On Sunday 14 March, we start driving to San Diego after we We have abandoned our family with a coffee in the RV (Recreational Vehicle) and a dip in the swimming pool of the Camp Grounds. We are the small, bustling Emil miss very much and are already looking forward to see him back in a month.
goes in speedy ride it on I-8 east, then turned mountainous landscape, which we know from our trip in 2006 already, of Julian in the Anza-Borrego Desert SP (State Park). The name of the Park by Juan Bautista de Anza, who in 1775 ran through to set up a farm in San Francisco, and the English name Borrego for the Desert Bighorn Sheep (desert bighorn sheep), which gives it here to see a good luck. In the middle of this huge park (2,430 km2, 30 times the area of the city of Zurich) covers 200 m height above sea level a 400 km2 area level, is at the edge of a well-equipped campground. We have reserved a parking space already in Switzerland. All seats are occupied, because the holidays have started here (for Swiss term: summer vacation). We have luck this year after the high precipitation in winter blooming flowers and cacti. The ground is already discolored yellow. At night it is pretty cool. No sooner has the sun risen, however, it burns quite vigorously. Because we like it here, we stay two nights and make later in the afternoon - over lunch, it is too hot! - A walk in a canyon (Palm Canyon Trail), in which the astonished hikers suddenly shows a palm oasis with sparkling water. Here, as in the Camp Ground to grow the California fan palms (Washingtonia filifera), covering the withered leaves of the stem completely and keep them from drying out and from insects. Listen to the way back and we see all kinds of birds, including Esther's family of birds, quail (Gambel's Quail, Callipepla gambelii).
We are, of course after the sun goes back as we are observing plants and animals. Ants (Harvest ants) build unique flat circular buildings, which are surrounded by small plants sprouting. Grains enter into the building to separate there, men from the boys' and take the husks back to the edge, which then begins to sprout and, as it forms a palisade wall. 
the evening, it is absolutely quiet. The sunset is breathtaking. The mountains of bright red. The horizon with a color combination of red, purple and blue in all shades. Soon spread across the sky from a carpet of innumerable stars! The moon appears as a narrow crescent lying, as it can be seen on the many minarets in Switzerland.
On Tuesday, 16.3. we drive to the Salton Sea down to -60 meters. The upper layer of the ground at sea level is white: full . Oversalted For intensive agriculture - citrus fruits, vines and vegetables - the fertile soil is deposited in this layer. It is quite hot and dry! Through the picturesque Box Canyon, it goes up then. We cross the I-10 and go to the Joshua Tree National Park, which we had visited in 2002.
We want to stay only once, before we take the long boring trip to Phoenix. But an interesting trail, we can not do without: the walk across the desert, hills and down through a canyon to the Lost Palms Oasis. After this four-hour hike, I naturally a swollen foot (OA). The experience of the lonely walk to the observation many plants and a few species was worth it! Hundreds of small lizards rush on our way. The Ocotillo (candle bush) drive at the end of their long spiny arms red flowers.
The trip to Phoenix is drab, the I-10 is almost always well paved. We drive mostly 75 miles per hour. With the small RV this is not a problem. He goes quiet and almost silent, and we have consistently turned on the cruise control. The vast valley is like an ocean, mountains rise from the individual himself. If instead of the water level, one might think that we drive on the Aegean Sea, rise from the barren islands. Southeast of Phoenix is changing the level that gradually increases from Tucson. The floor is covered with green grass, blooming yellow flowers and small purple lupines. We are very lucky. Only every few years, sometime from February to May, there will be a spectacular desert bloom, if fit rainfall, temperature and sunshine duration. And these conditions have now been received. In the Anza-Borrego desert, we had just witnessed the final stage of flowering, which we already knew in Switzerland (internet). On the vast grassland, where is now and then a small herd of cattle to identify, are Saguarokakteen (pronounced Sah-wah'-ro). This columnar cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) appears in its present Form until after the last ice age. It is up to 18 m, to 300 years old and serves a number of birds for habitation. Unfortunately, he drives his big white flowers that are pollinated by bats, only in May (as long as we can not wait!). The pulp is used by the Indians as food.
indentation are the Teddy Bear Cholla (. Opuntia bigelovii you with a fine fur like a teddy bear, they are best but better not stroke) and shrubs such as the green-born Littleleaf Palo Verde (Cercidium microphyllium; Parkinsonie) . The latter serves young cacti, especially the saguaro, as, nurse log 'nanny, that is, in its protection can grow the young plants. The healing powers of the Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata, creosote bush) already knew the Indians and are now used by modern medicine. The Picacho Peak SP we see for the first time, the Buckhorn Cholla (Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa) and the Fishhook Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus Wislizenii; barrel cactus). Unfortunately mammals are scarcely observed. The attempt to make the Desert Bighorn Sheep to be home again, (which is allowed in State Parks) by the many hikers with dogs difficult. From our parking space in the Catalina SP we can close up after all, the Gila woodpecker (Gilaspecht), the small white wing dove and follow other birds chirping.
We stay several days in the area around Tucson and enjoy the summer heat. During the day it is to warm to 28 degrees at night rather cool. Am 21.3. the temperature drops even below the freezing point. At 4 ° in the RV, we feel like in a refrigerator, but well-packed. Only the nose is freezing cold. We stay overnight and hike in the Picacho Peak SP and SP in Catalina, where we have to wade through on each excursion a small river (Sutherland Wash) - for us in this arid region proper. The most beautiful route in the Catalina SP takes us through beautiful flora in the air for Romero's pool, a water-bearing Canyon, where numerous pools in a lush green vegetation bathing facilities. The water is brown and foams, but clean. The color probably comes from the tannin of the plants and trees (as in the Rio Negro in Brazil).
visit in Tucson as the Pima Air & Space Museum (Pima are natives of this area), which are issued in hangars and outside a host of aircraft. Impressive is the realistic simulation of the first aircraft, the Wright brothers in 1903 have completed their first short-haul flight. In addition to some transport aircraft, example of NASA, the Air Force I of John F. Kennedy, especially fighter jets and bombers from the time of the 2nd see World War and the Vietnam War. The Volunteers (Volunteers and leaders of the museum) are pilots from the Vietnam War. At the same time we experience the 'rehearsal' for the big air show, which takes place the following weekend. Impressive, especially the flying skills of the Thunderbirds!
Even the Arizona State Museum in Tucson, which, in revealing the form of ethnology and culture of the indigenous people of the southwest, about ten different Indian tribes, including Navajo, Hopi, Paiute, Apache, Pima, Seri, identified, impressed us greatly. The past seems to have worked well. It is about the errors and crimes which carried out the settlers, miners (miners) and the army against the Indians. In a few decades, the balance of nature has been destroyed, which had kept the natives for thousands of years.
On the way to the Saguaro National Park, where we want to spend another two days, we at last passed a library, where we set a new post in the blog and our mails can. Our PocketMail still does not work.
: Hiking in the USA
Unlike Switzerland, where the hikers and climbers are no limits, walking (hiking) in the U.S. is strictly regulated. You walk only in the national parks (National Park) and parks of the individual states (State Parks): You will pay a daily fee (day use) and parked his car at the starting point (trailhead) or obtained for a multi-day hike, a special permit (backpackers permit) . It may be moved only to the specified paths. Backpackers may not exceed 400 feet away from the path and no closer than 200 feet from a river camp. In return, these paths are well maintained, well signposted and controls, although only the horizontal distance (in miles) above, in rare Cases, the height difference (Note: sometimes the difference between start and destination). For the route of the Matterhorn Hörnlihütte example would be 1.2 miles. Normally it takes for a mile 20 minutes! Since Ueli Steck would be required. Outside of the parks we see no travelers - and when you see such, it is certainly an illegal Mexican immigrant who is caught by the Border Control (border police). Pedestrians in the cities can only be Swiss. This can go one, appear to be harmless if they are not just bankers. Why do you have for roads and a car? Even at the campground, some people take the car they in their giant Camper coupled carry to the washroom!
are unique in the U.S., the large connected trails, such as the Appalachian Trail in the east, the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada or the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), which is 4000 from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada on miles and 160,000 meters and extends to accomplish in 6 months! I myself have hiked Vancouver 1999 Iceland West Coast Trail, a relatively modest week-long hike, but an unforgettable experience!
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