I Look Down When I Walk
By Brian Swanson
I have been fascinated with the outdoors since I was a young boy. I look up and down, but find the ground most interesting. Initially I would watch for lizards and snakes. I became quite good at catching them, and still have the touch. Now, rather than catching them for pets, I am their guardian. I catch them to briefly observe or to move them to safety. Think rattlesnakes in a neighbor’s yard or in the street, or a fence lizard trapped in a bucket inadvertently left beside a fence or wall.
In my youth while camping in the desert I also would hunt for Apache tears, geodes, tourmaline and other gemstones. With all my hiking and walking, I cover a lot of ground. Consequently, I find plenty of interesting things. Arrowheads, old and new coins, rings, wallets. My best finds include an 1898 half dollar while hiking in Scripps Ranch, a 1907 Liberty Head nickel in San Clemente Canyon, an arrowhead beside an old Indian trail (left where found), and an 18 Karat gold ring in Anza Borrego.
You may ask, “What does this have to do with Penasquitos Canyon Preserve?”. Good question. As I hike around the canyon and nearby open spaces, I use my observation skills to “read” these beloved spaces. I watch for snake and other wildlife tracks, indicating the health of the ecosystem. I note the absence or presence of invasive plants, filing it away for future discussion or work parties. I may note illegal activities like reptile collecting or neighbor encroachment, and share it with the rangers. Or spot signage in need of repair. I note the trash and toilet paper that thoughtless visitors have left behind (Some of us bring plastic bags as we hike, to collect this trash and carry it out.)
“Seeing” the preserve, rather than just passing through it, enhances my appreciation of what you and the Friends have managed to preserve, and encourages me to keep advocating for the creatures and spaces that do not have a voice. Join us on our fun hikes and learn to “see” the preserve in a whole new way.
Looking down, here are two critters I saw recently: Baja chorus frog tadpoles (and maybe some spadefoot toad tadpoles) and a Desert Centipede.
