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We're recently back
from Palm
Desert having completed our final scout for your February learning
vacation we enjoyed every minute of it! We even discovered
a dew new treasures for you! Hidden
Treasures is filling well (thank you!); we invite
you to join us while space is still available.
Any
questions? mailto:piet@bajasfrontiertours.com |
A
delightful desert palm oasis just bursting with birds and beauty!
A
Brand New Program for you: Hidden
Treasures!
California Deserts, Palm Canyons,
Mountain Wilderness & Salton Sea’s Birds
Feb 6-11, 2012
Join
Peter Siminski, Naturalist extraordinaire and Director of
Conservation and Education at the Living Desert Museum, for an
impressive natural history tour d’ force.
Peter was long-time Curator of Mammalogy and Ornithology at
Tucson’s Desert Museum. Experience up close and personal the
incredibly diverse and scenic habitats reachable from our very
comfortable Palm Desert Hilton hotel base for each evening of the
program.
Hidden
treasures abound. Five spectacular mountain ranges surround this
valley, with the steepest escarpment in North America rising from
the desert floor to almost 11,000 feet in a mere seven horizontal
miles.
In
this land of contrasts, lush palm and cottonwood oases spring out
of stark and beautiful landscapes.
Here,
perennial streams and quiet pools attract numerous bird species,
and the California Fan Palm itself is a microhabitat and home for
numerous animals. Bedrock mortars in granite boulders testify to
the ancient culture of native peoples.
The
Sonoran Desert gives way to the Mohave as you ascend the slopes of
the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Here, the majestic Joshua tree
abounds and giant rounded-granite boulders punctuate the
landscape. From the higher elevations you can see 50 miles in the
distance, California’s largest surface area of water: the Salton
Sea. This vast inland sea attracts hundreds of species and
millions of birds each year. We’ll spend a full day
circumnavigating this giant sea, stopping often to enjoy the rich
bird life. And more.
In
our days of exploration, we visit palm and cottonwood canyons to
enjoy the bird life or just savor the cool beauty of the oasis.
We’ll ride the world’s largest rotating tramcar up six
thousand feet past the sheer cliffs of Chino Canyon to the 8,516
ft. mountain wilderness. Enjoy the breathtaking vistas of the
evermore-familiar landmarks. We’ll visit the surrounding deserts
and memorable The Living Desert, a 1,200-acre wildlife and
botanical park.
We
know Peter will enthusiastically and skillfully share his new
desert home with us during these delightful days together.
Moderate walking required. Comfortable round trip travel from
Tucson in new roomy passenger vans (Enjoy the comfort of your
own window seat and just 2 guests per 3-person seat!);
spacious King suite accommodations at Palm Desert in Hilton's
Homewood Suites (including full kitchens for
your convenience), most meals (all breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches
afield & 4 light suppers) and , all admissions are included at
$1995 per person. Single occupancy is available at an additional
$294.
Added
attractions and delightful dining opportunities abound in Palm
Desert; come and enjoy!
Reserving
now. Call Piet & Mary Van de Mark at Baja’s Frontier Tours
in Tucson, (520) 887-2340 for detailed brochure, information and
registration. Please scroll down through the photographs to find
registration information...Any
questions? mailto:piet@bajasfrontiertours.com
