Early Shade

Where else except Borrego Springs would you expect an answer to the question, “ You get early shade, don’t you?” In the desert, we LIVE by the sun- as did the earliest desert dwellers, both human and animal. On the west side of Borrego Springs is a massive, rugged , rocky mountain range, the San Ysidro, which rises abruptly to an elevation of 6, 132 feet and looms over the tiny town of Borrego Springs. If you are a peak climber, find San Ysidro Mountain by refering to the topo map, Borrego Canyon USGS quad. The mountains are granitic- strewn with gigantic boulders . Anyone who has entered Borrego Springs from Ranchita via S-22 can attest to the numerous huge rocks along the route. Many Borregoeans have given whimsical titles to favorite rocks...the monkey, smiley face, the wave, split rock, needle, tilting rock, the fish, the whale and sitting squirrel are just some of our pet names. People driving the eighteen mile stretch from Ranchita to Borrego for the first time often refer to it as a “white knuckle drive”, but the road is much improved from the first time we used it, when there were few pull-outs and just a low rock retaining wall on a few curves. First time visitors to our desert home have arrived with hair standing on end and vowing not to come that way again, but even they become used to the curvy road and soon enjoy the unmatched views offered by S-22! Most Borrego folks refer to it as merely “the hill”.

Perhaps my imagination is extra vivid, but , after a vacation away from home, when returning from the east, along the Salton Seaway, as we get closer and closer to our tiny little village, I swear the mountains have grown during our absence. As we pass the elementary school, Roadrunner, then the Circle, the mountains look larger, larger, LARGER! As we move closer and closer, I tell my husband, “ They have grown...I’m positive !”. Paul Remeika would agree...those mountains are growing! Do you think I can really discern the difference? I am sure I can!

These mountains provide what we call “early shade”. Along with micro climes within Borrego are what I call macro spaces. The early shade areas typify a macro space. Examples of other macro spaces would be blowing dust areas, sand dune areas...even Sahara mustard growing areas! Those of us living at the foot of the San Ysidros absolutely experience shade before the rest of the basin. Parts of Indian Head Ranch, De Anza Country Club, Palm Canyon Campground, The Estate area, and Tubb Canyon area all experience early shade as the sun drops behind the mountains. During the fierce August heat, we live by the shadow, often postponing a swim until the pool is shaded. One of our favorite summer pastimes is to watch the shadow move east, little by little, covering the valley in shade. We love to see Font’s Point still in the sun while we are in the shade! Gently, the shadow moves east until the entire area lies in shade. If you listen carefully, you can almost hear the sigh of relief as the desert welcomes the coming evening hours...a coyote howls in the distance, rabbits emerge from under the citrus trees, birds chirp as all of the summer desert dwellers give thanks to the early shade!