“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide

August 2023: THE VIEW FROM ABOVE

Not too long ago I was returning to Greater Palm Springs from a business trip and happened to be sitting in a window seat. As the plane approached Greater Palm Springs, I looked down and was mesmerized by the beautiful view of the valley unfolding down below. It was a visual feast for the eyes, and when I looked around I noticed that almost every passenger sitting by the window was preoccupied with doing the same: exploring the ever-changing scenery below. Hugged by the mountain ridges, the SoCal oasis looked alive and vibrant. The sparkling blue eyes of the countless swimming pools below, and green fields of golf courses guarded by the palm trees gracefully shaking their fluffy, green heads in the wind.  Soaked in bright sunlight, the valley radiated abundant energy and life.

Many of us are very familiar with the Greater Palm Springs landscape with its iconic landforms which are a product of its unique geology. Greater Palm Springs preserves a fascinating story hundreds of millions of years in the making.  Many natural forces, including water, ice, wind, and daily temperature changes, have worked hard to sculpt the stunning features we see today.