Hello Hikers!

Well the weather this weekend was much more favorable for hiking than the previous weekend. Hopefully this pleasant weather will stick around for a bit!

Take advantage of the cooler temperatures and help out the Chaparral Lands Conservancy by volunteering to help with some restoration work at Carmel Mountain on Saturday morning. They’ll be fencing, posting signs, re-contouring vernal pools, weeding, and clearing trash depending on who signs up. Carmel Mountain Preserve is an oasis of endangered chaparral habitat within city limits and is host to endangered and sensitive species. They’ll start the day with an hour-long nature walk led by director David Hogan, followed by an hour and a half to two hours of habitat management activities. Check out the event on their Facebook page for more information, or visit our Events Page to find more activities going on next weekend.

Don’t forget next Saturday is also National Public Lands Day. You can get free entry to all Federally Managed Lands including Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and US Forest Service properties. This means you can go to Mount Laguna or other Cleveland National Forest areas and leave your Adventure Pass at home, or check out Cabrillo National Monument for free!

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Have a good week!

Holy heat index, Batman! I’m pretty sure the Earth has broken out of its orbit and is hurtling towards the sun. I hope everyone was able to get out early or enjoy a nice evening hike despite the terrible heat. I, of course, was extremely active and productive all weekend long, and certainly did not spend Saturday afternoon lying on my couch in front of the fan eating ice cream and binge watching Dexter on Netflix. Nope. Not me.

If its still horrendously hot next weekend, you might consider a morning Bird Walk at San Dieguito Lagoon on Saturday. Join John Haddock, a member of the Buena Vista Audubon Society and Whelan Lake Bird Walk Leader, to discover birds of the San Dieguito Lagoon to learn more about the local ecosystem. Meet at the Crest Canyon North Interpretive Kiosk. Visit the San Dieguito River Park calendar for details, or check out our Events Page to see more upcoming hiking activities.

Next Saturday is also California Coastal Cleanup Day! Visit the California Coastal Commission for everything you need to know to participate. There are still a lot of sites throughout San Diego that need volunteers.

CBS 8 reports two hikers were rescued from Cowles Mountain on Saturday in separate incidents. The first was a 12-year old girl who injured her ankle and needed to be transported via helicopter off the mountain. The second was an 80-year old woman suffering from heat related issues. I usually just shake my head at the heat-related rescues, but I have to admit I’m a little impressed by an 80-year old climbing Cowles Mountain under any circumstances.

But maybe when its this hot out we should just stay inside and read about hiking, rather than risking our health and inconveniencing rescue personnel. If that’s more your speed, then check out this deal: Today only, you can get a subscription to Backpacker Magazine for just $4.50/year at DiscountMags.com. User promo code 9826 at checkout.

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Have a good week and stay cool!

Hello Hikers!

The weather looks clear for next weekend, so start making plans! How about a Bird and Butterfly Walk at Tijuana River Valley Regional Park on Sunday? This is a docent led, one hour interpretive walk through the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park, Bird and Butterfly Garden. The walk is led by Joan Brooks who has a great deal of knowledge about the local birds and plants in our area. The walk is free and open to the general public and is geared towards kids and adults. It is best to bring hats and sunscreen. Binoculars are also recommended for viewing the birds. Visit the County Parks and Recreation Program Guide for more information, or check out our Events Page to find other hiking events in the County.

Sunday, September 20 is California Coastal Cleanup Day! Sign up now to volunteer at one of 100 cleanup sites throughout the county.

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Have a good week!

Happy Labor Day hikers! I hope everyone has the day off work and will be out hitting the trails. We have a lot of things to look forward to in September, including:

• The start of autumn on the 23rd, which will hopefully mean cooler temps and more comfortable hikes are in our future.
• National Public Lands Day is on the 27th, which means free entry to all Federally Managed Lands including Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and US Forest Service properties. You can head out to Mount Laguna or other Cleveland National Forest areas and leave your Adventure Pass at home, or check out Cabrillo National Monument for free!

If you’re looking for something to look forward to next weekend, how about a rare Back Road Hike up Volcan Mountain Saturday morning? Join Park Ranger Bret Exner up a hidden road leading to the Volcan Mountain summit. The road will wind through towering cedar groves, oak filled meadows along a pristine creek. Once they reach the Volcan Mountain Summit, they will hike down the mountain using the fire road. They will meet at the Volcan Mountain Parking area and carpool with some cars to the entry point of the hidden road. At the end of the hike, they will carpool to get the cars we left at the beginning of the hike. For more info, check out the County Parks and Recreation Events Guide, or visit our Events Page to find more awesome activities.

The San Diego Reader recently published an article about San Diego City Councilmember David Alvarez’ visit to an area of the Tijuana River Valley Trail that was damaged during  last year’s annual dredging. The damaged area is preventing hikers and equestrians from crossing the river and accessing the beach from areas north of Monument Road.

Another recent Reader article discusses Congressman Duncan Hunter’s intervention in the US Fish and Wildlife’s recently published Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge. The plan involves closing a significant number of user created trails throughout the area, which has upset a number of local trail users.

And while we’ve been fortunate not to have any major fires break out recently, that’s apparently not through lack of trying. As NBC San Diego reports, 3 people were seen running away from a small brush fire near the Cowles Mountain trail entrance last Thursday. Fortunately, the fire was quickly extinguished.

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Have a good week!

I’m sure everyone’s busy at work this fine Monday morning, so I don’t want to get you too excited… but we’ve got a THREE DAY WEEKEND coming up! Woohoo! If three days isn’t enough, then you should probably blow off work on Friday too, so you can do the Discover Daley Ranch hike early Friday morning. Meet Naturalist Bill Sherrard for a moderately paced hike on the trails of Daley Ranch. The planned hike is 7 miles in length and will last for approximately 3 hours. We recommend you bring a minimum of two liters of water and wear layered clothing as it will be cool in the mornings and warmer as the hike continues. Visit the Escondido City web site for more information, or visit our Events Page to find more upcoming hikes in San Diego.

While not about San Diego, I thought this article about a hiker in Colorado who sang opera in an attempt to placate a Mountain Lion who was stalking her to be rather interesting. I am admittedly skeptical, but seeing as she didn’t get attacked, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to try a little singing in addition to the more orthodox arm waving and making yourself look big tactics that are usually recommended for such a situation. I’d probably choose something a little more fun than opera though (Oingo Boingo anyone?)

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Have a good week!

Hello hikers! I hope everyone’s been managing to get some trail time in despite the nasty heat. We’ve been trying to stay cool by sticking to coastal hikes or heading out very early in the morning (sunrise in the Lagunas, anyone?) So we’ve got some good posts for you to look forward to over the next few weeks.

If you also want a hike to look forward to next weekend, how about a ranger-led Nature Hike at Felicita County Park next Saturday? Join County Rangers for a staff led hike at Felicita Park. Meet in the main picnic area and hike along Felicita Creek. You will see grinding stones and learn about the plants and animals that live in the park. It is an easy hike, open to all ages. Bring water, a hat and walking shoes. Visit the County Parks and Recreation Activity Guide for more information, or check out our Events page for more upcoming hiking events throughout San Diego County.

Need some snacks for your next hike? New Vitacost.com customers can get $10 off a purchase of $30 or more using this link. Vitacost also offers free shipping on orders over $49. At Vitacost, you can save up to 43% off the retail price on snack bars to keep you fueled on your hikes.

Have a good week and stay cool!

Happy Monday everyone! Need something to look forward to? The Perseid meteor showers are supposed to peak around Tuesday or Wednesday of this week, so get up early (pre-dawn viewing is supposed to offer the best results) if you are able to and check them out. They’ll be in the northeast sky.

You can also check out the Star Party this Friday evening at Sycamore Canyon/Goodan Ranch Preserve.  Join the San Diego Astronomers Association and park staff at the Hwy 67 staging area for a night with the stars. Come experience the chance to view our galaxy using the same technology used by the professionals. Viewers will get a chance to see many amazing sights, depending on the time of year, which they wouldn’t normally see without the trained eye of the astronomers. Program will be held at the Highway 67 staging area accessed by the southbound lanes only. Bring sturdy shoes and a jacket. Clouds or rain will cancel the event. For more information, go to the County of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation Guide. And check out our Events page for more upcoming hikes and events.

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Have a good week!

Between the high temperatures and thunderstorms, it’s been a little tough to get any good hiking in for the past few weeks. The forecast for the upcoming week looks like it will be cooler and drier, so hopefully things will settle down and we can all get outside and play.

Take advantage of the improved weather next Saturday afternoon by attending a Nature Walk with a Ranger at Guajome Lake County Park in Oceanside. Join Park staff and learn about the habitat of the park with a Ranger led nature walk. The hike is mild to moderate and hikers should bring water, sunscreen and wear appropriate clothing and shoes. Hikers will meet at the amphitheater. Open to all ages. Visit the County Parks and Recreation Guide for more info, or check out our Events page to see other upcoming hikes and events.

The San Diego River Park Foundation is in the final stretch to raise funds to acquire and conserve 20 acres of open space on El Cajon Mountain: “$9808 left to raise to acquire a piece of our El Cap. Help conserve 20 acres of amazing open space. After years of work only 2 properties remain to be conserved and this is one of them! Just days remain to act. Your donation will make this possible! More than $20,000 has already been raised to acquire the adjacent 20 acre property. Now the second property is in reach!”  Visit the San Diego River Park Foundation website to learn more and make a donation. You can also help by spreading the word to anyone you know who might be interested in donating.

Amazon has a couple of good deals this week if you’re looking for some new gear:

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Happy hiking!

Ready to start planning next weekend? How about an Interpretive Nature Hike and Ranger Talk at Lake Morena County Park this Saturday at 1pm. Take a relaxing and easy hike with a Ranger and learn about native plants in the area, and how the Kumeyaay Indians utilized the natural vegetation in their daily lives. You will also learn the history of Lake Morena. Before the hike there will be a short talk about snakes with an opportunity to touch or hold a Rosy Boa. The hike lasts about an hour and a half. Call in advance to verify the hike start time (619-579-4101). Go to the County of San Diego’s Park and Recreation Guide for more information, or visit our Events page to find other upcoming events.

Last Tuesday, an eighteen year old woman died due to heat related illness after running out of water while hiking the Three Sisters Falls trail in Julian. Authorities recommend carrying at least one gallon of water per person on this trail. As always, check the weather and research your destination before you head out so you know what to expect. If its really hot out, it may just be best to postpone your hike or pick a different trail.

If it’s too hot for hiking, check out some of the following activities available through Amazon Local:

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Have a good week!

It’s Monday again. You could spend today doing work, or you could start planning your hike for next weekend. How about a a New Moon Night Hike at Santa Ysabel Preserve on Friday? Join Park Attendant Bill Augustus to discuss the history, plants and wildlife of the area. They will hike the main trail into the Santa Ysabel West Preserve through grassy meadows and oak groves, until the sun sets. Then they will enjoy a return hike to the staging area under the stars. Test your knowledge of the planets and constellations as we hike back. There will be a new moon this night so be prepared for the darkness. This hike will include an elevation gain and loss of approximately 200 feet in 1/2 mile and the total hike distance will be approximately 3 miles. Please bring warm clothing and a jacket as the temperature will drop as the sun goes down. Wear sturdy hiking shoes, bring water and a flashlight. Consult the  County of San Diego Parks and Recreation guide for more info, or visit our Events page for more upcoming hikes.

Save the Date! The third annual “Art in the Park” benefiting the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation is Saturday evening, October 11, from 6 – 9 p.m. at the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center. There will be fine art for sale and a great silent auction. Sample wine and beer from our local vineyards and breweries and enjoy good cheese and chocolate. Tickets will be $25 and go on sale August 15. Members of the San Diego Native American Flute Circle will welcome you, and the San Diego Astronomy Association will have telescopes on the Terrace for viewing the universe.

This week we have a couple of good one-day deals from DiscountMags.com:

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Have a good week!