WEBVTT
00:00:11.044 --> 00:00:12.644
ELL HOWSER,
00:00:12.712 --> 00:00:16.215
AND THIS IS SOME
OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SCENERY
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YOU'RE GONNA FIND ANYWHERE
IN CALIFORNIA.
00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:22.654
WELCOME TO JOSHUA TREE
NATIONAL MONUMENT,
00:00:22.722 --> 00:00:27.126
SOME 870 SQUARE MILES OF SOME
OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR VISTAS
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THAT YOU'LL FIND ANYWHERE
IN THE WORLD.
00:00:30.296 --> 00:00:32.965
NOW, WE'RE HERE
TO TAKE A CLOSE-UP LOOK
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AT SOMETHING
THAT GROWS IN ABUNDANCE HERE.
00:00:35.935 --> 00:00:38.237
SOME PEOPLE
THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
00:00:38.304 --> 00:00:40.639
OTHERS THINK
IT'S DOWNRIGHT UGLY.
00:00:40.707 --> 00:00:44.443
AND IF YOU DECIDE TO COME ALONG
WITH US ON THIS ADVENTURE,
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YOU CAN JUDGE FOR YOURSELF,
00:00:46.279 --> 00:00:50.015
AS WE CONTINUE OUR SEARCH
TOGETHER FOR CALIFORNIA'S GOLD.
00:00:53.820 --> 00:00:57.189
[ "CALIFORNIA HERE I COME"
PLAYS ]
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IT'S ONE OF THE MOST PRISTINE
AND UNIQUE PLACES
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IN ALL OF CALIFORNIA --
00:01:27.921 --> 00:01:31.290
OVER HALF A MILLION ACRES
OF DESERT LANDS
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LOCATED IN RIVERSIDE
AND SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES
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ABOUT 40 MILES NORTHEAST
OF PALM SPRINGS.
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CREATED IN 1936
00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:43.302
TO PROTECT THE AREA'S
FRAGILE DESERT ENVIRONMENT
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FROM DEVELOPERS
AND CACTUS POACHERS,
00:01:46.172 --> 00:01:48.273
IT CONTINUES TO BE A SANCTUARY.
00:01:48.341 --> 00:01:51.477
AND PEOPLE COME HERE
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
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TO ENJOY THE DESERT SCENERY,
TO CLIMB ON THE HUGE ROCKS,
00:01:55.482 --> 00:01:58.417
AND TO LOOK
AT THE BEAUTIFUL WILDFLOWERS.
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NOW, WE WERE THERE
TO LOOK AT TREES,
00:02:00.687 --> 00:02:03.188
AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO LOOK
VERY HARD, EITHER.
00:02:03.256 --> 00:02:04.823
THEY WERE EVERYWHERE.
00:02:04.891 --> 00:02:08.060
THEIR SCIENTIFIC NAME
IS YUCCA BREVIFOLIA,
00:02:08.128 --> 00:02:11.530
BUT WE KNOW THEM
AS THE GOOD OLD JOSHUA TREES.
00:02:11.598 --> 00:02:15.200
SINCE THIS WAS THE JOSHUA TREE
NATIONAL MONUMENT,
00:02:15.268 --> 00:02:17.269
THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY THE PLACE
00:02:17.337 --> 00:02:20.305
TO GET A CLOSE-UP LOOK
AT SOME DANDIES.
00:02:20.373 --> 00:02:21.573
SO, THIS IS IT.
00:02:21.641 --> 00:02:23.909
YES, HUELL,
AS FAR AS WE KNOW,
00:02:23.977 --> 00:02:27.112
THIS IS THE TALLEST JOSHUA TREE
IN THE WORLD.
00:02:27.180 --> 00:02:30.883
NOW, HOW TALL IS THE TALLEST
JOSHUA TREE IN THE WORLD?
00:02:30.950 --> 00:02:33.686
I'M NOT SURE
OF THE EXACT HEIGHTH OF THIS
00:02:33.753 --> 00:02:35.754
BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN PRINT YET.
00:02:35.822 --> 00:02:38.557
THE TEAM THAT CAME OUT
AND MEASURED IT
00:02:38.625 --> 00:02:40.559
JUST DID THIS LAST YEAR.
00:02:40.627 --> 00:02:45.030
THE TALLEST RECORDED JOSHUA TREE
IN THE BOOKS RIGHT NOW
00:02:45.098 --> 00:02:49.068
OF THE GIANT TREES OF THE WORLD
IS ABOUT 32 FEET.
00:02:49.135 --> 00:02:51.070
AND IF I REMEMBER RIGHT,
00:02:51.137 --> 00:02:54.373
THIS ONE IS AT LEAST
2 FEET TALLER THAN THE ONE
00:02:54.441 --> 00:02:57.543
THAT'S BEEN APPEARING
IN THE BOOKS FOR YEARS.
00:02:57.610 --> 00:03:00.913
HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE A TREE
TO GROW THAT TALL?
00:03:00.980 --> 00:03:02.247
HOW OLD IS THAT TREE?
00:03:02.315 --> 00:03:03.749
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
00:03:03.817 --> 00:03:07.219
NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE BECAUSE
THERE'S NO WAY OF AGING THESE,
00:03:07.287 --> 00:03:10.622
BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT A TRUE
HARDWOOD TREE AS WE KNOW THEM.
00:03:10.690 --> 00:03:12.224
THEY HAVE NO GROWTH RINGS.
00:03:12.292 --> 00:03:14.893
THEREFORE, WE CAN'T CORE THEM
AND AGE THEM.
00:03:14.961 --> 00:03:18.497
BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT
THE AVERAGE GROWTH RATE
00:03:18.565 --> 00:03:21.500
THROUGHOUT THE RANGE
OF JOSHUA TREES,
00:03:21.568 --> 00:03:25.504
THEY CAN SHOW AS LITTLE
AS 2 INCHES OF GROWTH A YEAR,
00:03:25.572 --> 00:03:26.739
UP TO ABOUT 6.
00:03:26.806 --> 00:03:29.441
UP HERE,
WE THINK THAT THEY GROW
00:03:29.509 --> 00:03:32.511
SOMEWHERE AROUND
2 TO 4 INCHES A YEAR.
00:03:32.579 --> 00:03:34.313
SO THIS TREE IS...
00:03:34.381 --> 00:03:37.716
HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS
OF YEARS OLD.
00:03:37.784 --> 00:03:39.852
HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS.
00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:43.422
IT MAY BE AS OLD
AS 700 TO 900 YEARS.
00:03:43.490 --> 00:03:45.090
OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SPECULATED
00:03:45.158 --> 00:03:47.760
THAT IT'S POSSIBLE
THAT IT'S ONLY 300 YEARS.
00:03:47.827 --> 00:03:49.928
THE DIFFICULTY
WITH ARGUING OVER THIS
00:03:49.996 --> 00:03:51.230
IS NO ONE KNOWS
00:03:51.297 --> 00:03:53.332
WHAT THE RAINFALL WAS
200 YEARS AGO.
00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:55.467
AND THE ONE THING
THAT WE DO KNOW
00:03:55.535 --> 00:03:58.337
IS THAT THEY'RE CAPABLE
OF QUITE A BIT OF GROWTH
00:03:58.405 --> 00:03:59.838
IF THE WATER'S AVAILABLE.
00:03:59.906 --> 00:04:03.742
THIS TREE WAS FIRST DESCRIBED
BY FR�MONT IN 1840.
00:04:03.810 --> 00:04:06.478
IN HIS WRITINGS,
HE DESCRIBED IT
00:04:06.546 --> 00:04:10.582
AS "THE MOST GROTESQUE MEMBER
OF THE VEGETABLE FAMILY
00:04:10.650 --> 00:04:12.117
I HAVE EVER SEEN."
00:04:12.185 --> 00:04:15.921
THAT'S A PRETTY BAD WAY
TO START OFF, ISN'T IT?
00:04:15.989 --> 00:04:17.256
SURE, SURE.
00:04:17.323 --> 00:04:20.893
BEING DESCRIBED OFFICIALLY
AS THE MOST GROTESQUE.
00:04:20.960 --> 00:04:23.529
BUT I HAD HEARD
THAT IT WAS NAMED JOSHUA TREE
00:04:23.596 --> 00:04:26.565
BECAUSE SOME MORMONS
OR SOMEONE HAD SEEN THESE TREES,
00:04:26.633 --> 00:04:29.268
AND THEY WERE LIKE --
WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG,
00:04:29.336 --> 00:04:32.371
THEY LOOKED LIKE THEIR ARMS
WERE OUTSTRETCHED LIKE JOSHUA.
00:04:32.439 --> 00:04:34.273
YES, ESPECIALLY
IN THE EVENING
00:04:34.341 --> 00:04:35.541
WITH LOW LIGHT,
00:04:35.608 --> 00:04:38.410
AND THEY TAKE ON
THE DARK SILHOUETTES.
00:04:38.478 --> 00:04:41.413
MANY OF THESE TREES
HAVE HUMANLIKE FORMS
00:04:41.481 --> 00:04:42.881
IN TERMS OF ARMS.
00:04:42.949 --> 00:04:46.118
SO THAT'S HOW
THEY GOT THE NAME JOSHUA?
00:04:46.186 --> 00:04:47.319
THAT'S RIGHT.
00:04:47.387 --> 00:04:49.955
THE MORMONS FELT
THAT THE TREE
00:04:50.023 --> 00:04:53.325
RESEMBLED SOMEONE
WITH ARMS OUTSTRETCHED,
00:04:53.393 --> 00:04:55.260
LIKE THE PROPHET JOSHUA.
00:04:55.328 --> 00:04:57.229
NOW, THIS IS THE --
00:04:57.297 --> 00:05:02.201
THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE
OF THE OUTSTRETCHED LIMBS,
00:05:02.268 --> 00:05:04.570
THE JOSHUA-LOOKING TREE.
00:05:04.637 --> 00:05:06.872
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARMS.
00:05:06.940 --> 00:05:09.842
THE BRANCHING
THAT YOU SEE ON THIS
00:05:09.909 --> 00:05:12.044
IS THE RESULT OF THE FLOWER
00:05:12.112 --> 00:05:16.281
HAVING KILLED THE GROWING
TERMINAL PART OF THE STEM.
00:05:16.349 --> 00:05:20.219
TWO BUDS FORM, AND YOU
THEN HAVE RADIATING ARMS.
00:05:20.286 --> 00:05:24.456
IN THIS ONE, YOU CAN STILL SEE
THE DRIED FLOWER TOPS
00:05:24.524 --> 00:05:26.392
ON THE TOPS OF THESE TWO.
00:05:26.459 --> 00:05:30.162
IN ANOTHER FIVE OR SIX YEARS,
YOU'LL BEGIN TO SEE TWO ARMS,
00:05:30.230 --> 00:05:33.632
EACH DEVELOPING ON THE TWO ARMS
THAT ARE UP THERE NOW.
00:05:33.700 --> 00:05:35.601
SO EVERY TIME THERE'S A BLOOM,
00:05:35.669 --> 00:05:37.870
THAT MEANS
IT'S GONNA BRANCH OFF
00:05:37.937 --> 00:05:40.572
AND GO IN TWO MORE
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
00:05:40.640 --> 00:05:42.675
YES, TWO, SOMETIMES THREE.
00:05:42.742 --> 00:05:45.477
AND OFTEN,
ONE OF THE BUDS WILL FAIL,
00:05:45.545 --> 00:05:49.214
SO SOMETIMES YOU'LL END UP
WITH JUST ONE SIDE BRANCH.
00:05:49.282 --> 00:05:51.617
WOW, THAT IS --
THAT'S SO NICE.
00:05:51.685 --> 00:05:53.085
IT'S SO INTERESTING,
00:05:53.153 --> 00:05:56.355
BECAUSE USUALLY WHEN YOU'RE
JUST DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY
00:05:56.423 --> 00:05:58.524
AND YOU LOOK OUT
AT THESE THINGS,
00:05:58.591 --> 00:06:01.093
YOU DON'T THINK MUCH
ABOUT THEM, DO YOU?
00:06:01.161 --> 00:06:03.362
THE AVERAGE PERSON
JUST WOULDN'T --
00:06:03.430 --> 00:06:06.799
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER BEEN
THIS CLOSE TO A JOSHUA TREE.
00:06:06.866 --> 00:06:08.467
WELL, I THINK
A LOT OF PEOPLE,
00:06:08.535 --> 00:06:10.436
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE
OF THE DESERT,
00:06:10.503 --> 00:06:12.071
WOULD THINK OF A TREE
00:06:12.138 --> 00:06:14.273
AS SOMETHING YOU CAN GO STAND
IN THE SHADE OF.
00:06:14.341 --> 00:06:15.474
NOT MUCH SHADE HERE.
00:06:15.542 --> 00:06:17.176
A COYOTE COULD FIND SOME SHADE,
00:06:17.243 --> 00:06:20.212
BUT YOU AND I WOULD BE
HARD-PRESSED TO FIND SHADE.
00:06:20.280 --> 00:06:22.881
HUELL, IT WAS KIND
OF A COINCIDENCE,
00:06:22.949 --> 00:06:26.685
BUT WE JUST HAPPENED TO STOP
TO LOOK AT THIS OTHER TREE.
00:06:26.753 --> 00:06:27.986
AND WALKING BACK,
00:06:28.054 --> 00:06:30.589
THIS TREE
THAT WE'RE PARKED NEXT TO
00:06:30.657 --> 00:06:32.358
IS CALLED "ELMER'S TREE."
00:06:32.425 --> 00:06:34.093
IT UNDOUBTEDLY HAS TO BE
00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:37.329
THE MOST PHOTOGENIC JOSHUA TREE
IN THE WORLD.
00:06:37.397 --> 00:06:39.531
ELMER WAS
AN EARLY EMPLOYEE HERE
00:06:39.599 --> 00:06:42.868
WHO ALWAYS DIRECTED PEOPLE
TO COME TO THIS TREE
00:06:42.936 --> 00:06:44.603
TO TAKE A PICTURE OF IT.
00:06:44.671 --> 00:06:47.172
YEARS AND YEARS
AFTER HE WAS GONE,
00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:50.042
THE PARK SERVICE ADOPTED,
UNOFFICIALLY,
00:06:50.110 --> 00:06:51.910
THIS NAME OF ELMER'S TREE.
00:06:51.978 --> 00:06:54.213
THERE'S BEEN MORE BUSLOADS
OF TOURISTS
00:06:54.280 --> 00:06:55.581
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
00:06:55.648 --> 00:06:57.583
THAT HAVE BEEN
EMPTIED OUT HERE.
00:06:57.650 --> 00:07:00.686
YOU'LL SEE 40 AND 50 TOURISTS
STANDING IN THE ROADWAY,
00:07:00.754 --> 00:07:02.054
ALL TAKING TURNS
00:07:02.122 --> 00:07:04.656
GETTING THEIR PICTURES TAKEN
IN FRONT OF THIS TREE.
00:07:04.724 --> 00:07:07.026
SO THERE ARE SNAPSHOTS
OF ELMER'S TREE
00:07:07.093 --> 00:07:09.161
IN PHOTO ALBUMS
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
00:07:09.229 --> 00:07:11.730
IN THE ENTIRE WORLD,
THIS PROBABLY HAS TO BE
00:07:11.798 --> 00:07:14.299
THE MOST PHOTOGENIC JOSHUA TREE
THAT I KNOW OF.
00:07:14.367 --> 00:07:15.801
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL TREE.
00:07:15.869 --> 00:07:18.871
I DON'T KNOW
WHETHER I WOULD'VE STOPPED
00:07:18.938 --> 00:07:20.606
UNLESS YOU TOLD ME TO,
00:07:20.674 --> 00:07:22.608
BUT IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TREE.
00:07:22.676 --> 00:07:24.243
ELMER'S TREE.
00:07:24.310 --> 00:07:28.881
NOW WE'RE STANDING NEXT TO
WHAT HAS TO BE DESCRIBED AS...
00:07:28.948 --> 00:07:30.916
A BIOLOGICAL CURIOSITY.
00:07:30.984 --> 00:07:33.385
AND THAT'S THE UNDERSTATEMENT,
00:07:33.453 --> 00:07:35.721
BECAUSE THIS HOLDS A RECORD
OF SORTS, DOESN'T IT?
00:07:35.789 --> 00:07:37.089
WELL, IT DOES.
00:07:37.157 --> 00:07:38.957
AS YOU CAN SEE,
IT'S A VERY TALL TREE,
00:07:39.025 --> 00:07:41.460
ALMOST AS TALL AS THE TALLEST
TREE IN THE WORLD.
00:07:41.528 --> 00:07:43.462
THE TALLEST JOSHUA TREE
IN THE WORLD.
00:07:43.530 --> 00:07:45.497
THE TALLEST JOSHUA TREE
IN THE WORLD.
00:07:45.565 --> 00:07:49.101
THE ONE THING THAT'S UNIQUE
IS IT HASN'T BRANCHED,
00:07:49.169 --> 00:07:52.771
WHICH AS WE SAID EARLIER,
MEANS THAT IT HASN'T FLOWERED.
00:07:52.839 --> 00:07:55.307
SO FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS,
POSSIBLY,
00:07:55.375 --> 00:07:57.976
THIS TREE HAS NOT SEEN FIT
TO FLOWER,
00:07:58.044 --> 00:08:00.446
AND THEREFORE,
IT HASN'T BRANCHED.
00:08:00.513 --> 00:08:02.681
NOW, YOU'VE GIVEN THIS TREE
A NICKNAME.
00:08:02.749 --> 00:08:04.216
IT'S CALLED THE BARBER POLE.
00:08:04.284 --> 00:08:05.751
IT LOOKS LIKE A BARBER POLE.
00:08:05.819 --> 00:08:07.186
IS IT EVER GONNA SPLIT OFF,
00:08:07.253 --> 00:08:09.588
OR IS IT JUST GONNA KEEP
GOING STRAIGHT UP?
00:08:09.656 --> 00:08:10.989
WELL, WE DON'T KNOW.
00:08:11.057 --> 00:08:12.825
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS TREE?
00:08:12.892 --> 00:08:16.161
WELL, ACTUALLY, I GUESS
WHAT'S RIGHT WITH THIS TREE
00:08:16.229 --> 00:08:18.764
IS THAT, GENETICALLY,
FOR SOME REASON,
00:08:18.832 --> 00:08:21.767
THIS TREE HASN'T FELT COMPELLED
TO BRANCH YET,
00:08:21.835 --> 00:08:25.004
IN COMPARISON TO THE OTHERS
THAT ARE AROUND HERE.
00:08:25.071 --> 00:08:26.005
SO WHO KNOWS?
00:08:26.072 --> 00:08:27.840
IN THE FUTURE, THIS MIGHT BE
00:08:27.907 --> 00:08:30.943
A VERY VALUABLE GENETIC
CHARACTERISTIC TO HAVE.
00:08:31.011 --> 00:08:33.979
WOW. THIS IS SOMETHING.
00:08:34.047 --> 00:08:36.648
STRAIGHT UP.
00:08:36.716 --> 00:08:40.252
NOW, HERE'S ONE
THAT'S COMPLETELY DOWN.
00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:42.721
WELL, IN TERMS OF MORTALITY,
00:08:42.789 --> 00:08:46.392
WHAT USUALLY CAUSES
THEIR DEMISE FINALLY
00:08:46.459 --> 00:08:48.193
IN AN OLD, OLD TREE
00:08:48.261 --> 00:08:51.530
IS PROBABLY GETTING SO OLD
AND HEAVY
00:08:51.598 --> 00:08:54.166
THAT THEY SUCCUMB TO THE WIND.
00:08:54.234 --> 00:08:56.635
A TREE LIKE THIS
CAN JUST TOPPLE OVER,
00:08:56.703 --> 00:08:58.070
OR THE VERY BIG TREES
00:08:58.138 --> 00:09:00.806
WILL START LOSING THEIR LIMBS
INDIVIDUALLY.
00:09:00.874 --> 00:09:03.142
BUT JUST BECAUSE THIS TREE
IS DOWN
00:09:03.209 --> 00:09:06.311
DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S OUT
OF THE ECOLOGICAL PICTURE.
00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:08.914
BECAUSE OF THE LOW MOISTURE
IN THE DESERT,
00:09:08.982 --> 00:09:11.684
THIS TREE WILL TAKE
HUNDREDS OF YEARS TO ROT.
00:09:11.751 --> 00:09:14.119
IN THE MEANTIME,
TERMITES ARE USING IT.
00:09:14.187 --> 00:09:16.588
WE HAVE INSECTS
OTHER THAN THE TERMITE.
00:09:16.656 --> 00:09:19.491
WE HAVE LIZARDS EATING
THE TERMITES AND INSECTS.
00:09:19.559 --> 00:09:21.126
WE HAVE SNAKES EATING THEM.
00:09:21.194 --> 00:09:23.429
WE HAVE BIRDS
EATING EVERYBODY ELSE.
00:09:23.496 --> 00:09:24.963
SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S DOWN,
00:09:25.031 --> 00:09:27.166
THIS JOSHUA TREE
WILL PLAY A VALUABLE ROLE
00:09:27.233 --> 00:09:28.600
FOR A HUNDRED YEARS OR SO.
00:09:28.668 --> 00:09:31.437
ARE THERE THINGS LIVING
IN HERE NOW BESIDE TERMITES?
00:09:31.504 --> 00:09:32.705
YES. IN FACT --
00:09:32.772 --> 00:09:34.707
THERE'S SOME LITTLE HOLES
DOWN HERE.
00:09:34.774 --> 00:09:36.709
THE HOMES
OF THE KANGAROO RATS
00:09:36.776 --> 00:09:38.977
ARE PROVIDED EXTRA SHADE
BY BEING IN HERE
00:09:39.045 --> 00:09:41.246
AND MAYBE SOME EXTRA PROTECTION
FROM COYOTES.
00:09:41.314 --> 00:09:42.414
NO SNAKES?
00:09:42.482 --> 00:09:43.949
WELL, YES, VERY LIKELY
00:09:44.017 --> 00:09:46.819
THAT THERE'S A SNAKE OR TWO
IN HERE, TOO.
00:09:50.090 --> 00:09:53.559
OHH!
BOY, I JUST CUT MYSELF.
00:09:53.626 --> 00:09:58.197
WELL, THE EDGES OF THIS
REMAIN SHARP,
00:09:58.264 --> 00:10:01.033
AND THEY'RE LACED WITH, UM --
00:10:01.101 --> 00:10:04.403
THEY'RE LACED WITH,
UM, MICA --
00:10:04.471 --> 00:10:07.506
GRIT THAT IS INCORPORATED
INTO THE FIBER.
00:10:07.574 --> 00:10:09.975
I'LL BE MORE CAREFUL
THIS TIME.
00:10:10.043 --> 00:10:11.710
...MAKES IT VERY, UM...
00:10:11.778 --> 00:10:12.745
SHARP.
00:10:12.812 --> 00:10:15.314
SHARP.
00:10:15.382 --> 00:10:16.548
WOW.
00:10:16.616 --> 00:10:20.285
KANGAROO RAT HOME
OVER THERE.
00:10:20.353 --> 00:10:21.453
RIGHT.
00:10:21.521 --> 00:10:25.090
THESE ARE STRANGE TREES,
AREN'T THEY?
00:10:25.158 --> 00:10:28.093
THEY'RE INCREDIBLY WELL-ADAPTED
FOR THE MOJAVE DESERT.
00:10:28.161 --> 00:10:29.661
THIS IS THEIR HOME.
00:10:29.729 --> 00:10:31.764
THIS IS WHERE THEY SURVIVE.
00:10:31.831 --> 00:10:35.200
DOES ANYTHING HURT THEM --
DISEASE, PESTILENCE?
00:10:35.268 --> 00:10:38.270
WE DON'T KNOW OF A SINGLE PEST
OR DISEASE
00:10:38.338 --> 00:10:40.406
THAT'S CAPABLE OF KILLING ONE.
00:10:40.473 --> 00:10:43.542
THEY ARE INFESTED
BY CERTAIN INSECTS,
00:10:43.610 --> 00:10:45.544
BUT WE DON'T KNOW
OF A DISEASE OR INSECT
00:10:45.612 --> 00:10:46.979
THAT'S CAPABLE OF KILLING ONE.
00:10:47.047 --> 00:10:49.481
I NEED ONE OF THESE
IN MY FRONT YARD.
00:10:49.549 --> 00:10:51.316
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPRAY THEM.
00:10:51.384 --> 00:10:53.752
YOU DON'T HAVE TO
TAKE CARE OF THEM.
00:10:53.820 --> 00:10:56.655
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WATER THEM.
THEY JUST GROW.
00:10:56.723 --> 00:10:59.892
YOU JUST HAVE TO PLANT ONE
THAT'S ALREADY FULL SIZE,
00:10:59.959 --> 00:11:02.327
OR IT'LL BE
YOUR GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN
00:11:02.395 --> 00:11:04.663
THAT WILL ENJOY THE SHADE
FROM IT.
00:11:04.731 --> 00:11:06.999
NOW, HERE'S A GROUP OF PEOPLE
OVER HERE
00:11:07.067 --> 00:11:09.234
LOOKING AT THE BEAUTIFUL
JOSHUA TREE.
00:11:09.302 --> 00:11:11.870
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
OUR JOSHUA TREE HERE?
00:11:11.938 --> 00:11:13.539
THEY'RE VERY INTERESTING.
00:11:13.606 --> 00:11:15.941
NEVER SEEN ANY ONE
ANYPLACE ELSE IN THE WORLD.
00:11:16.009 --> 00:11:17.609
REALLY?
WHERE YOU ALL FROM?
00:11:17.677 --> 00:11:19.044
WE'RE FROM VIRGINIA.
00:11:19.112 --> 00:11:20.579
THEY DON'T HAVE
JOSHUA TREES...
00:11:20.647 --> 00:11:23.182
NO, NO, BUT WE HAVE BEEN
IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE,
00:11:23.249 --> 00:11:25.718
AND WE'VE BEEN AROUND
A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES
00:11:25.785 --> 00:11:27.953
AND NEVER SAW ANYTHING
LIKE THIS AT ALL.
00:11:28.021 --> 00:11:29.088
THIS IS UNIQUE.
00:11:29.155 --> 00:11:30.456
THIS IS CALIFORNIA.
00:11:30.523 --> 00:11:33.926
A LOT OF PEOPLE KIND OF
MAKE FUN OF THE JOSHUA TREE,
00:11:33.993 --> 00:11:35.828
SAY IT ISN'T VERY BEAUTIFUL.
00:11:35.895 --> 00:11:37.863
WHAT DO YOU THINK
ABOUT IT?
00:11:37.931 --> 00:11:39.965
IT'S NOT VERY BEAUTIFUL,
00:11:40.033 --> 00:11:43.168
BUT IT'S DIFFERENT
AND IT'S UNIQUE.
00:11:43.236 --> 00:11:45.371
THE OLDER ONES
ARE JUST MAGNIFICENT.
00:11:45.438 --> 00:11:48.007
THEY GIVE THE IMPRESSION
ALMOST LIKE AN OAK,
00:11:48.074 --> 00:11:50.309
WHEN YOU SEE
THE REALLY OLD, BIG ONES.
00:11:50.377 --> 00:11:52.044
THEY HAVE
THE BIG, THICK BARK.
00:11:52.112 --> 00:11:55.948
YOU SOUND LIKE YOU KNOW
A LOT ABOUT JOSHUA TREES.
00:11:56.016 --> 00:11:58.951
I COME HERE OFTEN.
I LOVE JOSHUA.
00:11:59.019 --> 00:12:00.419
DO YOU COME HERE A LOT?
00:12:00.487 --> 00:12:01.954
NOW THAT I'VE KNOWN HER,
00:12:02.022 --> 00:12:03.989
SHE INTRODUCED ME
TO THE AREA.
00:12:04.057 --> 00:12:07.126
I'VE SEEN SOME JOSHUA TREES
IN THE SOUTHERN SIERRAS
00:12:07.193 --> 00:12:09.094
OFF OF 395,
UP IN THAT AREA,
00:12:09.162 --> 00:12:10.496
BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS.
00:12:10.563 --> 00:12:12.664
EARLIER, WE SAW SOME --
LIKE SHE SAID,
00:12:12.732 --> 00:12:14.133
THEY LOOKED LIKE OAK TREES.
00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:15.534
THEY WERE SO HUGE.
00:12:15.602 --> 00:12:17.736
I SAID, "MY GOD,
I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM SO BIG."
00:12:17.804 --> 00:12:20.606
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG
THEY TAKE TO DEVELOP THAT SIZE,
00:12:20.674 --> 00:12:22.174
BUT THAT WAS JUST TREMENDOUS.
00:12:22.242 --> 00:12:23.475
WE STOPPED UNDERNEATH ONE.
00:12:23.543 --> 00:12:25.444
I SAID, "IT'S LIKE
BEING UNDER AN OAK TREE."
00:12:25.512 --> 00:12:27.479
SO I CAN IMAGINE THAT
WHEN IT'S BLOOMING.
00:12:27.547 --> 00:12:28.881
I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM BLOOMING,
00:12:28.948 --> 00:12:30.849
BUT SHE PROMISES
TO TAKE ME BACK AGAIN.
00:12:30.917 --> 00:12:33.252
HUELL, RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE AT AN OVERLOOK.
00:12:33.319 --> 00:12:35.621
WE'RE LOOKING BACK
OVER A LARGE VALLEY
00:12:35.689 --> 00:12:37.322
CALLED THE LOST HORSE VALLEY,
00:12:37.390 --> 00:12:39.992
WHICH DOES HAVE
A LOT OF JOSHUA TREES IN IT.
00:12:40.060 --> 00:12:43.362
BUT FROM HERE, YOU CAN ALSO
SEE SOME OF THE OTHER RESOURCES
00:12:43.430 --> 00:12:46.398
THAT REALLY SET THIS AREA ASIDE
AS A SPECIAL PLACE --
00:12:46.466 --> 00:12:47.900
THE WONDERLAND OF ROCKS,
00:12:47.967 --> 00:12:51.203
OR THE LIGHT-COLORED GRANITES
THAT YOU SEE IN THE DISTANCE.
00:12:51.271 --> 00:12:55.174
THEY HAVE INCREDIBLE COLLECTIONS
OF BIGHORN SHEEP,
00:12:55.241 --> 00:12:57.943
POOLS OF WATER,
FLOWING STREAMS.
00:12:58.011 --> 00:13:00.012
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL MONUMENT
00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:03.048
WAS SET ASIDE
TO PROTECT THE JOSHUA TREE,
00:13:03.116 --> 00:13:05.517
BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE
OUT HERE.
00:13:05.585 --> 00:13:09.355
EVEN THE CULTURAL RESOURCES --
THE HUMAN INHABITATION,
00:13:09.422 --> 00:13:11.824
OLD RANCHES,
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES --
00:13:11.891 --> 00:13:13.826
REALLY, JOSHUA TREE
NATIONAL MONUMENT
00:13:13.893 --> 00:13:16.528
IS SET ASIDE TO NOT ONLY TELL
THE STORY OF THE MOJAVE,
00:13:16.596 --> 00:13:18.430
BUT THE PEOPLE
THAT WERE HERE ALSO.
00:13:18.498 --> 00:13:21.934
Howser: WELL,
THE ROAD WAS DUSTY AND BUMPY,
00:13:22.002 --> 00:13:25.604
AND I WASN'T SURE
EXACTLY WHERE WE WERE GOING,
00:13:25.672 --> 00:13:29.441
BUT RANGER MOON HAD ASKED US
TO FOLLOW HIS TRUCK
00:13:29.509 --> 00:13:32.845
AS HE TOOK US NEXT
TO A VERY SPECIAL PLACE
00:13:32.912 --> 00:13:35.948
INSIDE JOSHUA TREE
NATIONAL MONUMENT.
00:13:36.016 --> 00:13:40.319
IT SEEMS THAT BACK IN 1909,
BILL AND FRANCES KEYS
00:13:40.387 --> 00:13:43.555
HOMESTEADED
IN THIS ISOLATED AREA,
00:13:43.623 --> 00:13:45.124
RAISED A FAMILY,
00:13:45.191 --> 00:13:47.893
AND OPERATED
A SUCCESSFUL RANCH HERE.
00:13:47.961 --> 00:13:51.663
IN 1969, AFTER MR. KEYS' DEATH,
THE LAND AND THE RANCH
00:13:51.731 --> 00:13:54.700
WERE ACQUIRED
BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
00:13:54.768 --> 00:13:56.635
AND PRESERVED AS AN EXAMPLE
00:13:56.703 --> 00:13:59.505
OF WHAT AN EARLY DESERT RANCH
WAS LIKE.
00:13:59.572 --> 00:14:02.408
THESE DAYS,
YOU CAN VISIT THE OLD RANCH
00:14:02.475 --> 00:14:05.644
ON SCHEDULED TOURS,
CONDUCTED BY THE RANGERS.
00:14:05.712 --> 00:14:07.312
ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY,
00:14:07.380 --> 00:14:09.915
OUR ENTOURAGE
ARRIVED AT THE RANCH
00:14:09.983 --> 00:14:13.786
ACCOMPANIED BY WILLIS KEYS,
ONE OF THE KEYS' CHILDREN,
00:14:13.853 --> 00:14:16.522
WHO SPENT THE FIRST 15 YEARS
OF HIS LIFE
00:14:16.589 --> 00:14:18.223
GROWING UP ON THIS RANCH.
00:14:18.291 --> 00:14:22.394
HE HAD LOTS
OF WONDERFUL MEMORIES TO SHARE.
00:14:22.462 --> 00:14:24.663
NOW, THIS IS THE HOUSE.
00:14:24.731 --> 00:14:29.234
RIGHT UP HERE IN FRONT, THOUGH,
IS THE OLD WELL.
00:14:29.302 --> 00:14:30.569
OH, LOOK.
00:14:30.637 --> 00:14:33.372
THIS ORIGINALLY HAD A HAND PUMP
LIKE THIS.
00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:34.573
UH-HUH.
00:14:34.641 --> 00:14:36.375
COME ON OVER HERE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
00:14:36.443 --> 00:14:40.713
THERE WASN'T ANY WATER
PIPED INTO THE HOUSE.
00:14:40.780 --> 00:14:42.715
YOU HAD A BUCKET
ON THE SINK
00:14:42.782 --> 00:14:45.117
AND CAME OUT HERE
TO THIS HAND PUMP
00:14:45.185 --> 00:14:47.653
AND PUMPED YOUR BUCKET FULL
AND TOOK IT IN.
00:14:47.721 --> 00:14:49.788
WHEN I GOT OLD ENOUGH,
THAT WAS MY CHORE.
00:14:49.856 --> 00:14:52.124
"BE SURE AND KEEP
THE BUCKET FULL ON THE SINK."
00:14:52.192 --> 00:14:54.293
IF IT GOT EMPTY,
YOU WERE IN TROUBLE.
00:14:54.361 --> 00:14:55.461
THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS.
00:14:55.528 --> 00:14:56.862
WAS IT PRETTY GOOD WATER?
00:14:56.930 --> 00:14:58.964
IT WAS VERY GOOD WATER.
YES, IT WAS.
00:14:59.032 --> 00:15:01.567
YOU NEVER HAD TO WORRY
ABOUT HOW CLEAN IT WAS?
00:15:01.634 --> 00:15:04.103
NO, JUST PUMP IT OUT OF THERE,
KEEP IT TIGHT.
00:15:04.170 --> 00:15:06.705
DO YOU THINK THERE'S
STILL WATER DOWN IN THERE?
00:15:06.773 --> 00:15:08.640
WHAT IF WE PICKED
THIS THING UP?
00:15:08.708 --> 00:15:12.177
WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER
WE CAN GET THAT UP OR NOT.
00:15:12.245 --> 00:15:13.579
PROBABLY COULD.
00:15:13.646 --> 00:15:15.714
I DON'T SEE ANY WATER
DOWN THERE.
00:15:15.782 --> 00:15:18.384
BUT IT'S STILL
THE OLD WELL, ISN'T IT?
00:15:18.451 --> 00:15:20.452
YEAH.
00:15:20.520 --> 00:15:22.855
WHERE IS
THE BUCKET?
00:15:22.922 --> 00:15:26.025
WELL, I DON'T SEE
THE BUCKET.
00:15:26.092 --> 00:15:28.827
Howser: NOW WE'RE GONNA GO
INTO THE HOUSE.
00:15:28.895 --> 00:15:31.930
AND I THINK EVERYTHING...
00:15:31.998 --> 00:15:36.869
LOOKS...
EXACTLY LIKE IT DID?
00:15:36.936 --> 00:15:39.438
WELL, IT'S NOT AS CLEAN
AS IT USED TO BE,
00:15:39.506 --> 00:15:40.806
BUT IT'S HERE.
00:15:40.874 --> 00:15:43.475
MOST EVERYTHING IS HERE --
THE ESSENTIALS, YOU KNOW.
00:15:43.543 --> 00:15:45.944
NOW, EXPLAIN TO US
WHAT WE SEE IN HERE.
00:15:46.012 --> 00:15:47.312
THIS IS AN OLD TABLE.
00:15:47.380 --> 00:15:49.982
I THINK IT WAS MY GRANDMOTHER'S,
ORIGINALLY.
00:15:50.050 --> 00:15:51.984
THAT'S WHAT WE ATE AT.
00:15:52.052 --> 00:15:53.385
MM-HMM.
00:15:53.453 --> 00:15:56.622
THEN RIGHT BEHIND IT HERE,
YOU SEE A DOOR.
00:15:56.690 --> 00:16:00.092
THAT'S WHAT WE CALLED
A DESERT COOLER.
00:16:00.160 --> 00:16:01.627
A DESERT COOLER.
00:16:01.695 --> 00:16:06.598
I CAN'T GET IT OPEN, BUT IT WAS
A SCREENED-IN BOX OUT THERE
00:16:06.666 --> 00:16:09.034
WITH BURLAP OVER THE OUTSIDE
00:16:09.102 --> 00:16:12.671
AND A PAN UP ON TOP
TO PULL THE WATER IN.
00:16:12.739 --> 00:16:15.908
THE BURLAP WENT IN
AND SIPHONED OUT
00:16:15.975 --> 00:16:19.278
AND KEPT THE BURLAP WET
ALL THE TIME.
00:16:19.346 --> 00:16:22.381
AND THE BREEZE BLOWING
THROUGH IT KEPT THINGS COOL.
00:16:22.449 --> 00:16:24.917
SO IT WAS KIND OF LIKE
OLD-TIMEY AIR CONDITIONING.
00:16:24.984 --> 00:16:26.418
THAT'S IT.
00:16:26.486 --> 00:16:28.520
FOR MANY YEARS,
THAT'S ALL WE HAD FOR COOLING.
00:16:28.588 --> 00:16:31.056
KEEP THE BUTTER IN THERE
AND THE MILK AND WHATEVER.
00:16:31.124 --> 00:16:34.093
SO THAT WAS BEFORE
YOU HAD REFRIGERATORS.
00:16:34.160 --> 00:16:36.195
THAT WAS BEFORE THAT,
RIGHT.
00:16:36.262 --> 00:16:38.897
HAD THE OLD WOOD STOVE
OVER HERE.
00:16:38.965 --> 00:16:41.667
SO YOU ACTUALLY USED
A WOOD STOVE.
00:16:41.735 --> 00:16:45.004
ALWAYS. A FIREPLACE
IN THE OTHER ROOM,
00:16:45.071 --> 00:16:47.006
AND A WOOD STOVE OUT HERE.
00:16:47.073 --> 00:16:50.009
THAT WAS THE ONLY HEATING
FACILITIES WE HAD.
00:16:50.076 --> 00:16:52.778
AND, OF COURSE,
THAT MEANT CUTTING WOOD.
00:16:52.846 --> 00:16:56.048
WHEN I GOT OLD ENOUGH,
THAT WAS A CHORE THAT I --
00:16:56.116 --> 00:16:57.850
I'D KEEP THE WOODBOX FULL.
00:16:57.917 --> 00:17:01.020
WE USED TO HAVE A WOODBOX
SET RIGHT THERE.
00:17:01.087 --> 00:17:02.955
BOY, YOU HAD A LOT OF CHORES.
00:17:03.023 --> 00:17:05.157
QUITE A FEW.
IT KEPT YOU BUSY.
00:17:05.225 --> 00:17:07.493
NOW WE'RE BACK OUTSIDE.
00:17:07.560 --> 00:17:11.597
AND THIS --
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO --
00:17:11.664 --> 00:17:14.166
WHAT IS ALL OF THIS STUFF?
00:17:14.234 --> 00:17:19.304
WELL, IT'S A COLLECTION
OF MANY YEARS OF LIVING HERE.
00:17:19.372 --> 00:17:23.742
MY DAD COLLECTED ANYTHING
THAT WAS AVAILABLE,
00:17:23.810 --> 00:17:25.144
YOU KNOW.
00:17:25.211 --> 00:17:28.981
THERE USED TO BE
A LOT OF OLD MINES OUT HERE.
00:17:29.049 --> 00:17:30.749
HE LOCATED --
00:17:30.817 --> 00:17:35.454
HE NEVER TOOK ANYTHING WITHOUT
FIRST HAVING OWNERSHIP TO IT.
00:17:35.522 --> 00:17:39.692
SO IF HE SAW A PLACE AND MAYBE
THE MINE WASN'T WORTH MUCH,
00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:41.326
BUT IT HAD
A LITTLE MACHINERY
00:17:41.394 --> 00:17:43.529
OR A BUILDING ON IT
THAT HE LIKED,
00:17:43.596 --> 00:17:46.031
HE'D LOCATE THE MINE,
DO THE ASSESSMENT FOR A YEAR,
00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:47.566
AND THEN MOVE THE STUFF HERE.
00:17:47.634 --> 00:17:50.436
WHAT WAS HE GONNA DO
WITH ALL THIS STUFF?
00:17:50.503 --> 00:17:52.771
WELL, USE IT SOMETIME,
YOU KNOW.
00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:56.508
WE DID USE A LOT OF IT,
BECAUSE WE LIVED OUT HERE
00:17:56.576 --> 00:17:58.877
WHERE YOU COULDN'T RUN
TO THE STORE
00:17:58.945 --> 00:18:00.379
FOR EVERY LITTLE THING.
00:18:00.447 --> 00:18:03.816
YOU GOT THREE OR FOUR WAGONS
JUST LINED UP IN A ROW.
00:18:03.883 --> 00:18:06.118
WELL, THAT WAS THE WAY
OUT HERE.
00:18:06.186 --> 00:18:07.619
UP UNTIL ABOUT 1920,
00:18:07.687 --> 00:18:10.589
YOU SEE A LOT OF THESE
ON THE ROAD OUT THERE.
00:18:10.657 --> 00:18:12.358
LET'S WALK ON DOWN HERE.
00:18:12.425 --> 00:18:15.394
AND EVEN LATER,
MY DAD USED TO USE THESE.
00:18:15.462 --> 00:18:17.996
WE USED TO BREAK HORSES
AND MULES.
00:18:18.064 --> 00:18:20.165
THESE WERE A GOOD THING
TO BREAK THEM IN ON.
00:18:20.233 --> 00:18:21.633
HOOK THEM UP TO A WAGON,
00:18:21.701 --> 00:18:23.435
TAKE THEM OUT
THROUGH THE DESERT OUT HERE,
00:18:23.503 --> 00:18:27.606
AND THAT GETS THEM
A LITTLE EXPERIENCE.
00:18:27.674 --> 00:18:30.476
WELL, THIS IS A REAL --
THIS IS A BUCKBOARD.
00:18:30.543 --> 00:18:32.211
THAT IS A STUDEBAKER WAGON.
00:18:32.278 --> 00:18:33.645
A STUDEBAKER WAGON.
00:18:33.713 --> 00:18:36.081
THAT'S WHERE STUDEBAKER
GOT ITS START.
00:18:36.149 --> 00:18:37.182
REALLY?
00:18:37.250 --> 00:18:38.217
RIGHT.
00:18:38.284 --> 00:18:40.619
THIS IS THE ORIGINAL
SCHOOLHOUSE.
00:18:40.687 --> 00:18:42.354
THE ORIGINAL SCHOOLHOUSE.
00:18:42.422 --> 00:18:45.391
ACTUALLY, IT WAS A GUEST CABIN
BEFORE THAT,
00:18:45.458 --> 00:18:48.527
BUT WE USED IT FOR A SCHOOLHOUSE
FOR SOME TIME.
00:18:48.595 --> 00:18:50.829
NOW, WHERE DID THE STUDENTS
COME FROM?
00:18:50.897 --> 00:18:52.097
I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST
00:18:52.165 --> 00:18:54.600
YOU AND YOUR BROTHERS
AND SISTER OUT HERE.
00:18:54.668 --> 00:18:56.802
THAT'S RIGHT.
TO START WITH, IT WAS.
00:18:56.870 --> 00:18:59.338
BUT LATER ON,
WE HAD HOMESTEADERS OUT HERE,
00:18:59.406 --> 00:19:00.472
AND THEY HAD KIDS.
00:19:00.540 --> 00:19:02.207
SO THEY HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL.
00:19:02.275 --> 00:19:03.676
MY DAD SAID,
00:19:03.743 --> 00:19:06.512
"WELL, WE'LL JUST MAKE
THE SCHOOLHOUSE A LITTLE LARGER,
00:19:06.579 --> 00:19:08.247
AND THE KIDS CAN COME OVER."
00:19:08.314 --> 00:19:11.617
WAS THIS A PRIVATE SCHOOL,
SOMETHING YOUR DAD ARRANGED?
00:19:11.685 --> 00:19:13.018
YES, IT WAS,
00:19:13.086 --> 00:19:15.421
AND HE PAID THE TEACHER
THE FIRST YEAR OR TWO.
00:19:15.488 --> 00:19:17.289
THEN THE COUNTY GOT INTERESTED,
00:19:17.357 --> 00:19:19.925
BECAUSE THERE WAS
A FEW MORE KIDS COMING.
00:19:19.993 --> 00:19:21.860
AND THEY SAID,
"WE'LL PAY THE TEACHER
00:19:21.928 --> 00:19:23.295
"AND FURNISH THE MATERIALS --
00:19:23.363 --> 00:19:25.397
THE BOOKS AND PAPER
AND STUFF LIKE THAT."
00:19:25.465 --> 00:19:27.299
AND THE DESKS,
BECAUSE LOOK AT THIS.
00:19:27.367 --> 00:19:28.767
THIS IS SOMETHING IN HERE.
00:19:28.835 --> 00:19:33.272
NOW, THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL
A ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE.
00:19:33.340 --> 00:19:34.440
THAT'S IT.
00:19:34.507 --> 00:19:35.974
AND A LITTLE ROOM
AT THAT...
00:19:36.042 --> 00:19:37.343
WITH THE LITTLE DESK.
00:19:37.410 --> 00:19:39.712
OH, BOY,
THEY'RE FALLING APART, TOO.
00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:42.414
YES, THEY ARE.
THEY'RE GETTING KIND OF OLD.
00:19:42.482 --> 00:19:43.949
SO YOU ONLY HAD, AT BEST,
00:19:44.017 --> 00:19:47.953
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 KIDS
IN HERE.
00:19:48.021 --> 00:19:50.422
I THINK THAT WAS MORE
THAN WE NEEDED.
00:19:50.490 --> 00:19:52.791
BOY, I BET --
IT'S HOT IN HERE NOW.
00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:56.295
YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT WAS
IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMERTIME.
00:19:56.363 --> 00:19:59.031
BEATING DOWN AND NO AIR
CONDITIONING WHATSOEVER,
00:19:59.099 --> 00:20:00.065
NO FAN.
00:20:00.133 --> 00:20:01.633
SO YOU ENDURED, YOU KNOW.
00:20:01.701 --> 00:20:03.035
IF IT GOT TOO BAD,
00:20:03.103 --> 00:20:05.004
MAYBE WE'D LET SCHOOL OUT
A LITTLE EARLY.
00:20:05.071 --> 00:20:06.205
I BET.
00:20:06.272 --> 00:20:07.906
AND WHAT WAS IT LIKE
IN THE WINTERTIME?
00:20:07.974 --> 00:20:09.174
IT MUST HAVE BEEN FREEZING.
00:20:09.242 --> 00:20:12.378
WELL, WE HAD
A POTBELLIED STOVE IN HERE,
00:20:12.445 --> 00:20:15.714
AND WE STOKED THAT UP,
AND IT WASN'T BAD.
00:20:15.782 --> 00:20:19.518
THIS IS THE LITTLEST SCHOOLHOUSE
I'VE EVER SEEN.
00:20:19.586 --> 00:20:20.986
IS IT? [ LAUGHS ]
00:20:21.054 --> 00:20:24.323
WELL, IT SERVED A PURPOSE,
YOU KNOW.
00:20:24.391 --> 00:20:27.860
WELL, YOU'RE AN EDUCATED,
LITERATE MAN.
00:20:27.927 --> 00:20:28.994
IT WORKED.
00:20:29.062 --> 00:20:31.130
RIGHT INSIDE THAT HOUSE.
00:20:31.197 --> 00:20:34.233
YEAH, THAT'S WHERE
I GOT A START.
00:20:34.300 --> 00:20:37.636
NOW, THIS IS A PROJECT
MY DAD STARTED.
00:20:37.704 --> 00:20:39.972
IT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 1930.
00:20:40.040 --> 00:20:44.276
ORIGINALLY, HE STARTED OUT
LAYING ROCK AND CEMENT.
00:20:44.344 --> 00:20:49.081
YOU CAN SEE THAT LOWER PART'S
ROCK AND CEMENT, HAND-LAID.
00:20:49.149 --> 00:20:52.051
THEN HE BUILT FORMS
FROM THERE ON UP
00:20:52.118 --> 00:20:53.519
AND POURED CONCRETE.
00:20:53.586 --> 00:20:54.553
UH-HUH.
00:20:54.621 --> 00:20:56.488
CONCRETE AND ROCK.
00:20:56.556 --> 00:20:59.358
SO THIS WAS YOUR OWN
PRIVATE DAM UP HERE.
00:20:59.426 --> 00:21:00.592
IT REALLY WAS.
00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:03.328
ORIGINALLY, IT WAS A DIRT DAM
ACROSS THERE.
00:21:03.396 --> 00:21:06.598
AND IT WASHED OUT
WHEN WE HAD A BIG THUNDERSTORM.
00:21:06.666 --> 00:21:10.269
THAT'S WHAT CREATED THIS CANYON
GOING DOWN THROUGH HERE.
00:21:10.337 --> 00:21:13.005
SO HE REBUILT IT
WITH CONCRETE AND ROCK.
00:21:13.073 --> 00:21:14.907
IS THERE STILL WATER
BACK THERE?
00:21:14.974 --> 00:21:17.910
YES, I'M SURE THERE IS.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK OVER THE TOP.
00:21:17.977 --> 00:21:19.411
AS THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES,
00:21:19.479 --> 00:21:21.914
LET'S GO LOOK
AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DAM.
00:21:24.384 --> 00:21:26.085
THERE'S STILL --
LOOK AT THIS.
00:21:26.152 --> 00:21:27.419
IT'S STILL FULL OF WATER.
00:21:27.487 --> 00:21:29.355
WELL, IT ISN'T FULL,
BY ANY MEANS,
00:21:29.422 --> 00:21:31.123
BUT THERE'S QUITE A BIT
THERE.
00:21:31.191 --> 00:21:33.359
NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU ALL USE
THIS WATER FOR?
00:21:33.426 --> 00:21:34.660
WELL, MAINLY IT WAS USED
00:21:34.728 --> 00:21:36.695
FOR IRRIGATING PURPOSES
DOWN HERE --
00:21:36.763 --> 00:21:38.530
OUR ORCHARD
AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
00:21:38.598 --> 00:21:41.200
BUT IT WAS ALSO
A NICE SWIMMING HOLE,
00:21:41.267 --> 00:21:43.535
AND WE USED TO HAVE FISH
IN IT.
00:21:43.603 --> 00:21:45.304
BLACK BASS AND CROPPIE.
00:21:45.372 --> 00:21:48.340
SO, THIS WAS THE OLD SWIMMING
HOLE WHEN IT GOT TOO HOT.
00:21:48.408 --> 00:21:49.775
YOU BETCHA.
00:21:49.843 --> 00:21:51.510
BOY, IT WAS NICE, TOO.
00:21:51.578 --> 00:21:52.678
LOOK AT THIS.
00:21:52.746 --> 00:21:54.680
I LEARNED TO SWIM IN THIS.
00:21:54.748 --> 00:21:56.482
THIS IS JUST BEAUTIFUL.
00:21:56.549 --> 00:21:59.752
WHAT DO YOU THINK
PEOPLE CAN GAIN
00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:03.422
FROM VISITING YOUR OLD RANCH
OUT HERE?
00:22:03.490 --> 00:22:06.458
WELL, IT WOULD GIVE
AN INSIGHT
00:22:06.526 --> 00:22:08.494
ON ONE WAY OF LIVING,
00:22:08.561 --> 00:22:13.632
OF HOW PEOPLE GOT BY
OUT HERE IN THE DESERT.
00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:17.169
TO ME, IT WAS AN IDEAL WAY
TO LIVE,
00:22:17.237 --> 00:22:22.708
BUT I THINK IT WOULD GIVE PEOPLE
AN INSIGHT ON EARLIER TIMES
00:22:22.776 --> 00:22:25.210
AND PROBABLY A WAY OF LIFE
00:22:25.278 --> 00:22:28.514
THAT YOU DON'T SEE
VERY MUCH OF.
00:22:28.581 --> 00:22:33.886
THIS IS BASICALLY SOMETHING
THAT'S GONE FOREVER, ISN'T IT?
00:22:33.953 --> 00:22:36.622
IT REALLY IS.
YES, IT IS.
00:22:36.690 --> 00:22:38.824
YEAH.
00:22:38.892 --> 00:22:41.960
Howser:
WELL, AFTER WE LEFT KEYS RANCH,
00:22:42.028 --> 00:22:43.896
WE STILL HAD A LOT TO SEE.
00:22:43.963 --> 00:22:47.433
FIRST OFF, RANGER MOON
TOOK US UP TO KEYS VIEW,
00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:50.269
WHERE WE HAD
A BREATHTAKING PANORAMA
00:22:50.337 --> 00:22:53.872
INTO THE COACHELLA VALLEY
AND MOUNT SAN JACINTO.
00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:56.108
THEN WHILE
WE WERE WALKING THROUGH
00:22:56.176 --> 00:22:57.810
ANOTHER PART OF THE DESERT,
00:22:57.877 --> 00:23:00.112
WE RAN ACROSS
A SIDE-BLOTCH LIZARD,
00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:02.348
AND HE LET ME PUT IT
ON MY FINGER.
00:23:02.415 --> 00:23:06.719
AND THEN WE SAW A MAGNIFICENT
TURKEY VULTURE IN FLIGHT.
00:23:06.786 --> 00:23:10.622
OF COURSE, THERE WERE LOTS MORE
HUGE ROCKS TO SEE
00:23:10.690 --> 00:23:13.058
AND JOSHUA TREES TO LOOK AT,
00:23:13.126 --> 00:23:17.763
BUT WE ENDED OUR VISIT
TO JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL MONUMENT
00:23:17.831 --> 00:23:19.665
ON A CARPET OF COLOR.
00:23:19.733 --> 00:23:21.867
I THOUGHT
I KNEW THE DESERT,
00:23:21.935 --> 00:23:25.104
BUT WE HAVE JUST PARKED
RIGHT OVER HERE,
00:23:25.171 --> 00:23:26.772
WALKED A FEW FEET --
00:23:26.840 --> 00:23:29.508
WE COULD'VE WALKED
ANYWHERE HERE
00:23:29.576 --> 00:23:32.277
AND SEEN THIS SAME BEAUTY,
RIGHT?
00:23:32.345 --> 00:23:35.614
I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH COLOR,
SUCH VARIETY,
00:23:35.682 --> 00:23:37.583
AND IT'S EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK.
00:23:37.650 --> 00:23:40.152
WELL, IT'S SPRINGTIME
IN THE DESERT.
00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:43.422
AND UNLIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE'S
CONCEPTS OF DESERTS
00:23:43.490 --> 00:23:45.324
AS BLEAK, SAND-STREWN AREAS,
00:23:45.392 --> 00:23:47.159
THE DESERT REALLY IS ALIVE.
00:23:47.227 --> 00:23:50.596
LOOK AT THIS.
LOOK AT THESE.
00:23:50.663 --> 00:23:52.831
AND THERE'S JUST --
00:23:52.899 --> 00:23:55.334
WHEN YOU LOOK OUT HERE
00:23:55.402 --> 00:23:59.338
AMONG THE TREES,
THE JOSHUA TREES,
00:23:59.406 --> 00:24:02.041
IT'S LIKE A CARPET OF COLOR.
00:24:02.108 --> 00:24:03.609
LOOK AT THESE.
00:24:03.677 --> 00:24:06.311
THAT'S
THE BEAVERTAIL CACTUS.
00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:09.948
SO RIGHT HERE,
YOU'VE GOT THE CACTUS,
00:24:10.016 --> 00:24:11.383
YOU'VE GOT...
00:24:11.451 --> 00:24:13.185
DESERT DANDELIONS.
00:24:13.253 --> 00:24:14.787
THE DANDELIONS.
00:24:14.854 --> 00:24:16.155
PINCUSHION FLOWER.
00:24:16.222 --> 00:24:18.624
PINCUSHION FLOWERS.
WHAT ARE THESE?
00:24:18.692 --> 00:24:20.793
YOU GOT PURPLE ONES
OVER HERE.
00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:22.061
THEY'RE A PHACELIA.
00:24:22.128 --> 00:24:23.429
WOW.
00:24:23.496 --> 00:24:27.066
DESERT DANDELIONS
AROUND YOUR FEET.
00:24:27.133 --> 00:24:30.369
AND IT JUST GOES ON
AND ON AND ON
00:24:30.437 --> 00:24:32.705
AS FAR AS YOU CAN LOOK.
00:24:32.772 --> 00:24:34.907
AND THIS IS THE DESERT.
00:24:34.974 --> 00:24:36.208
THAT'S IT.
00:24:36.276 --> 00:24:39.678
WELL, IT'S REALLY
A VERY SPECIAL PLACE.
00:24:39.746 --> 00:24:42.481
DO YOU EVER GET TIRED
OF IT?
00:24:42.549 --> 00:24:44.283
NO, NO. I NEVER DO.
00:24:44.351 --> 00:24:48.654
NOT IN 17 YEARS
OF WATCHING IT EVERY SPRING.
00:24:51.024 --> 00:24:53.625
WELL, I HOPE
YOU'VE ENJOYED OUR VISIT
00:24:53.693 --> 00:24:57.363
TO JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL MONUMENT
OUT HERE IN THE DESERT.
00:24:57.430 --> 00:24:59.865
THIS IS TRULY
A SPECTACULAR PLACE.
00:24:59.933 --> 00:25:03.369
I ALSO HOPE WE'VE ALL GAINED
A GREATER UNDERSTANDING
00:25:03.436 --> 00:25:05.004
OF THE OLD JOSHUA TREE,
00:25:05.071 --> 00:25:07.706
WHICH HAS BEEN AROUND
FOR A LONG TIME.
00:25:07.774 --> 00:25:11.143
I'VE HAD A GOOD TIME.
I HOPE YOU HAVE, TOO.
00:25:11.211 --> 00:25:13.412
AND, AS ALWAYS, YOU'RE INVITED
00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:16.648
TO COME ON ALONG WITH US AGAIN
NEXT TIME
00:25:16.716 --> 00:25:21.020
AS WE CONTINUE OUR SEARCH
TOGETHER FOR CALIFORNIA'S GOLD.
00:25:21.087 --> 00:25:23.689
[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]
00:25:23.757 --> 00:25:25.924
[ COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYS ]
00:25:46.246 --> 00:25:49.314
[ LIGHTNING CRASHES ]
00:25:49.382 --> 00:25:52.051
[ BLUES MUSIC PLAYS ]