Searching for a Gold Mine

 This was a day to search for a glimmer of gold in the hills surrounding the ranches in Garner Valley.

 

 As we hiked up the trail to abandoned gold mines from the late 1800's, it was easy to imagine being one of those early prospectors full of hope for a lucrative claim on the land.

 

 

 Our destination, the Hemet Belle Mine was first developed in 1887 by the Chilson family. News of their modest success spread wide and others came to the area in search of their fortune. Along the way, we passed some old mining equipment left behind in the hills.

 

 When we reached the first entrance to the mine, we were able to peak into the dark tunnels but not able to enter since they are now closed.

 

 Very little gold was discovered in these mines. One of the biggest losers was an Englishman, Harold Kenworthy. He spent a fortune on mines that he purchased and he invested in building a town  for the workers. Kenworthy may have been tricked by a "salted mine". Salting mines was a practice that some people used to fool potential buyers. A shotgun full of gold dust was shot at the walls to give it more glitter and value to the naive buyer.

 One good outcome for these and other abandoned mines is the shelter they provide for bats. Protecting habitat for them is essential. Since 2006, over 5.7 million bats have died prematurely due to White-nosed Syndrome.This educational sign outside one of the entrances is full of information about these important but misunderstood creatures.Our recent bat encounter has intrigued me to learn more. Go to  batcon.org .

I have plans to go back in the Summer. Next time, instead of looking for the glitter of gold, I'll be looking for the nightly flight of bats as they emerge from their home in the mines.

Flying in "The Lynx"

Flying over one's home is quite a rare and unique experience. When our friend, Dave offered to take me over Idyllwild and the surrounding area in his private plane, I eagerly accepted.

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 Looks are deceiving. This plane appears small but it has a mighty 150 HP engine inside enabling it to fly effortlessly in this mountain country.Officially, it is called a Grumman Lynx but I've nicknamed it "The Lynx" after the image on the side.

It reminds me of the bobcats I sometimes see.

Our flight began in Hemet. Citrus farms dotted the landscape below us.

We followed the windy mountain highway that leads to Idyllwild.

I wanted to linger for more photos of Tahquitz Rock but that wasn't an option since "The Lynx" was going 120 mph and couldn't hover for me.

At an altitude of 8,500 feet, we were only 400 feet lower than my favorite look out tower - Tahquitz Tower

 Here is a photo looking down on the quaint little town of Idyllwild.

Lake Hemet is the closest lake to Idyllwild. It is in an area called Garner Valley about 15 minutes away from the town. More shoreline is showing than normal as a result of the drought.

The lake was used for refilling by firefighting helicopters like this Sikorsky SkyCrane last summer.

These close up views of the Desert Divide show the devastation from the Mountain Fire last summer. The Pacific Crest Trail, PCT, that once went along this ridge no longer exists.

From the top of Tahquitz, one can see a shimmer of the Palomar Observatory. Today we could see it more clearly. Originally built in 1928, the historic 200 inch telescope is located at 5,617 feet atop Palomar Mt about 60 miles away from Idyllwild.

The scarcity of water is most noticeable from the sky. When the azul water appears from the nearby lakes, it is a welcome sight!

Vail Lake has an interesting shape only visible from a plane.

 The hour glass shaped Diamond Valley Lake is recognizable on many high country trails in Idyllwild.

This lake has a trail around the perimeter. Looks like a great place to explore.

Before I knew it, this great airborne adventure came to an end. Thanks, Dave! I'll always remember our flight in "The Lynx".

Tougher Than They Look

This tiny Anna's Hummingbird decided not to pack up and migrate down to Palm Desert where it is warm for the Winter. Instead, it chose to stay on the cold, snowy mountain...

..so did two others, 1 male and 1 female. This photo was taken after about a 20 minute high speed chase scene between the males. They paused for less than 30 seconds before starting the chase all over again.

Defending one's territory is exhausting. No wonder they eat constantly. The average heartbeat in flight is 1,250 beats/minute and the wings beat at 200 times/second. They seem invisible most of the time.

The colorful iridescent patch under the throat is called a gorget meaning "a piece of armor protecting the throat". It seems a perfect name since their beaks look like medieval lances. Tiny knights ready for action.

I've never left a feeder up in the winter but I was told by a couple of experts that studies have shown that some hummers will stick around in harsh winter conditions whether or not there is a feeder available. Keeping a feeder out helps them survive since their food source is limited. They also go into a state of torpor lowering their heartbeat to 50 bpm and lessening their metabolic needs at night which saves energy.

 If you keep a feeder going in the winter, you need to make sure the sugar/water solution is not frozen in the morning. You either thaw it out in the morning while the hummers hover waiting for their food or you could replace the frozen one with a second feeder that you have kept inside for the night. Another idea is to take the feeder in every night since they won't be eating in the dark as long as you remember to get it back outside at dawn. They resume eating early in the morning. The solution is quite easy to make. Just boil 1 cup of sugar in 4 cups of water without any added dye. Store the remainder in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Every morning I am relieved to see them return to eat at the feeder and resume their "knightly chases". For more helpful information about keeping a feeder going in the winter, visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website.

Surprised by a Bat

It's not everyday you get a bat in your house. More often, if you do get one, it is in the attic. So when my husband told me he saw a glimpse of a bat in our spare bedroom, I was skeptical. He, however, was quite sure a bat was hidden somewhere in the room.

Our spare bedroom is called the Captain's Room because of all the numerous bunk beds that line the walls like on a ship. It is full of hiding places! We had to think like a bat. Where would be a nice, dark, hiding place to roost all day? The drapes that surround the bunks seemed like a perfect spot.

We were right! When we got to the final drape to check, we found the cute, sleeping, furry creature tucked in the folds of the material.

 Wearing thick gloves and using a container and cardboard, we scooped him off the curtain. Then he was released on an oak tree safe outside where he belongs.

We definitely won't forget having a surprise encounter with this amazing little bat.