In this season premiere, host David Yetman takes viewers on a journey through the city of Buenos Aires en route to the Andes in search of the dry desert of northwest Argentina. In Buenos Aires, locals lead the way through quaint city streets and pavilions, sharing the history of this city. After a quick stop at a local farmers' market for provisions, the journey up the Andes begins. Along the way, trek through a tropical rainforest, catch glimpses of columnar cacti and learn about the history of an archeological site that predates the Incas.
The Desert Speaks continues the search for the highest and driest part of Argentina beginning in the colonial city of Salta. Take a tour of its downtown market, stroll its streets and glean interesting information from the local guides. Then travel upward through distinctly different biomes, including a fog forest and a beautiful painted desert, before finally reaching the pinnacle. At more than 13,000 feet in elevation, it is the highest and driest northwest Argentine desert.
The continuation of life in the face of death is a daily battle for the Argentine people. In this look at the people of Argentina, learn how the Earth's natural resources can provide for life, even in the desert. Begin in bustling Buenos Aires at the tomb of Eva Peròn, and then travel to a quaint little village famous for its wool harvest from a cousin of the camel, the vicuna. The local cactus wood is important in nearly every aspect of peoples' lives. Learn how they transform this wood into furniture such as pews, pulpits, altars and ceiling boards.
Host David Yetman sets out to explore the Chihuahaun Desert and the region near the Rio Grande River in Big Bend National Park. This river defines the border between the U.S. and Mexico, and is generally considered to dissect the prettiest slice of the Chihuahaun Desert. After an informal border crossing in a rickety boat dubbed "La Enchilada," take a burro trek to visit Boquillas, one of the most remote villages in Mexico. During this trip, meet some local characters, including a veteran paleontologist who digs up deep-sea marine mammals in the middle of the desert.
Continue the exploration of the Chihuahaun Desert by biking, hiking and canoeing through Big Bend National Park. Come along on a mountain bike ride on the back roads of the park and experience the beauty of an agave forest in bloom. Explore the park in search of signs of human occupation, from prehistoric fossils and cave paintings to European settlers and current-day explorers. Then canoe the Rio Bravo (called the Rio Grande by Americans) in one of the most isolated areas in Mexico. Hike and explore the flora and fauna found in canyons along the river.
From mountaintops to rock faces and dry caves, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument has the most diverse sampling of plants and animals found in the Sonoran Desert today. First, explore a dry cave for signs of ancient life and discover forensic evidence used to re-create the life and death of a javelina, a native, wild, pig-like creature found only in the United States. Then, take an in-depth look at the various habitat niches of Sonoran animals. Learn how the indigenous Tohono O'odham people have used desert plants for food and medicine for generations.
After first exploring and then passing through the little-known border town of Sasabe, Arizona, journey to a mission in Northwestern Mexico. Labeled by locals as "Heroic Caborca," this mission actually was used as a fortress by the local townspeople. Using this mission, they successfully defended their town from an invading militia from the United States in the 1800s. To this day, bullet holes in the walls convey vivid evidence of battle. Along the way, enjoy a rare, sensational spring wildflower display. Also, examine evidence of prior human habitation in the form of petroglyphs.
Almost void of life, there are few signs of plants or animals in the landscape of Death Valley. Despite its vacant appearance, this region is rich in human and natural history. Considered the lowest, hottest and driest place in North America, nowhere else has geology been so exposed for exploration and discovery. The Desert Speaks travels to such aptly named places as the "Devil's Golf Course," "Furnace Creek" and "Badwater" in a quest to profile the landscapes that make up Death Valley.
The modern history of the Mojave Desert is intertwined with the history of humans along Route 66. In this land of extremes, temperatures can reach 120 degrees in the summer and dip below freezing in the winter. Rich in natural and human history, this is home to the newest and largest desert preserve in the United States: The Mojave National Preserve. This diverse preserve has Joshua tree forests, sand dunes, creosote flats, lava fields, salt-encrusted playas and caves. Learn about the discovery of Mitchell Caverns and venture underground to examine some of the unique formations of this marvelous cavern. Then explore volcanic fields and observe how plants cling to life in the middle of hot, barren lava flows.
The Mojave Desert is home to the world's largest lily (the Joshua tree) and the continent's smallest lizard (the night lizard). Join a group of adventurers as they travel throughout Joshua Tree National Park. They explore the intricacies of a cholla forest, learn about the powerful geological forces at work sculpting the landscape and search for the elusive night lizard. This program also includes a thorough examination of the Joshua tree's life stages, growth and natural history.
In the 1950s, Life magazine labeled Highway 50 "the loneliest highway in America." Not much has changed along the road in northern Nevada. Part of the reason it is so lonely is that it crosses the Great Basin Desert. During the trip across the basins and over the ranges that make up this landscape, The Desert Speaks studies the fascinating geology that is key to understanding the region and its natural and human history. Take a ride into the past and board a steam-powered train, crucial to the settlement of the area. This program also includes a tour of Ruby National Wildlife Refuge - one of the few respites for Canadian geese, sandhill cranes and other migrating birds in the Great Basin.
The Desert Speaks travels onward and upward to explore Great Basin National Park near the eastern edge of the Great Basin Desert. This park showcases the plants, animals and habitats found throughout the Great Basin. Travel through many of the region's life zones by passing through the different habitats found in the park. Visit one of the most profusely decorated caves in North America: Lehman's Caves.
This program takes an in-depth look at the few inhabitants of the Great Basin Desert, such as the colorful Basque people. Originally from the Pyrenees Mountains in Europe, the first Basques migrated to the Great Basin in the 19th century. Initially, the Basque people came to America primarily as shepherds. That heritage is still evident today. This show features a visit to the Winnemucca Basque Parade and Festival, which includes traditional food, log splitting contests, music and dance. These festivals carry on the Basque traditions and keep the culture alive for upcoming generations.
Located just below the elbow of Baja California, San Ignacio lagoon is the temporary home to some of the peninsula’s most famous visitors—the Gray Whales. Each winter, pregnant females, and lustful males swim five thousand miles from the Arctic to visit this lagoon. Here, within a few hundred square miles, eighty percent of the majestic whales’ life cycle transpires. Observe feeding, nursing, teaching, cuddling, and courtship from a tiny fishing boat just a few feet away.
Our journey to the highest desert in the world begins in Potosí, in southwestern Bolivia. At 12,000 feet above sea level, it is the highest city in the world. The indigenous people of this high cold desert have used llama trains for thousands of years to transport the salt harvested in the area’s dry lakebeds. Our explorers also visit the Salar de Uyuni; at over 4,000 square miles it is the largest salt lake in the world. Here, traditional methods of salt cutting continue the same way as they have for centuries. Cutters build tiny igloo-like huts out of salt blocks and remain at the site for 5 days. Along the shores of the Salar, the desert is profoundly evident as the majestic groves of thick tall pasacana (similar in stature to the Saguaro cactus) grow on the surrounding frozen hillsides.
High in the foothills of the Bolivian Andes in the historic village of Santiago de K, life continues nearly the same as it has for centuries. An archeological site nearby reveals, through ancient ruins, just how little life has changed over the centuries. Here at over 12,600 feet above sea level, in the highest desert in the world, residents harvest the endemic potatoes and quinoa to use to barter for outside goods. Much of the native Quechua customs, music, and lifestyle have their roots in age-old traditions. There are some interesting, relatively modern influences such as the Carnaval celebration of the first potato crop of the season.
Ranging in altitude up to 16,500 feet above sea level, the wild, frigid desert of southwestern Bolivia is full of natural treasures. The harsh landscape is dominated by the towering Andean volcanoes and lakes or lagoons, which are actually basins, into which the meager snowmelt drains and cannot escape. These intensely colored, brackish lakes are home to some of the world’s hardiest animals, namely three different species of flamingo. In cliffs near the lakes, bizcachas (a rabbit-sized rodent) are one of the few mammals in the region. The bizarre looking yareta also grows along the rugged rock faces . Resembling massive patches of moss, these huge, thick plants are thousands of years old. These are just some of the many wonders found in the highest desert in the world.
The Gila River, after beginning its journey high in the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico, historically flowed entirely across the state of Arizona. But, like ninety percent of the Southwest United States’ remaining riparian areas, it is now used up and dries out merely halfway to its former confluence with the Colorado River. Revered as sacred by ancient peoples and modern-day indigenous people alike, the history of the Gila River is the story of nearly all, modern desert rivers.
Villages in the Valle de Tehuacán and nearby Oaxaca have endured for centuries in a desert environment. One of the staples of this environment was and still is the cactus, which formed the basis for their material culture. Today eighteen species of columnar cacti grow in the valley (as opposed to three in Arizona, eight in Sonora), all of them used one way or another by native peoples. Each June, deep in the Valley of Tehuacán residents harvest the luscious fruit of the giant cacti as they have for generations.
A trip through valley of Tehuacán to the ancient city of Oaxaca in southern Mexico is an exploration of influence. Spanish Influence. The route through some of the richest desert landscapes in the world is ripe with examples of the domination of Spanish culture on the native way of life. From the construction of immense missions to the introduction of the plants (like the mango), and even the distillation process, the Spanish impact on native culture in undeniable. However, there were things the Spaniards knew not to change. Even today, salt mining occurs in the same places and in the same way as it has for centuries before the Spaniards arrived.
The Valle de Tehuacán, in the Mexican state of Puebla, is not only home to the world’s greatest variety of cacti; it is also probably the birthplace of domestic corn. That corn became a staple for people throughout North America, including the civilizations that inhabited nearby Monte Albán. Those civilizations sowed the creative seeds for the Zapotecan culture that still thrives today. The region is famous for the indigenous artisans who use native plants to continue the artistic traditions of their ancestors.
Observational astronomy has deep roots in the Puebloan world of the Desert Southwest. Archaeological evidence suggests that the ancestral Pueblo Indians (Anasazi) marked astronomical events, perhaps as guides or records of their agricultural and ceremonial calendar. Rock art and architecture throughout the Four Corners area were carefully placed so that beams of sunlight would interact with rock images on important seasonal days such as equinoxes and solstices, marking the days with remarkably high precision.
Reaching up to Mexico's northwest corner, Pacific dry deciduous forest extends south all the way to Costa Rica, providing a pathway into Sonora for many widespread tropical plants and birds. This is especially evident in the southern tip of the Sonoran Desert on Mexico’s mainland, near Alamos, Sonora. Travel with a group of bird watchers from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum as they journey through coastal and forest habitats in search of some of the rarest birds in the region. Along the way, catch a rare glimpse into the life, culture, and traditions of the native Mayo Indians. Included is one of the area’s biggest cultural events—the annual pilgrimage to an ancient church to celebrate what is probably the most revered plant in all of Mexico—a cactus growing out of the side of church.
The journey through Baja California begins on the twice-weekly ferry from the Mexican mainland port of Guaymas. After disembarking from the ferry, the exploration begins around the coastal town of Santa Rosalia. This area provides some of the best cultural, historical and natural history treasure found on the Gulf side of Baja California. Additionally, The Desert Speaks investigates some of the region’s recent lava flows and examines some of the resident rodent population.
Adorning the walls in a dry cave are the musing and memories of the ancient people who eked out a living in this inhospitable land. These pictographs are world famous for their depiction of the lives and legends of the ancient, vanished Cochimi Indians. Halfway across the peninsula, our group visits the top of the Sierra del San Francisco Mountains. Along the way they come across elephant trees, huge gypsum crystals, and even relatives of the pineapple growing in the cactus. Nearing the Pacific side of the peninsula, the ocean begins to dominate the landscape, the plants, and the lives of people that live near it.
Turning inland, the intrepid travelers begin a thorough investigation into the weird, wild plants of Baja California. They quickly encounter the mystical, mythical Boojum tree. One of the oddest plants imaginable, the Boojum tree is leafless for most of the year and looks like a bit like an upturned turnip. Along the continuing journey to the pacific side, the wonders of Baja unfold for the trained eye. For example, the minute, bonsai-like coastal Alkali Heath shrub that takes its character, and form, from the forceful pacific winds.
Near Albany, in Southwestern Australia, Australians are trying to piece together the remains of fractured habitats that were destroyed beginning right after World War II. From the woodlands of the drier interior to the tall wet forests in the far south-west corner, host David Yetman gets a first hand look at this ambitious project called Gondwana Link. The evolutionary process moves quickly in this environment, and new hybrids and species are discovered almost every week. Here, ecological restoration works hand-in-hand with the cultural restoration of the original owners of the land. Yetman also meets some of the native peoples who work to counteract the displacement of their ancestors by passing on knowledge of their culture to their descendents.
Beginning in Cajamarca, host David Yetman, geologist Dick Yetman and South American archaeological expert Axel Nielsen head out into the colorful city streets in pursuit of authentic and very distinctive South American hats that are almost as tall as they are wide. This quest takes them past local merchant stalls and through Calle de Cuyes, or guinea pig alley, where locals can purchase skinned and fully dressed guinea pigs to eat. After purchasing some finely woven hats, the brothers head to a museum in Leimebamba that houses the ancestors of the Chachapoyas who were mummified and enclosed within wooden sarcophagi. Yetman and Nielsen inspect some the museum’s pottery, jewelry and a counting system created by the Incas based on knots. They are also allowed the amazing privilege of examining one of the mummies up close. The crew then treks to Kuélap to find the archeological ruins of the Chachapoyas. Kuélap, a place some believe that might one day rival Machu Pichu in its importance, displays a massive system of defensive walls strategically placed on a hilltop, an active archeological site with human remains, artifacts and areas that were once sacred to the people of Peru’s Cloud Forest.
It’s big, it’s empty and it’s in a relatively unexplored area of northwestern Arizona. Known affectionately as the “Arizona Strip,” this topographically rough area is free of paved roads and other amenities, but has a rich geological and natural history. Host David Yetman, ecologist Yar Petryszyn and archeologist Jock Favour trek through the “Big Empty” to examine evidence of early settlements, investigate high desert plants and learn about a project helping to increase the population of a rare and magnificent creature. The California Condor Restoration Project increases the number of condors in the wild by using GPS technology to track the birds via satellite. This trip ends at the southern limit of the Arizona Strip at the steepest and most isolated ledge of the Grand Canyon, which overlooks a 3,000-foot drop to the Colorado River below.
Host David Yetman, Mexican ecologist Alberto Búrquez and premiere agave expert Ana Valenzuela travel to the state of Jalisco, Mexico, to inspect the history, production process – and even taste – of one of Mexico’s most famous exports – tequila. The trip begins in Tequila, the city named after the famous beverage. The city has profited economically and developed a strong sense of cultural identity around the production of this distilled liquor. The climate, soil and landscape combine for the perfect place to grow the agave plants used to produce the distinct Tequila taste. Join the crew as they encounter jimadores harvesting agave using a “coa,” a long, machete-like, round-ended knife. From there, it’s on to see how the agave is steamed, fermented and distilled. Finally, Yetman and guests sample a portion of the finished product.
Travel with host David Yetman and Mexican ecologist Alberto Búrquez to an area southwest of Guadalajara, Mexico where locals celebrate an annual festival dedicated to tasty Pitaya cactus fruit. Once used as a source of water for natives, the Pitaya has now become a reason to celebrate. In this episode, Yetman journeys to the city of Techaluta to watch workers harvest Pitayas by lamplight, where he places a bet on a midday horserace, and participates in a Pitaya-eating contest. Then visit Infiernillo “Little Hell,” where the dry, hot temperature is ideal for the cultivation of a distinct type of Pitaya. The travelers also visit a local carpenter who produces furniture from various types of columnar cactus wood.
Host David Yetman and Mexican ecologist Alberto Búrquez travel into and around the state of Michoacán, Mexico, to explore its rugged coast, diverse habitats and local traditions. On the coast, the travelers visit a banana plantation to see how the fruit is cleaned and kept free of insect damage before exportation. Further inland, a stop in one of Michoacán’s tropical deciduous forests reveals some interesting vegetation, including the Sandbox Tree, which bears explosive fruit, and the malicious Mala Mujer shrub with its sharp, stinging hairs. Then it’s on to Paracho, the famous guitar-making capital of Mexico. Watch the construction of beautiful instruments and examine some of the guitars that have been aged for as many as 35 years to create the perfect tone.
Palm trees have long been a symbol of the desert and, more importantly, a sign of water to a weary desert traveler. In this episode, ecologist Jim Cornett joins host David Yetman for a look around California's Coachella Valley, the lowest and hottest inhabited place in the Northern Hemisphere. After a walk around Palm Springs to examine the area's most famous residents, Yetman heads for the largest undisturbed palm oasis on Earth, Palm Canyon. Yetman shows how to jump across the fault line that allows subterranean water to seep from the nearby mountains and helps the palms thrive in a seemingly dry area. This episode also features a trip to the Oasis Date Gardens, where the non-native date palms require constant human attention in order to produce their luscious fruits.
Host David Yetman and expert architect Bob Vint travel around Tucson, Arizona, to see how adobe – the perfect desert building material – was used in the past and is still used today. Adobe not only has a remarkable period of longevity, but also has thermal capabilities, making it ideal for the hot dry desert. Yetman and Vint spend time at the San Xavier Mission to watch a restoration crew use new adobe to repair and restore the existing adobe exterior. Near Marana, Yetman visits a commercial brickyard to see how these "desert building blocks" are created from start to finish. They also travel to the Tucson Mountains to observe masons constructing adobe walls and visit a completed adobe home to see the finished results.
Life along the Rio San Miguel has remained relatively unchanged for the last 300 years. David Yetman and Mexican ecologist Alberto Búrquez trace the river through Sonora, Mexico, to see how life has adapted to its unpredictable flow. The trip begins in Magdalena de Kino, with a stop at Father Kino's monument, before heading south to the city of Cucurpe. With the assistance of local resident Don Beto Cruz, Yetman surveys the local river vegetation thriving during the summer monsoon. Further south the landscape becomes more modern as local farms give way to sprawling cities.
In this episode, host David Yetman and Argentine archeologist Maria Jose Figuerero make their way through the arid, desolate and windswept Patagonia landscape. The travelers make part of the trip on horseback along the Chilean/Argentine border, taking time to observe the glorious flight of the graceful Andean condor. They also stop in the city of Calafate, the gateway to Glacier National Park, and observe a local folklore performance group dancing and making music. The highlight of the trip is a close up look at the park's magnificent glaciers. Yetman and Figuerero also examine evidence of glacial movement over the landscape, inspect an ice cave and spy some glacial calving.
Host David Yetman and Argentine archeologist Maria Jose Figuerero journey through the gorgeously diverse Patagonia landscape for a look at the Patagonian people from ancient to modern times. The travelers stop at the Cuerva de los Manos ("Cave of the Hands"), which features a lasting glimpse into the lives of early residents. The famous stenciled handprints were created by blowing through a straw-like instrument filled with paint, while the images of lizards, people and the hunting of huanacos (a relative of the llama) were painted by hand. The episode includes a visit to "Cierro de los Indios," a site currently being excavated and offering evidence that people inhabited Patagonia possibly as long as 12,000 years ago. The trip also includes a visit to the some of the little ranches, "estancias," that spot the sparse landscape, and a visit with some modern day sheep herding gauchos.
Host David Yetman and a group of international researchers including some from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, traverse the famed Sea of Cortez. The Gulf of California as it is also known, once showcased the greatest marine diversity in the world. In this land of enhanced biodiversity, two different worlds come together - the terrestrial and the marine. On land, visit locals whose grassroots conservation efforts have helped revive the gulf's endangered sea turtle population. On the beach, wade through the one of the area's many tide pools to get up close and personal with sea cucumbers, flat worms, serpent stars, and sea anemones. On the water, watch the Bottlenose dolphins playfully accompany a tour of the region's numerous enchanted desert islands.
The islands in the Sea of Cortez are chunks of tectonic debris that highlight the violent geological history of Baja California. In this episode, travel along the coastline of Espiritu Santo Island with host David Yetman, researchers from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and a group of international scientists. Kayak around the island and visit extremely vocal sea lions and navigate the rock canals near the shore of the island that were created in the early 20th century for the pearl oyster trade. On the island, trace tree roots that snake down the canyon walls in search of water and discover a completely new species of beetle crawling across the boulders. Before leaving the island, cross paths with an enormous pack of fiddler crabs scudding their way to a new location.
Loreto Marine Park was established in 1996 to preserve the delicate ecosystems in the Sea of Cortez. In this episode host David Yetman, a group of international researchers and scientists from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum explore Catalina Island, a biological reserve within the park. This island is home to terrestrial plants and animals that have been so physically isolated that they have altered genetically and become new species. Here, there is a rattlesnake species with no functioning rattle, a columnar cactus sporting a trunk almost ten feet around and a barrel cactus reaches a height of over ten feet. The park faces huge challenges, including over fishing, overpopulation, and the need to educate the expanding human population about the distinct natural values of the Gulf and Baja California.
Host David Yetman and University of Arizona Geoscientist Susan Beck head to Southern California to trace the San Andreas Fault and examine some of the tortured topography thrown up by the fault. Join them as they follow along the fault near the Salton Sea at 230 feet below sea level and then wind through Painted Canyon surrounded by massive rocks distorted almost beyond recognition by the fault’s relentless movement. Then travel by helicopter to gain the “big picture” of the fault as it forms massive mountain ranges and deep valleys. From here, see how geologists follow outcrops of vegetation to trace the fault line and how the town of Desert Hot Springs lies in relation to the fault. This episode also examines ways of harnessing the energy created by the movements of the San Andreas Fault and some of the human challenges facing people who live along its path.
Host David Yetman and historian Bill Beezley, along with Argentine expert María José Figuerero, team up to travel around the cool arid climates of central Chile to vineyards that have made Chilean wines famous. The trip begins in Santiago’s great central market to take a closer look at some of the local cuisine that pairs so well with the wine and the role wines play in Chile’s traditional family life. From there, the search for wines takes the travelers to local vineyards as owners demonstrate traditional and innovative methods of cultivating grapes. In some cases, chicken, sheep, llamas and alpacas roam through the vineyard providing the land with a natural fertilization. Beezley and Yetman complete their wine quest at the celebrated Viña Montes, a winery designed by a Chilean architect and laid out according to feng shui principles.
Host David Yetman, Argentine Archeologist María José Figuerero and native son of Patagonia, Harry Nauta venture across Argentine Patagonia, encountering landscapes usually cold, isolated and windy, but also spectacularly distinct and colorful. After stopping to admire the camel-like guanacos that roam the area, they pause at a brightly decorated Argentine shrine celebrating Gauchito Gil, the “little gaucho,” a Robin-Hood-like figure to whom devotees from throughout the country attribute with good luck and miraculous recoveries. Later, in the Chubut Province, travel from fossilized trees to fossilized marine life within the space of a few miles and to Bustamante Bay, home to a couple hundred sea lions and tens of thousands of desert penguins as well as thriving sea weed industry.
For 10,000 years people have called Patagonia Desert home, and they continue to do so to this day. In this episode, Host David Yetman, Argentine Archeologist María José Figuerero and native son of Patagonia, Harry Nauta trek inland to examine a cross section of the Patagonia desert from the coastal city of Comodoro Rivadavia into the Andes, finally arriving at the border with Chile. Winds blow typically upwards of 50 kilometers per hour and roads through the desert are stark, but far from dull. The travelers halt to rescue a stray Patagonian Armadillo, inspect gigantic oil pumps that dot the arid plains, tour an abandoned railroad station, interpret tableaus of rock art, and drop in on the harvest at a cherry farm. Join them as they conclude their trip with a Patagonian party filled with vibrant music, traditional dance and barbecued lamb.
In Chile’s Atacama Desert people have lived for thousands of years in a land without any rain. The hyper-arid soil has made the perfect medium for preserving the 9,000 year history of human occupation. Host David Yetman and Archeologist María José Figuerero visit the coastal city of Arica and other nearby towns in search of manifestations of millennia of continuous human habitation. Near the city, the hillsides abound with geoglyphs, gigantic artistic representations of people, animals and symbols. Of special interest are the prehistoric and historic cemeteries of San Lorenzo, where modern graves mingle with those thousands of years old. The highlight of the trip is a stop at the Museo Arqueológico, which houses collections of pre-Columbian ceramics, textiles and skulls, along with a breathtaking collection of people mummified over 8,000 years ago.
In this episode, host David Yetman, historian Bill Beezley and Archeologist María José Figuerero trace the Atacama Desert Trade route from the Pacific coast to the Chilean Andes from sea level to 15,000 feet elevation. Though a modern paved road has replaced the ancient llama caravan trail, the road still connects the goods from the Andes with the marine resources from the coast. Along the route, the travelers encounter evidence of pre-Inca and Inca populations, such as defensive structures, ancient towns, and storage sites. Traditional Incan villages on the road are slowly becoming depopulated, but there are still the unmistakable signs of both Christian and pagan influences on the locals who remain. This program also features a look at the largest herbivores in Chile, the wild vicuñas and guanacos and the domesticated alpacas and llamas.
Host David Yetman, historian Bill Beezley and Archeologist María José Figuerero travel around the Puna, the high-elevation plains of Chile’s Atacama Desert, a harsh environment that is home to traditional villages as well as unusual plants and animals. The first stop is in a small village recently depopulated by crop failures that have forced many natives to depart for the coast. Not far away the travelers pause among the rocks to catch a glimpse of vizcachas, rodents that resemble long-tailed rabbits. Next, visit a zone of active volcanoes four miles high where steaming hot lakes meet sub-freezing air. While there, the travelers spy on flamingos foraging among these steaming lakes and pools as they feed on tiny aquatic animals. The trip concludes at the rainless ocean port of Iquique, which features one of the world’s finest parapent (hang gliding) sites and a popular grassless golf course fashioned entirely from dirt.
Host David Yetman and Naturalist Jesus Garcia, of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, begin in El Paso, Texas at the eastern border of the Gadsden Purchase and head west along the border to explore some of the social, political and financial ramifications of the Gadsden Purchase. They stop off at some of the historical sites along the way: a cemetery in Hachita, New Mexico, the Geronimo Surrenders Monument, and the Gadsden Hotel to name a few. After spending some time at a real desert oasis on the Slaughter Ranch, they finish off with a trip 300 feet underground on Bisbee’s Queen Mine Tour.
Beginning at the San Pedro River and heading west, host David Yetman and Naturalist Jesus Garcia, of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, journey through some of natural wonders that would not be part of the United States if it hadn’t been for the Gadsden Purchase. They drive through the “sky islands” of the Pinaleño Mountains, travel through the hard-core desert of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and visit the historic desert oasis, Quitobaquito Springs, before finishing off their trip at the Colorado River near Yuma, the western border of the Gadsden Purchase. Additionally, they examine the different types of border fences that affect more than just the ecological relationship between the United States and Mexico.
Just off the highway there are a plethora of adventures awaiting the inquisitive traveler. Host David Yetman heads west of Tucson to visit some of these undiscovered places. After visiting the largest dune field in the United States, he heads to Yuma for a hot air balloon ride and a walk through “the hell-hole of Arizona,” the Arizona Territorial Prison. Other stops include the Sonoran Desert National Monument and a hike to the top of Picacho Peak.
Interstate highways allow for quick trips, but they also provide a gateway to some of the most amazing places you’ll ever visit, if you take the time. After enjoying a rare experience of snow in the Sonoran Desert, host David Yetman travels by foot, car, bike, and motorcycle to examine the caves of Kartchner Caverns State Park, the historic sites and sounds of Tombstone, the Sandhill Cranes of Sulphur Springs Valley and the “Wonderland of Rocks” in the Chiricahua Mountains.
Host David Yetman joins local herpetologists (reptile and amphibian researchers) in their various separate quests to learn more about the many venomous creatures that call the Sonoran Desert home, most notably, the rattlesnake. During the day, they track Tiger Rattlesnakes by using radio implants before heading up to the mountains to observe Black Rattlesnake dens. One night, they go road hunting for sidewinders and encounter lizards, tarantulas, and desert toads. Another night, they study the impact some urban developments have on the movements of Gila Monsters.
Host David Yetman travels along with researchers from the Northern Jaguar Project to see how they use motion activated cameras to track jaguar movements through Eastern Sonora Mexico. By paying local ranch owners for any jaguar images captured on their land, this project is working to convince the vaquero (the Mexican cowboy) that el tigre is worth more alive than dead.
Host David Yetman and his brother, geologist Dick Yetman, take a geological road trip to Southeastern Utah’s Colorado Plateau. After hiking through the ever-changing slot canyon named Canyon X and the aptly named Kodachrome Basin State Park, they take an eerie trek through Goblin Valley State Park where the mysterious Entrada rock sculptures known as “goblins” surround you from all angles.
Utah’s San Rafael Swell is one of the most remote and least-visited wonders of the desert southwest. Host David Yetman and his brother, geologist Dick Yetman, camp out and explore the geology and vegetation of this intimidating stretch of desert. They also trek through Utah’s Little Grand Canyon to see the pictographs and petroglyphs that were created thousands of years ago.
Host David Yetman takes a trip to the foothills of the Sierra Madre, where traditions are slowly dying out as the big cities draw the local populations away from the small towns and traditional ways of life. Yetman stops in the town of Santo Thomas to see a donkey-powered pinole grinder made of stone and a kitchen garden. He then heads to agrarian community of Sahuaripa to visit its talabartería (a leather goods shop) and call upon the last remaining weaver of palm hats and baskets.
The creation of Lake Powell forced the evacuation of many Navajo families and forever changed the lives of many others. Today, host David Yetman and his brother, geologist Dick Yetman, travel with native Navajo families to learn some of the geological and spiritual history of the Glen Canyon region. They travel through the region’s many slot canyons, visit the sacred Rainbow Bridge, enjoy birds-eye view from the air, and visit with a Navajo photographer and young Navajo woman who is documenting the histories of her elders.
