Whitewater Preserve

My folks and I visited Whitewater Preserve again this year, this time sharing it with Borregos and Boy Scouts. We watched a herd of 11 Borrego sheep high above us through binoculars and zoom lenses. What a treat to see such a large group grazing in a lush meadow high on the hills overlooking the preserve, and to see the steep, rocky cliffs surrounding them, which they need to navigate routinely. We also enjoyed the youth and vitality of a Webelo scout troop that was breaking camp while we ate our picnic lunch in the cottonwood grove.

Lush vegetation along the river bed.

We hiked up the Pacific Crest Trail a ways, enjoying the bright vistas of rock, sky, and the Whitewater River. Water was moving pretty quickly in the river, but we were able to navigate across the water into the willows that grow close to the water.

Exploring the trail that follows the Whitewater River.

We didn’t see as many spring blooms this year, probably due to being earlier in the year, and a drier spring. But we did see a Yucca whipplei (Our Lord's Candle) just starting to bloom, with many blossoms emerging from between its bracts.

Blossoms are just starting to emerge from between the
bracts. Last year the blossoms were mature.