#anza-borrego

[rosechata]

anza-borrego, california

kevinruss

[thelethalsilence]

views from June Wash, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Jan 2023

[vintagecamping]

A private little set up with the '67 Mustang Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California

1979

[pcttrailsidereader]

Did You Know?

On September 3, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act into law. This law created the National Wilderness Preservation System to protect undeveloped land, "retaining its primeval character and influence" with "outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation." The Wilderness Act remains one of the world's longest standing acts of legislation for wilderness. The Act has been noticed by other countries as a way to protect their own wild places, biodiversity and ecosystems. No small testament to the power of protecting our most wild places not just in the United States but throughout the world.

Near Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness

It seems to me that if you have thru hiked the Pacific Crest Trail sights and sounds, landmarks and monuments get seen, heard, passed through and in some cases passed over. Section hikers on the other hand may have a similar experience to thru hikers but likely given the nature of sectioning may allow for lingering longer along the way.

Whether or not you are or know a thru hiker or you are or know a section hiker did you know the Pacific Crest Trail passes through fifty wilderness areas (both federal and state). More than any other National Scenic Trail in the United States. From fifteen identified wilderness areas in 1964 to fifty today, sixty years later, the importance of these lands is obvious. Acknowledging and protecting these spaces really hits anyone who has the opportunity to visit and/or pass through. Here are a some that you may have visited or heard about from south to north on the PCT; Hauser, Anza-Borrego, John Muir, Desolation, Marble Mountain, Three Sisters, Goat Rocks, and Pasayten.

Across three states these wilderness areas are a tribute to the importance of protecting large forests and watersheds that together help combat climate change. These spaces not only offer safe refuges for threatened plants and animals but offer a gateway for humans to connect more deeply with nature. Finally, many wilderness areas intersect and envelope indigenous peoples' ancestral lands. Taking into account the treasure these spaces hold as homelands for these native people.

Sixty years on the Wilderness Act is a shining piece of legislation that has evolved over six decades. As time as gone by the protected lands have grown from 9.1 million acres to over 111 million acres. The Pacific Crest Trail has enjoyed a great benefit thanks to the Wilderness Act.

If you didn't know it before, take some time to find out more about the wilderness areas all along the PCT. You can explore them even if it is a day hike. You will not be disappointed. In a these times when we question so many things including the choices our leaders make, we can be proud of the fact that sixty years later we still recognize the importance of wilderness. In this sixtieth year of existence protecting wilderness for generations to come is essential as long as we do not lose sight of why, as a nation, we value these places so deeply.

[rilespics]

ocotillo

[kaelula-sungwis]

Sand Dragon -Borrego Springs by Byron Bauer Via Flickr: The Sand Dragon, one of 130 metal sculptures by artist Ricardo Breceda is located on the sprawling Galleta Meadows Estate in Borrego Springs, California. Processed with Lightroom, Photoshop and Topaz Studio. In Explore October 27, 2023.

[j-k-i-ng]

“Desert Blooms” by | Cody Mayer

Carrizo Badlands - San Diego, California

[botanicalgardens]

[thomaswaynewolf]

[thedesertjourneys]

[pretendpopstar]

Some shots of me creeping around the flower field very cautiously.. Didn't wanna step on any plants and disrupt the very delicate ecosystem I came to admire.

[rosechata]

saguaro + anza-borrego

[thelethalsilence]

Chollas in the rain

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA

[vulturecamera]

Borrego Springs, CA 2023

[nicole-alexandria]

“I took a long journey away from human tangles. I breathed space and order.”

—Anaïs Nin, Journals of Anaïs Nin 1934-1939, Volume 2

.

Nicole Alexandria

[promontoryranger]

Sunrise/Sunset

“There’s a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they’re absolutely free. Don’t miss so many of them.” – Jo Walton Sunrise/moonset at Bosque del Apache, New Mexico Good advice. Tucson Sunset Sunrise in central New Mexico Thanks to Ann-Christine of the Leya blog for this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Illustrate a Favorite Quote or Poem. Sunset in western Arizona