The Desert Speaks

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.