Monday, March 6, 2017

March 6, 2017 Palm Springs, California

We drove to Palm Springs to ride the Palm Springs Aerial tramway.

Looking down Palm Canyon drive at the snow capped peaks.  The tram takes you on a spectacular 10 minute, two and a half mile trip that begins at 2,643 feet and transports you to the elevation of 8,516 feet.  The tram car is round and has a rotating floor that does two full rotations on the ride. You get to see all the views no matter where you stand.
 It goes from warm desert to cold snow at the top past some really steep cliffs.
 Arriving at the top. At the top is the Mount San Jacinto California state park which has  over 50 miles of trails, primitive campgrounds, a ranger station and an adventure  center for winter activities during snow season. Plus 2 restaurants, cocktail lounge, viewing areas, natural history museum, movie theaters and gift shops.
 Picnic tables buried in the snow to the tops, beautiful pine forest.


What was I thinking when I left the house in flip flops? I was sliding all over the place as we hiked around. I loved that the brochure has designated selfie spots. John near a stream on the nature trail. It was 41 degrees and windy at the top.

My attempt at a selfie, and not even at one of the designated spots.  We had lunch, watched a movie about building the tram, hiked around and then headed back down. Here is the view from the top looking down. Joshua tree national park on the other side of the the Coachella Valley.

 Bougainvillea flowers, bird of paradise, two signs from the gift shop- Home is where we park it and Camper crossing. The last shot is some desert verbenas. There were flowers everywhere. Every vacant lot was a field of color.  Even the foot hills were very green.

We visited with some friends from Fort Collins Steve and Ginny who are visiting their daughter Lera and husband Dan at a very California restaurant Tropicale. John worked with Steve in Fort Collins. It was fun to see them

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