Hello Hikers!

Happy Labor Day! I hope everyone enjoyed the nice cool weather, because it sounds like its going to be warming up again through the middle of the week. But the good news is it doesn’t look like we’ll be having crazy spontaneous combustion type temperatures again. You can always enjoy a nice coastal hike if its too warm inland for you.

Next Saturday, you can join the Fallbrook Firefighters Association for their 9-11 Memorial Hill Climb up Monserate Mountain. This is a  5k hike carrying the IDs of FDNY, NYPD, and Port Authority Officers who died on 9/11. The elevation gain is similar to the height of the Twin Towers. This year, proceeds will go to the Homes for Our Troops and National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation. The registration fee is $45 through Friday, and $50 the day of the event. Visit the Fallbrook Firefighters Association for more information, or check out our Events Page to find other upcoming hikes and events.

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Have a good week!

Hello Hikers!

Did anyone get out to enjoy the full moon on Saturday evening? We hiked up Garnet Peak to watch sunset and the moon rise, and it was gorgeous! It was also a wonderful break from the furnace-like temperatures we had during the day. Happily, it looks like we’re done with the horrendous heat for a little bit. The National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures 5 to 10 degrees cooler than average over the coming week. Sounds good to me!

It’s almost September, so hopefully these cooler temperatures will be sticking around. And if not, there’s still plenty of other things to look forward to:

• September 7 is Labor Day, which hopefully means you get a day off work and can spend it hiking!
• September 19 is Coastal Cleanup Day in San Diego. You can register to help at one of over 100 cleanup sites in the County and help keep San Diego (and our trails) beautiful.
• September 23 is the First Day of Fall. I hereby declare cool, pleasant hiking weather to be mandatory as of this date.
• September 26 is National Public Lands Day. This is another opportunity to volunteer and help out some of your favorite recreational areas. Its also a fee-free day for National Parks and National Forest lands! Check out one of the many great hikes in the Cleveland National Forest without worrying about your Adventure Pass.
• September 27 is the next Full Moon. Moonrise should be around 6:30 pm, so head on out for a spectacular evening hike. If you’re new to night hiking, I recommend Cowles Mountain or Iron Mountain for a relatively easy excursion. Make sure you’re familiar with the route, and bring a headlamp, backup flashlight, and extra batteries.

For next weekend, you can also head out to the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve to Walk With a Tracker on Sunday morning. Join Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve docent, Mike Gibbs, as he leads a leisurely two to three hour walk discussing animal signs found along the trails and the animal behaviors associated with those signs. Visit the Escondido Creek Conservancy’s Calendar for more information, or visit our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and events!

There’s some good deals at Amazon this week, including sales on several brands of backpacks:

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Have a good week!

Hello Hikers!

Hopefully you’ve all been taking advantage of the cooler temperatures to get outside, because it doesn’t look like they’re going to last. The National Weather Service is predicting possible afternoon thunderstorms in the mountains and deserts Monday through Wednesday and starting Thursday it’s higher temperatures all around. Come on, fall!

Next Saturday will be a full moon, so start planning your evening now! You can join the Friends of Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve for a Full Moon Walk. A walk in the canyon under the eerie light of the full moon. Moonlight’s photoelectric effect affects all plants and animals, including ourselves. Discover it! Bring a flashlight, water, and insect repellant. Meet in the parking lot at 4206 Sorrento Valley Blvd. Check out their page for more information, or visit our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and events!

Happy Birthday to the National Park Service which turns 99 on Tuesday, August 25. In celebration there will be free admission to all National Parks for the day. Head on over to Cabrillo National Monument for a short hike and maybe a visit to the tidepools!

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Have a good week!

Hello Hikers!

This is where I normally talk about what a great it weekend it was and how I hope everyone got out to hike. Today, I just hope everyone managed to avoid heat stroke or a county-funded helicopter ride. We did a short hike along the coast early Saturday and it was still ridiculously hot. If you were smart, you stayed home and ate a lot of ice cream.

Of course, now that the work week has begun, the forecast is calling for cooler weather. Thank you Mother Nature. If we’re lucky though, the cooler temperatures will stick around through next weekend.

And speaking of next weekend, even if its still hot you can enjoy a lovely evening hike at Iron Mountain with Modern Hiker on Saturday. This hike will be led by the estimable Scott Turner and is part of their Campaign Trail 2015 series of hikes throughout Southern California. The hike is free, but they are accepting donations to help fund improvements to the Modern Hiker website. Space is limited so you’ll need to sign up in advance. Click here for more information or to RSVP, or visit our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and events in San Diego.

There was a recent disturbing article in the Union Tribune about looters stealing artifacts from archaeological sites in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Park visitors are encouraged to report any suspicious activities. If you happen to find relics such as arrowheads or pottery fragments while visiting the park, leave them where you find them. It is illegal to remove these items, and moving them around disturbs their archaeological value. Their locations relative to other relics provide contextual information necessary to understand their history.

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Have a good week!

Hello Hikers!

We had some amazingly pleasant temperatures this past weekend, I hope everyone had an opportunity to enjoy it! Sounds like it’ll be heading back towards average (which means hotter) temps over the course of the week.

If you’re undecided as to where to hike next weekend, check out this hike next Sunday at the Del Dios Highland Preserve: Leonard Wittwer, from the Escondido Creek Conservancy will tell the history of the Derbras home, which burned in the 1997 Del Dios Fire, and the surrounding open space. Visitors will also learn how the County Parks and Recreation Department acquired the property, with assistance from the Escondido Creek Conservancy. Visitors will enjoy the beautiful open space as well as learn a little bit about our local history. Meet at the staging area and bring water and sunscreen. All ages are welcome! Visit the San Diego County Parks and Recreation Guide for more details, or check out our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and events.

The 4th Annual Julian Film Festival will be held August 21st & 22nd. This festival features nature-focused, environmental films, and will benefit the Volcan Mountain Foundation. For more information, visit www.julianfilmfestival.com.

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

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Have a good week!

Hello Hikers!

Well that nasty muggy weather seems to be behind us for now. The forecast is showing average temperatures for the upcoming week so we should be good to go for some outdoor adventuring!

The wildfire situation seems to be pretty under control for now as well. The Cutca fire, near Palomar Mountain, was listed as 75% contained as of the last update on July 28th.  Kit Carson Park in Escondido was evacuated on Saturday due to a brush fire, but it looks like that has been taken care of and the park should be reopened as of yesterday.

Now that its August, several of the local hiking spots in the county are closed due to extreme heat danger. El Capitan Open Space Preserve (home to El Cajon Mountain), Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary, Hellhole Canyon Preserve in Valley Center, and Wilderness Gardens Preserve in Pala are all closed during the month of August. There are still plenty of places to hike though, so get out and explore somewhere new!

In other news, the San Diego Reader has a recent article which states that the US Marine Corps is getting serious about enforcing the boundary between Miramar Air Station and the northwest section of Mission Trails. Hikers, bikers, and and anyone else who trespasses onto Miramar  will be taken into custody.

On Saturday, head on over to the San Elijo Lagoon for a Wildlife Walk along the Rios Avenue Trail. Focus binoculars and cameras for incredible opportunities to see Osprey, Cormorants on the power poles at the inlet, waterfowl, and the rare Ridgway’s (Clapper) Rail that nest in this area. This is San Elijo Lagoon’s south side, featuring riparian woodlands and coastal sage scrub, with intimate views of the salt marsh.  Check out the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy web page for more information, or visit our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and activities.

Here’s that latest outdoor deals from Amazon:

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Have a good week!

Hello Hikers!

We’ve had a little bit of wildfire excitement in the past week, but fortunately (as of the time of writing this), it hasn’t been too bad so far. A 23 acre wildfire near Lake Morena County park was declared fully contained on Saturday afternoon, and the park is scheduled to re-open on Wednesday morning.

Further north, the Cutca fire on the east side of Palomar Mountain is still burning. As of noon Sunday, its has burned 167 acres and is 20 percent contained. Be careful out there!

In their recent e-newsletter, the Fallbrook Land Conservancy mentioned that a rash of recent car burglaries has prompted the installation of new warning signs at the Monserate Mountain trailhead. The Sheriff’s Department has reported five vehicle burglaries there in the last 60 days, and there have been similar incidences at the Santa Margarita trail as well. This is a good reminder not to leave valuables in your car while you’re out hiking – leave them at home or carry them in your pack while you hike.

This Friday is a full moon, so its the perfect time for a night hike! If you’re looking for something to do, check out the Sunset/Blue Moon Hike at Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve. Join us for a sunset hike on scenic Volcan Mountain. Take in the panoramic views while hiking the Five Oaks trail. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of Julian, where on a clear day you can see the buildings in downtown San Diego and Islands off the coast of Mexico and Southern California. Join Park Attendant Bill Augustus in discussions on the history and geography of the area. From the summit you can enjoy an incredible view of San Felipe Valley and the desert. We will arrive at the summit just before sunset to enjoy the coastal view as the sun sets. We will hike back down to the staging under the light of the full moon. Please bring a fully charged flash light. Visit the County Parks & Recreation Activity and Program Guide for more information, or check out our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and events.

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Have a good week!

Hello Hikers!

Well the weather’s been pretty decent lately, I hope everyone’s been able to take advantage and get some trail time in. Looks like it might be warming up just a tad over the next week, but hopefully it won’t be too bad out there. As usual, inland areas will be much warmer than more coastal areas, so if you’re a heat wuss like me, get out early or stick to the beach hikes!

If you’re looking for something to do next weekend, head out to Daley Ranch Saturday Morning for the Discover Daley Ranch Hike. Meet Naturalist William Sherrard for a moderately paced hike on the trails of Daley Ranch. The planned hike is between eight and ten miles in length and will last about four hours. Visit the City of Escondido’s Daley Ranch page for more information, or check out our Events Page for even more upcoming hikes.

If you ever visit Mission Trails Regional Park, please take a moment to fill out this survey being conducted by a Master’s Degree student on Human-Wildlife Perceptions – it only takes a few minutes.

And speaking of Mission Trails wildlife, ABC 10 has a report about a mountain lion sighting at the park. It doesn’t sound like the lion was being the least bit threatening, but its always good to be aware of your surroundings and be prepared. Mountain lions inhabit just about every hikeable part of the county, so the occasional encounter is not surprising.

The National Park Service has announced that effective November 1, they will be increasing entrance fees at Cabrillo National Monument. Fees will increase from $5 to $10 per vehicle for 7-day entry. The Annual Pass will go from $15 to $20 per year. Motorcycles will pay $7 for entry and pedestrians and bicyclists will now pay $5 instead of $3 for a 7-day visit. If you’re a frequent visitor of National Parks and other Federal lands, you can get an annual pass good at ALL National Parks, Monuments, and National Forests for $80.

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Have a good week!

Hello Hikers!

I hope everyone a good Fourth of July weekend and had an extra day off to do some hiking. It looks like this week is going to bring us a thick marine layer and some cooler temps along the coast and valley areas, so go outside and play!

The Times of San Diego reports some great news for Border Field State Park and the Tijuana River Valley area. The new state budget and other sources will provide funds to improve the road into the State Park, which is often flooded and unusable during the rainy season. Furthermore, funding is also being allocated to address cleaning up trash and tires that pollute the river and surrounding valley both in Tijuana and in the US. This is especially timely news since this year we are predicted to have a very wet El Nino year, since rain water causes the river to swell and carries trash downstream and throughout the river valley area. Hopefully these efforts will help protect sensitive habitats near the river like the Tijuana Estuary, and will improve

Next Saturday evening, check out the Wildlife Night Hike at Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve. A moderately paced walk on flat ground. Do bring insect repellant and a flashlight. Enjoy the Preserve at night. On past walks we’ve seen Mule Deer, bats, tarantulas, owls, and more. Meet at the kiosk near the corner of Park Village Road and Camino del Sur Rd. in Rancho Peñasquitos, 92129. For more information, visit the Friends of Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve’s Events guide, or visit our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and events.

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Have a good week!