Desert Talk (DesertUSA) - E-Mail Bag - Letters from our readers

2003

Jan 2003

As an avid mountain biker here in southern california, one of the reasons I ride at night and early mornings is to share the mountains with the yote`s. I have been in breed rescue for many years and absolutely love seeing the small wolf cruising the same trails as me. I have a great respect for them and their environment. As an Ex Navy SEAL, I can tell you, the people freakin out in rural america have more worries from vagrants and roamers than the coyote, the human is the biggest predator in the world. We have uprooted more species than volumes can hold. Myself, I love the song dog.

Gary

Dear DesertUSA,
My name is Nina and I had to do a report on the cougar. The only thing was that I couldn't find anything that had to do with cougars untill I found you guys or girls. I just wanted to say Thank You so much for what you did for me. By the way I got an A plus. Thank You! Nina

I was pleased to find this website, I live in northeastern Oklahoma, I was looking out the window one day and called my husband to come look, I could not believe what I was seeing, having lived in NM for 5 years (1980 to1985) I was pretty sure what I was seeing was a roadrunner, my husband confirmed it. We live just outside a small community called Nowata. I had no idea what this roadrunner ate or if it could survive here in this part of the country,after reading on your site what his diet is I sure hope he stays around. I have been laying our horse feed out where I see him most (outside my kitchen window and about our large yard and pasture) I just sprinkle it here and there I never have seen the roadrunner eat it but I didnt know what to feed it. I have large flower beds in the summer with hummingbirds and alot of insects(unwanted) because of my flowers.I am going to take a picture of the roadrunner and send to you. I can only guess he or she must have jumped a truck to get here or someone actually caught one and brought it, but it is usually early morning when i see it out and about in the yard, the neigbors many cats have tried to catch it but no luck. I thought this was really unusual and really neat i hope the roadrunner stays around our place. Beth

You have a great site. I was on the USA Today web site and was redirected to your site. It is extermely nicely done. My wife and I love the desert. Thank you for the information and the time it took to build such a nice site.
Tom

1/19/03 Hi, I was just reading your info about the balck widow and its venom and about it biting you. I was bitten by one about a month ago and there is no anti-venom. I got a shot and very strong antibiotics. They affect your central nervous system and make you very sick, I was vomiting and feverish for about two days, had soreness in my arm for anout two weeks. Just wanted to let you know form someone who has experienced an encounter from one of these fascinating creatures.

Dear Mr. Williams:

I enjoyed your piece on debunking various myths about desert "varmints." I did, however, want to pass along a variation of your account of the origin of the tarantella.

As a music student some years ago, I was told that when the dance originated, that part of Italy was ruled by someone who took a very dim view of dancing. In fact, dancing was apparently forbidden by governmental decree. It was at that point, however, that villagers took advantage of the plight of spider bite victims. They soon claimed that the only way to counteract the venom of the spider was frenzied dancing. Before long, there was an epidemic of spider bite victims (and more importantly), dances to counteract the poison. Eventually, the rulers relented.

Let me hasten to add that this account may itself be apocryphal, and that I have never seen any authoritative confirmation of the tale. But others have also told this tale, and it is certainly more entertaining around the campfire.

All the best. Cullen

I, too, lack appropriate tact when confronted with authorities who supposed know of what they speak! But, after reading your little article, I just nodded and said to myself, "yep, he read(s) Edward Abbey, and certainly DESERT SOLITAIRE!" Thanks for a morning grin and relief folks like yourself lack tact!!

Peg

2002

I grew up in Pensacola,Florida and couldn't count how many of those scary looking things I saw in the woods near my home. You couldn't walk ten feet without seeing one run across the leaves getting away from you. I saw one on television tonight for the first time since I was probably 12 years old.

I guess progress has removed them from this area. I could use a few in my back yard today. I have to spray for ants every two weeks and still can't get rid of them. Long live the Horned Toad.

Cliff

My dog, a husky smoyan mix, Dudley, is 13 years old and has had problems with his hips for several years. The vet's medicine was expensive and didn't really seem to be helping, after only one bottle of Nimble, he was trotting again. Now, once I give him his daily dose which he takes right out of my hand, he takes off for his afternoon walk..I think that this has extended his life.

Sherry

Re: Arizona's Lost Dutchman Gold Mine
The Peralta Stone Maps

Dear Editor,

Several times over the past few years you have published articles by such well-known authors as Pegleg, Mr. X, and others who all claim to have found the key to the location of the Lost Dutchman gold mine by various interpretations of the clues contained in the Peralta Stones. I hope no one is taking any of this seriously and no one is investing any sizeable amount of time or money in any undertaking to recover the Dutchman's gold based on these stories.

The Peralta Stones are a hoax! There is no doubt about it! The evidence is clear, convincing, and unequivocal! The stone maps - if that's what they were intended to be - are fakes! And they are not very good fakes.

I don't know if the Lost Dutchman gold mine exists or not, but I do know that no one will ever find anything following the bogus clues contained in the infamous Peralta Stones. More...

After returning to Atolia, Ca. Saturday July 6, I took the opportunity to do a little watering around the yard. As I reached down to turn the water on I heard the one the most terrifying sounds one can hear on this ol' desert. I immediately looked down at the water pipe and much to my horror there was a coiled Mojave Green Rattlesnake looking me right between my eyes.

As if I had an out-of-body-experience, I next found myself standing about six feet back on my heels. This was another lesson worth re-learning: You should never be at ease on the desert during the summer months. The Desert in all of its majesty can be a very deadly place especially when your are out on your own. Fortunately for us, snakes like this Mojave reptile give me ample warning and opportunity to avoid its defensive space. To say the least, my situational awareness has been heightened for this kind of experience. God's many creatures, like this rattler, blend rather nicely into the background. The snake was removed without any struggle and I counted myself a most fortunate soul.
--- John

I enjoyed your site very much. As a conductor on the union pacific railroad working between Los Angeles and Yuma, AZ. I have had the opportunity to see many different kinds of animals in the desert. Your site has been helpful in identifying an animal I saw last month. It was a Collared Peccary or Javelina. Although it was in California not Arizona where I saw it. I saw it about 60 miles west of Yuma near Glamis, CA. Thank you for your site. I had never seen one before and neither have any of my coworkers that I know of.

Bob

I am an adult leader with a Boy Scout Troop in central Oklahoma. We discovered on our last camping adventure that one of our new boys has a serious phobia about scorpions---nausea, and everything else you can think of just short of passing out. Some of our Scouts who find them fasinating, had been "gathering" them all day long. We managed to get him calmed down and supplied him with several flashlights for his tent as he decided to stay awake all night convinced that if he slept, a scorpion would crawl into his tent. I decided to find information on scorpions to help him overcome his fear and just wanted to let you know that so far in my search, your site has given me the most help. Thank you!
Paula

Hi~

I just wanted to tell you that I never even ran across your site until the last month. Searching the web through google.com, I was guided to your site for research subjects for my geography 103 class and my man and environment 101 class.This last month I have used your site numerous times and not only found it to me very useful in my papers and reports but also I was so intrigued in the information and the amount of information I found that I was visiting your site for hours and hours at a time. Your page has excellent information in all aspects and I am really impressed with the knowledge and accuracy that is involved.

I was searching tonight for a fact about Hoover Dam and found this page to be very impressive. I have lived in Boulder City, (the town that built Hoover Dam) for 41 years. I was born and raised here. I am the second generation of employees at Hoover Dam with my daughters being third the generation. All of us were laid off with the 911 attacks temporarily. I ran across your page and started to read about collective information and was very impressed that it was so up-to-date with the status of the dam, road and security issues pertaining to the dam since the attacks. I am just commending you for a great job you have done. I also did extensive research on Death Valley and Mojave Desert and found your site to be the best of any that I encountered. Thanks for producing an enjoyable, accurate and informative site.

Sandy

I always enjoy your site and look forward to the new additions.

A story you might find of interest: One Christmas night our Golden,
Toby, and I discovered an extremely wounded cottontail - she was too
young to be out of the nest as her eyes weren't open yet (or hadn't been
- the top of her head was torn open and one eye almost dangling). I knew
I should put her out of her pain but when she cuddled down into my hand
I just couldn't. I fully expected her to be dead by morning and when she
wasn't immediately called our vet. She assured me that the bunny
wouldn't live out the day, but on the off chance to feed her kitten
formula every 2 hours. So every 2 hours Toby would retrieve me for
feeding time - after "Christmas" was feed Toby would lick her, clean her
up and make her go potty - in other words, act just like a mother bunny
- all 90 pounds of him.

Christmas flourished. She learned to use a litter box, he taught her how
to play with toys (she would toss a ball and go racing after it, among
other games she played), she would nap on top of him and use him as a
ladder to get up and down from high places. She lost one eye and ended
up with a crippled foot so the vet said we couldn't turn her loose as
she wouldn't be able to survive with those handicaps.

She and Toby became best friends, along with the ferret, Bandit.
Christmas loved traveling. And Toby taught her all about Christmas
stockings and goodies. When Toby would go for a walk she would jump up
on the window sill to watch for him to come home, then run to the door
to meet him, giving him little kisses. She never tried to get outside -
I think the only thing she remembered about the outside was that it
hurt. Home was inside.

Christmas lived to be 7 1/2 years old, dying shortly after we lost Toby
to cancer. At the very end she kept roaming the house, as if she were
looking for him - I think losing him broke her heart.

Julie

I love this site and go to it quite often just to feel warm...I live in northern Michigan. Last summer I was very fortunate to go on a hike to Keet Seel! I had no idea who I would go with since none of my friends or family could make the hike in the month of August when I was able to. So my husband and I set out to Arizona and to the Navajo National Monument after I made reservations to hike to Keet Seel on August 15, 2001. He of course was not in the least bit interested in walking that far, but supported me in my eagerness to do this even if it meant I had to go alone. When I showed up for the orientation the day before my hike which is required I met Cora who also wanted to go the distance. So we made plans to meet the next morning ( the 15th ) at the trail head. Also we decided to do a one day hike in and out.

WOW....it was so beautiful hiking, going down Tsegi Canyon early in the morning was so peaceful, a land all its own. Following the streambed, around the waterfalls, climbing the gullies, enjoying the beauty which each step was like being prepared for the spectacular view when reaching Keet Seel. I am not sure that any of it can totally prepare you for the tour of the ruins, it is so fascinating to learn about the early inhabitants and how they lived in such remoteness. Forever I will treasure my experience, the memories of the hike in and out, the beautiful well preserved ruins and a new friendship with Cora my hiking partner.

I am grateful to the Navajo people for allowing us to see and touch for ourselves such wonderment. Also a great big thank-you to the National Park Service for such a fine job year after year providing the opportunity for people such as myself and Cora to experience our national monuments. We are truly blessed.

I will continue to visit Desert USA often to enjoy all you offer, and to learn more about the southwest. One day soon I will also be a part of that area as I will be retiring and moving there, and will hike my little legs off every chance I get....DeeDee

Hi all!

Love your site! As a long time lover of the desert, and jeeper, it's great
to see a site that covers much of what I love to do, however after reading
a bit of your "offroad driving tips" section I can't help but make one
comment.

You and I know that, for the most part, environmental groups and
politicians are not our friends when it comes to desert access, and in the
battles of the past decades there is quite a bit of rhetoric that has
become part of the environmental vernacular ...things that should be looked
at more closely before pronouncing them fact. Environmentalists love to
portray the image of reckless offroaders running over little critters, and
we often mimic this image, helping to maintain them as a societal "truth".

The Tread Lightly people have long given in to such rhetoric, having become
the voice of land closure rather than speaking for the rights and freedoms
of people who actually live in and use the desert, which is why there are
many of us who cannot take them seriously any more.

In your article there are a couple of places that these feelings hit me.
There is a mention of crushing the tunnels of small rodents in the desert
by driving off the trail, which messes up habitat and caused erosion. We
DO want people to stay on the trail, but lets be honest about why this
is...it's because nobody wants to LOOK at a desert with tire tracks all
over it! It's not pretty! Anyone who drives across virgin desert should
be chastised for this reason and this reason only. We don't need to make
up more devious crimes. There's no way that a few tires roaming over the
desert will actually harm it's ecosystem to any degree...and erosion? The
desert IS erosion!

These are images that the environmental community have managed to make
mainstream...just like the spotted owl...but have no significant backing
with facts.

The other comment as about driving slow in the desert gives the impression
that, if you drive fast you will run over desert tortoises. Again, why
must we help to preserve the myth that these creatures are in such direct
peril by our presence? In all the years I've visited the desert, I have
never seen, heard of, read of, or in any other way seen any indication that
tortoises are being squashed by trucks! It doesn't happen! There are
other issues that effect them, habitat issues as well as the tendency for
people to "collect" them, but please don't fall into the trap of presuming
that environmental rhetoric is "truth". It can only hurt us in the long
run.

Off the main subject, driving fast on desert roads of the norm, if you have
a vehicle that can take it. The public would be better served if it is
pointed out that, while slow is good, and stock vehicles can be destroyed
by washboard roads, it's quite common to travel at a pretty good clip on
graded dirt roads, but that if you haven't done it, you need to be aware of
it's dangers...things like slowing down for opposing traffic, dust and how
to deal with it, and the possibility of losing control with little warning.
People will go fast when they are faced with a smooth graded road through a
vast section of desert, where a destination two hours away would turn into
six hours if run at "slow" speeds. How to do this safely would be good
information.

Anyway, still like your site! Keep up the good work!

Joe Sand

I'm a beach boy from o.c who has been transplanted to the canyon lake area. I spent this summer up my familys farm In northern Cal. Delta area. harvesting tomatoes. I often stayed up late wathing the coyotes chase the little rabits and thought they were lively entertainment. If you have ever watched the little guys they are quite humorous. SO I THOUGHT.

Me and my best friend CHARLY, have spent the last 8 years traveling and surfing our fabulous state. He is a scrappy little Lakeland Terrier, and I have seen him take down a 16 month rottweiler in about 3 seconds. Me and Charly were both amused at the anticks of his cousins until,,,,,,,, sept 14 already spaced out about the NY bombings, I get a call, my friend alerts me that my dear friend dennis was killed riding on his HOG. I fell to the ground in shock. Worriedly I ran outside for my boy Charly, but he was gone. I heard the yelping of a what seemed to be a pack of wolves. Might as wwell of been I have never seen my best friend again.

In a rage I went and bought a gun{I'm quite handy with a piece] I started hunting these dog's of the plains. Ihad to wait three Heartwrenching weeks for my first kill. My girl was driving , I was in the back when he darted across the levee. BOOMBOOMBOOM. Igot off three 22MAG rounds from my side arm. He jumped up and did almost a flip and ran off, I knew i got him and the next day I saw I did. Feeling that I had avenged my boy I stopped chasing the little guys into the knight. about a week later I seen the biggest coyote ever [at least 55 lbs]. He looked like a commando as he slithered his way through the field that was when I realized there were 3 more behind him. "oh @#$@ " they were coming right for me. I ran into my R.V got my strap and charged out, the other 3 were gone but HAEENA BOY stood at the dithch 200 yds away.Haeena boy thats what I call him because he looks like a god dam african laffer.w want to hear more all true

Heres were Im going , I think that delta coyotes are a entire different species as canyonlake, elsinore are I've been here a month and these guys here are not near as scary as Haaena boy and his pack. oh yeah coyotes hunt in packs, I've seen it myself. _ Rog

I love this site! A couple of days ago my chocolate labrador was bitten by something. Rusty is like a teenager and as curious as a cat so he must have gone by a woodpile and was bitten by a black widow. The vet told me today he sees this frequently in Taos, NM. I've taken pictures of his face because it is just unbelievable what kinds of damage it has done to his face. I have never seen anything like it. Rusty had a cortisone injection for the allergic reaction he is having and placed of keflex 500mg three times a day. Thank you for listening.

Nancy from Taos, New Mexico

December 2001

To Bob Katz DesertUSA

Thanks for your informative article on bobcats. I begin my day opening my chicken coop to let out my 22 hens so they can forage on our small organice vegetable farm (my secret pest control strategy). Today, as I opened the door, I caught sight of a shadowy shape drop from a nearby willow tree and watched a bobcat lumber off into a grove of oak and bay near the junction of two streams. I followed with my Airedale, Binker, who followed the scent and quickly treed a beautiful cat (or, maybe, it was already in the tree). I took a couple of pictures, called the dog off, and my wife and I just observed its presence for awhile.

I WILL be counting my chickens (after all, they have hatched).

Thanks again, Jerry

To:desertusa.com
Subject: Photo of Sheep

Enclose is a photo of 4 Big Horn Sheep, taken near Lake Mead, Nevada Side.

Any one have any Ideas? Feedback

Aug , 2001

Near Desert Center, Ca there is a road that goes to an area called Eagle Mountain. As a young boy, my parents took us there a lot to visit with friends. The small town near the mine was a company town. Now, with the closing of Kaiser, I can only imagine what became of it. However, we were shown many interesting things about the desert. It was shown to me that the water table was close to the surface in some parts, with drinkable water.

We were also shown a beautiful mirage that always put out. It looked like a big beautiful lake. We could not believe our eyes as it disappeared. There are white sands and dunes in another area, not too far from Eagle Mountain and Desert Center. They were difficult to find but, once found, resembled stuff from the movies, endless dunes. Fun to play on as I remember.

There was a road near Desert Center. It wasn't paved. It was at the exit for Desert Center. It was a dirt road. I remember my hosts debating whether or not the car could do it. We went. The road improved as we went along. I remember seeing nests of scorpions here and there. Our host stopped the car and pointed out a particular hill made up of large boulders.

Up on the top was a bicycle wheel, no tire, rigged to stand high to be seen. It was still tough to see and could only be seen at a certain angle. We all saw it and marvelled how it could be possible to climb the rocky hill and put it there. The host said it was called "Wheeler Rock" because of the rim.

Because it was summer, there was concern for Rattlesnakes. However, we pulled over and got out of the station wagon. After a half mile, we reached a small hillside made of boulders. It was covered with Indian heiroglyphs. I wondered how it was possible to survive out in this area, seeing all of the active wild, unobserved wildlife. Let alone stand out and etch these writings in the hot sun.

We got back in the wagon and moved on. Eventually, we reached our destination. A picnic area established by Kaiser or someone. It had several picnic tables, grills, and rusted in the late seventies at that.

Our host was quick at reading the desert floor. He pointed out Bobcat footprints, sidewinder marks on the sand and as he neared an area not to far from the tables, set off a bunch of rattlesnakes, shaking it for all they had. Needless to say, I joined the other kids in the plea to leave.

There were bats flying about and this told the host it was time to leave this area anyway. He wasn't prepared to stay the night here, saying it would be difficult to find our way home in the dark.

Twenty years later, I pulled my big rig down the off ramp to desert center. I was tired, I was going to sleep at the end of the dead end. I knew the secret about the little dead end. Not where the trucks were parking at the little store, no, the dead end on the south side of the I-10. I stepped out of the truck to stretch and walk around. I stood on the road, looking at the old dirt road, barely able to see any way for a regular car to get through, the brush was high, and uncut, and I clearly saw that this was a road no longer travelled.

Perhaps an SUV could do it, I thought. I know there is history there, and sighed at not being able to explore. I noticed the sign, saying that SUV was recommended.

I slept, arose and drove away, wondering if the bicycle rim still held it's place. If the Indian hieroglyphic were even known about anymore. I wondered about the picnic area and how it fared. I'm sure the maintenance is all but gone in that forgotten area.

It's amazing to see areas disappear in my lifetime. How history has been recaptured by the desert. I thought of Cabazon. While those dinosaurs were being built, pistols and other items were recovered from the desert floor. Even a box of weapons believed to be that of the Mexican army.

The secrets of the Desert are many, and I had to tell you about this one.

Ken Hay

Aug. 2001

Dear Gentalmen,

While hiking up a canyon (for reasons the name will not be disclosed) in the Superstion Mtn. range , my friend and I came acrossed a stone map carved into the rock canyon wall. It contained the following numbers and symbols. 2=3-O-18=7, a carved Eagal head, and an Arrow pointer Above the numbers was the bottom of the stone map.

Later on that evening it was disclosed to us thru an old Search& Rescue member for Pinal County that we were close to something of major importance. We were also (unbeknow to us at the time) followed that day by more than one preson.No shoe prints except our own did we see while hiking in and out.

It was about 4:30pm when we decided to head out .We were approx.3-4miles in and it was November so day light was disappering fast.(we ended up getting out with 2 "AA" flashlights one almost dead around 8-8:30pm)

Upon heading out my one friend noticed the 2=3-O-18=7 ,then the whole map . My other friend and I turned around to see what he was yelling about.It was hard to make out at first , then he pointed it out and then was as clear as day. About 30m or so we then noticed the Eagal head carving,close by was the bent Arrow pointer ,pointing to a crack 3-4ft. wide across the wash on the otherside.We all questioned each other to make sure we saw the same things.

Since then we have made more finds, we are also going back in to get photo evidence of map.Pictures of wall carveing speak louder than words on paper. This e-mail is no joke!! My friends and I are too Lost Dutchmen hunters. One friend( a native Siox Indian)has been reacherching for over 15+years myself for about 4years.

Til then Good luck and Hppy hunting .One thing to remember is DO NOT GET GREEDY IF YOU FIND SOMETHING, THERE IS PLENTY TO MAKE ALOT OF PEOPLE COMFORTABLE. THIS MOUNTAIN IS SACRED PLACE.

P.S PACK IT IN ,PACK IT OUT, RESPECT OUR MOTHER EARTH. OYATE NAJIN, LE AMPTURE WAS `TE YELLOW. IKIKCU NAIPESLETE.

Lost Dutchman Mine

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