The Majesty
I always wanted to move to the desert.
Don't get me wrong, the Pennsylvania wilderness has its charm: Tall, canopy-covered woods with ancient roots twisting into the ground, moss-covered boulders, fields of ferns growing in the shade, and trickling streams winding through the forest. Every part of this ecosystem is so obviously alive, from the plentiful deer that dominate the land, to the elusive red foxes tiptoeing through the tall grasses, to the salamanders that can be found beneath any overturned log. Whimsical by day and spooky by night, these forests embody the spirits of faeries and elves, allowing the imagination to run wild with magic.
The Sonoran Desert, however, has always called to me. It possesses a different kind of sacred energy: Miles of outstretched land beneath an ocean-sky, rocky mountains jutting up from the earth to humble even the largest of egos, and a sun that beats down on you with the weight of all your ancestors, pushing you further into these ancient lands. The desert is harsh and unforgiving, yet it is so full of life; The lizards scurry with every step you take, while the snakes glide over the scorching sand looking for prey. Nights are filled with the sounds of coyotes howling and javelinas trampling through the brush, as bobcats and mountain lions prowl the canyons. The Sonoran Desert is one of the most lush hot deserts on Earth, with most of its yellow-orange landscape being covered by blooming cacti, succulents, and shrubs. The iconic saguaro cactuses cover the ground like hair, stretching up to 60 feet into the sky.
The desert makes you feel so small. It puts things into perspective; as you experience the 110°F summer heat followed by violent monsoons, and you watch the wild flora and fauna using their ancient adaptations to survive, your little human problems start to seem silly.
You'll also never appreciate life more than you do in the desert. People here are much more attuned to nature and the changing seasons; Winter brings some much-needed relief from the heat, but by the time Spring rolls around, everyone is once again ready to feel that intense warmth on their face. The annual monsoon storms are beautiful in their own right, and they bring the locals a level of happiness that nobody from the East could ever imagine having over rain. The land turns green with vegetation, flowering stalks shoot up from all the succulents, and streams- even rivers of water pour down from the mountains for weeks, giving life to millions of tadpoles, creating scenic waterfalls, and allowing people the unique opportunity to take a dip in a swimming hole in the desert.
Yes, the Sonoran Desert is my home now. To say that I love it here would be an understatement. Every day brings new trails to hike, new wildlife to see, and more to learn about this unique ecosystem. I've been here for two years already, yet my excitement has not waned. I look forward to embracing everything this place has to offer, and I cannot wait to share my adventures with you.
Photo by Alex Bickers
Don't get me wrong, the Pennsylvania wilderness has its charm: Tall, canopy-covered woods with ancient roots twisting into the ground, moss-covered boulders, fields of ferns growing in the shade, and trickling streams winding through the forest. Every part of this ecosystem is so obviously alive, from the plentiful deer that dominate the land, to the elusive red foxes tiptoeing through the tall grasses, to the salamanders that can be found beneath any overturned log. Whimsical by day and spooky by night, these forests embody the spirits of faeries and elves, allowing the imagination to run wild with magic.
The Sonoran Desert, however, has always called to me. It possesses a different kind of sacred energy: Miles of outstretched land beneath an ocean-sky, rocky mountains jutting up from the earth to humble even the largest of egos, and a sun that beats down on you with the weight of all your ancestors, pushing you further into these ancient lands. The desert is harsh and unforgiving, yet it is so full of life; The lizards scurry with every step you take, while the snakes glide over the scorching sand looking for prey. Nights are filled with the sounds of coyotes howling and javelinas trampling through the brush, as bobcats and mountain lions prowl the canyons. The Sonoran Desert is one of the most lush hot deserts on Earth, with most of its yellow-orange landscape being covered by blooming cacti, succulents, and shrubs. The iconic saguaro cactuses cover the ground like hair, stretching up to 60 feet into the sky.
The desert makes you feel so small. It puts things into perspective; as you experience the 110°F summer heat followed by violent monsoons, and you watch the wild flora and fauna using their ancient adaptations to survive, your little human problems start to seem silly.
You'll also never appreciate life more than you do in the desert. People here are much more attuned to nature and the changing seasons; Winter brings some much-needed relief from the heat, but by the time Spring rolls around, everyone is once again ready to feel that intense warmth on their face. The annual monsoon storms are beautiful in their own right, and they bring the locals a level of happiness that nobody from the East could ever imagine having over rain. The land turns green with vegetation, flowering stalks shoot up from all the succulents, and streams- even rivers of water pour down from the mountains for weeks, giving life to millions of tadpoles, creating scenic waterfalls, and allowing people the unique opportunity to take a dip in a swimming hole in the desert.
Yes, the Sonoran Desert is my home now. To say that I love it here would be an understatement. Every day brings new trails to hike, new wildlife to see, and more to learn about this unique ecosystem. I've been here for two years already, yet my excitement has not waned. I look forward to embracing everything this place has to offer, and I cannot wait to share my adventures with you.
Photo by Alex Bickers
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Enjoyed your perspectives on the desert.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteVery well articulated. I share many of the same thoughts. I look forward to reading more!
ReplyDelete