California Desert Trails


Read by Steven Seitel

(4.6 stars; 8 reviews)

"I fell an easy prey to the beckonings of the other principal feature of California's topography, the dreamy, dreary desert. Long ago, on short expeditions into and across it at various points, I had fallen under its inexplicable charm; now I determined to know it more closely, by daily and nightly intercourse through months of travel in its sun-blasted solitudes: gaining the experience I desired at the price, certainly, of some discomfort, and, possibly, of a trifling degree of danger — merely enough for spice. This volume, then, is the fruit of over two years continuous camping and traveling on the desert." (From the Preface) - Summary by Steven Seitel (10 hr 44 min)

Chapters

00 Preface 6:24 Read by Steven Seitel
01 Introductory 25:55 Read by Steven Seitel
02 The Palm Oases and Cañons 40:12 Read by Steven Seitel
03 Trees and Tree-Like Growths 26:33 Read by Steven Seitel
04 The Smaller Cacti, Shrubs, and Flowers 27:16 Read by Steven Seitel
05 Some Desert Indian Lore 26:22 Read by Steven Seitel
06 A Desert Ride: Palm Springs to Seven Palms 20:43 Read by Steven Seitel
07 Seven Palms to Thousand Palm Cañon 23:47 Read by Steven Seitel
08 Thousand Palm Cañon to Coachella Valley 27:14 Read by Steven Seitel
09 Coachella Valley to Piñon Well 32:08 Read by Steven Seitel
10 Piñon Well to Meca 43:42 Read by Steven Seitel
11 Mecca to Figtree John 30:49 Read by Steven Seitel
12 Figtree John to Borego Springs 32:54 Read by Steven Seitel
13 Borego Springs to Los Coyotes 31:17 Read by Steven Seitel
14 Los Coyotes to Warner's Springs 25:04 Read by Steven Seitel
15 Warner's Springs to Agua Caliente 28:34 Read by Steven Seitel
16 Agua Caliente to ''San Felipe City'' 31:14 Read by Steven Seitel
17 ''San Felipe City'' to Imperial Valley 38:29 Read by Steven Seitel
18 Imperial Valley to Yuma 34:59 Read by Steven Seitel
19 Yuma to Blythe 41:16 Read by Steven Seitel
20 Blythe to Coachella Valley 35:37 Read by Steven Seitel
21 Appendix A: Hints on Desert Travelling 13:56 Read by Steven Seitel

Reviews


(4.5 stars)

Great description of an extended visit to California deserts in early 20th century. Great descriptions of the desert and what it was like to journey through this challenging environment. Anyone planning a trip to a desert would benefit from reading this 100+ year old book. Chase’s book has in depth descriptions of trees and plants along with details of their uses by native Americans along with wonderful descriptions of the desert environment. Chase’s descriptions of his relationship with his hoofed companions and with the people he meets make for an interesting story. Chase doesn’t consider himself an expert in botany, geology, sociology or cultural anthropology yet he is thoughtful on these subjects and his point of view has value especially considering he was writing about the California of 100 years ago.