Photo: Dyar Spring/Juaquapin Loop at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Hello Hikers!

I hope this unseasonable rain didn’t ruin your weekend hiking plans. Remember, some trails may be closed for a day or two while things dry out.

NBC 7 has a report about the shot hole borer beetle which is destroying thousands of trees in the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park. The beetle is not native to San Diego, and authorities believe it may have been inadvertently introduced via a wooden shipping container from Southeast Asia. Scientists are still studying the pest and trying to find ways to stop it from spreading. Some of the damaged trees appear to be growing back, and rangers are replanting 3 trees for every one that needs to be removed. Visitors can help by not removing any wood from the park so that the insect doesn’t spread further.

In happier news, KPBS has an article about the restoration of vernal pools in the Proctor Valley area.

Regular visitors to Lake Hodges may have heard of “Hodgee,” the Loch Ness Monster-like creature that allegedly resides in the reservoir. A wooden sculpture of Hodgee, carved out of a eucalyptus tree which needed to be removed, now graces the northern edge of the lake. The sculpture resides at the intersection of Lake Drive and Date Lane, right near the entrance to Del Dios Community Park. Next time you’re hiking that section of the Coast to Crest Trail, stop by for a look!

Don’t forget, next weekend is the start of the San Diego River Park Foundation’s 14th Annual River Days! There will be educational activities, hikes, bike rides, volunteer projects, bird walks, workshops and much more! Visit www.sdriverdays.org for a full schedule of events.

Here’s the latest outdoor and fitness deals from Amazon:

• Kelty Dualist 20 ThermaDri Sleeping Bag – Women’s $81.80
• Ultralight Inflatable Pillow for Backpacking and Camping $14.93
• Save on Coleman Tents
• MudGear Trail Running Socks 2-pack $25.47
• Save up to 60% on Spyder Outerwear
• Titanium Spork Ultralight 3-IN-1 Full Sized Spoon Fork Knife $10.93
• Save on Coleman Sleeping Bags and Pads
• 25% off select Under Armour Women’s Shorts
• Up to 40% off Select Athletic Clothing and Accessories
• Up to 50% off adidas Running Apparel
• Up to 30% off Yoga Apparel

Have a good week!

Photo: West Side Road