i k e amountain goat

I "">

D u a l c a m- t y p esurestop brakes,f ron t and rear.

Heavy-duty, precision-built 50 cc4-cycleO.H.V. single-cylinder HONDA engine sim-ple, easy tomaintain butpowerful 5 h.p.Air-cooled.Easy to handle 3-speedtransmiss ion, automaticwet mult i -p late c lutch.

Hydraulic shockabsorbers, frontand rear.

Backwoods gearing, lowgear ratio 82 to 1.Quick-change sprocket fortou r ing at 45m.p.h.

COMPARE-andyou'llbuy HONDA!HorsepowerGear RatioGas ConsumptionSpeedClimbing Abi l i tyLoad CapacityTransmissionEngineBrakesShock absorbersLighting equipmentWeight

Other NationallyAdvertised Trail Machines3 toW2 h.p.(standard equipment)40 to 132 m.p.g.Top Speed Approx.12V2 m.p.h.Up to45slopeUp to400 lbs.2-speed,withcentr i fugal c lutchFlat head typeRear wheel onlySpring loaded frontend suspension onlyFrom none toheadl ight onlyUp to252 lbs.

Honda Trail"50"5 h.p.82 to 1Up to200m.p.g.Top Speed 25m.p.h. (45m.p.h.with tour ing sprocket)45 slope ormore250 lbs.plus rider3-speed, with modern automaticwet mult i -p late c lutchModern overhead valve typeFront and rearHydraulically dampened bothf ron t and rearHeadl ight, ta i l - l ight,turn indicators121 bs.

World's Largest Motorcycle ManufacturerAMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

4077 WEST PICO BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES 19,CALIFORNIA

THE HONDA TRAIL "50" travels fully loaded over roughest ground.SUGGESTION: Before youcomplete plans for your nexthunting, fishing orcamping trip, visit your Honda dealer.For name of dealer nearest you, phone Western Union bynumber and ask for Operator 25. Use coupon for freeliterature.

AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC., DEFT. 06 2- 34077 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles 19,CaliforniaPlease send free literature onHonda Trail "SO" to:NAME

STREET,CITY _ Z O N E _ -S T A T E .

Q Include information on thecomplete Honda "SO" line.0 Include information onHonda motorcycle line (9mod-els, 125 to 305cc) and new 125 ccHonda Scooter.1 I aminterested indealer franchise information.I i

Note: If you do not wish to cut the cover, a duplicatecoupon appears on page 44 for your convenience.


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Dream home & pool beautifullylandscaped on 6'/2 warm desert acres3 miles from go lf course. $65,0 00Full half acre desert view home site.All uti l ities in. $2350.00Sof t We l l Wate r

SelectDesert & Ranch

Properties inVicinity of Coachella Valley

Golf Courses281-lot subdivision property strategic-ally located on U.S. 99 adjoining famousBermuda Dunes Golf Cou rse. Ap prox.94 Rolling acres. $500,000

Famous actor 's desert adoberetreat. Unbelievable view andpr ivacy$40,000Raw Land40 acres in middle of world'sbest date gardens. Abundant water fromAll American Canal$750 per acre

Five Acre Date Garden with houseand well4 miles south of Indio$7500 downeasy payments11 Acre Horse Ranch. Sprinklers,private well and new home.

Close to Indio $40,000

RonaldLJohnsonCounty Real Estate Broker

writeBox 162, Thermal, Calif.

Exotic Table Grapes4 varieties39 acres full price $50,000Immaculately FarmedFive Acre SubdivisionBetween Palm Springs & Indio$6000 per acre

3 level acres with long frontage onmain paved roadTotal price $7500Fine well water and utilitiesPerfect for private landing strip40 acres !/2 mile long5 minutes

Documents

196203 Desert Magazine 1962 March