My husband took this picture a few mornings ago. Lily Rock, a great climbing rock, points to the skies.
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[ edited by roadsmith on Dec 1, 2007 07:07 PM ]
posted on December 1, 2007 08:16:29 PM
That's our view east from our front door. The tree to the left is by our driveway. I was still asleep; Bob said it did look as though the sky was on fire. He's never seen such color early in the morning.
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posted on December 1, 2007 08:17:51 PM
Lily Rock is a 1,000 foot massif; in the summer we see helicopters occasionally lowering and then lifting body bags. Lily is a world-class climbing rock, but sometimes novices try it.
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posted on December 2, 2007 08:18:14 AM
Oh yes, absolutely worth the wait. I'm sitting at my desk by the window watching the snow & sleet & your picture was a warm welcome sight.
posted on December 2, 2007 09:25:03 AM
Thanks, everyone. The other night we had a bright orange Alpenglow on that same ridge, from the sunset; my husband drove up to our house from the center of the village and said people were out with their cameras up and down the streets. We feel very fortunate to live retired in this beautiful place. (Maybe a reward for working hard all our adult years?!)
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28A Lily Rock
Location: Riverside County, California
Named in 1897-98 by a USGS team. It has been thought that this was possibly for its lily-white appearance. But T.W. Patterson of Riverside has seen an old photograph of Lily Eastman, on the reverse of which is written "She was the one for whom Lily Rock was named". Lily was the daughter of Dr. Sanford Eastman, the first Secretary and a Director of the "Southern California Colony Association" which later became Riverside. She was much admired locally for her grace and beauty. She and her father, both suffering from tuberculosis had come to Riverside for their health, but she nonetheless died young and was mourned by many. How the USGS could have become aware of her is unknown.
It had previously been known as "Taukwitch Rock" (by area pioneers) and allowing for many variants in spelling, "Tauquitz" is still its preferred name by rock climbers. According to Indian legends known throughout Southern California, it was believed to be home of the Nukat (an elemental creature of primal evil) "Tahquitz". Included in his activities, Tahquitz loved to do great harm to people and much enjoyed stealing them and/or their souls which he would then take home to eat. His home was said to appear to be a large rock from the outside but was transparent from the inside "and the people he has stolen can see out of it as plainly as we see through glass". There is no verifiable explanation for the official change of name except that either the USGS didn't know about any earlier name, or more likely simply didn't want to name everything in the vicinity with the name of Tahquitz. The antiquity of this name is attested by Chief Francisco Patencio of Palm Springs who recalled that according to legend "Evon ga net" (the Fox) had set the boundary line for his people and named all places within their territory, called this great rock "Tahquitz wayo ne va" meaning "Tahquitz standing". This also was a sacred spot where local shamans traditionally came to cache or recharge their magical gear.
Name first appears on USGS San Jacinto topo (1901).
posted on December 2, 2007 09:27:36 PM
Mcjane: The Native Americans in the area still come and perform rites near the rock. We feel privileged to have it out our front windows but mourn for the inexperienced climbers who lose their lives on it. Opposite that rock, to the left of our house, is Suicide Rock, a big rock cliff, name origin unknown.
The Indians came into these mountains in the summer and fall and harvested whatever they could find. They found huge acorns everywhere and ground them in metates for meal. They were too smart to try to live up here in the cold weather; they lived in the desert, Palm Springs area, most of the year.
My husband took that sunrise picture because he knew he could never describe it and be believed. He did no editing of the film except to splice two side-by-side shots together (hence the fishbowl effect).
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posted on December 3, 2007 09:34:11 AM
Yep, that's our old town! You get a better picture of Lily Rock in your postcard, how it looms above the town. If you look at the pile of rocks at the top left of your card, that's Suicide Rock. We live just below it.
I buy postcards for our museum, and my buying has slowed down considerably since I began 4 years ago. I think we have most of the extant cards now, but every now and then there's one we haven't seen before. Thanks for showing this one (we do have it). Our town hasn't changed much at all since those earlier days, thank goodness.
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posted on December 3, 2007 12:26:15 PM
Neglus: Here's a shot from our front balcony, showing how massive the rock is (note the small trees at its base).
