Moonlighting

As the sun sets over Saddleback Butte State Park, the desert comes alive with nocturnal activity.

Kangaroo rats and deer mice forage for seeds in the dry ground. Yucca night moths flutter about pollenating Joshua trees’ pale blossoms. Horned lizards and rattlesnakes emerge from earthen dwellings.

At the park’s central campground, hikers prepare for a three-mile trek that will take them across a section of the Mojave Desert to the base of Saddleback Butte mountain, where they will view the moonrise.

“During daylight hours, people experience incredible views as they look to the horizon some 50 to 60 miles away,” said Tom Tanner, a supervising ranger with the state parks department. “At night, since you can’t see that far, you rely on your other senses to connect with what is going on out here.”

The moonlight hike is one of several weekly outdoor recreation activities sponsored by Lancaster’s Parks, Recreation and Arts Department in conjunction with other state and county agencies.

Every Wednesday night from 7 to 9, historical and outdoor specialists share their expertise about astronomy, geology, fire prevention, aerospace, the Old West and Native American history with participants of all ages. The weekly programs, called “Wonderful Outdoor Wednesdays!” continue through Aug. 26.

Before setting off on one moonlight hike, Tanner gave a group a brief primer on the precautions to take while walking through the desert, including what to do if they encounter a mountain lion.

As Tanner led the hikers across the desert floor, he talked about how kangaroo rats eat seeds that, when digested, produce the water the rodents need to survive, and how Native Americans made soap and sandals from roots of the Joshua tree.

As the group ascended the base of the 3,651-foot granite mountain, named for its resemblance to a horse saddle, they watched the moon rise over the Antelope Valley.

“We could see all the lights come on in the valley about 20 to 30 miles away,” Tanner said. “You really get a sense of the solitude of the place.”

For information on outdoor recreation activities, call (805) 723-6077.