Category Archives: Weekly Update

Weekly Update

This Week in San Diego Hiking – February 19, 2018

View from the top of Garnet PeakPhoto: Garnet Peak

Hello Hikers!

It looks like winter may have finally arrived. The forecast is calling for much cooler temperatures starting today, and possibly even some precipitation towards the end of the week.

Happy President’s Day! Hopefully you have the day off work and are able to get out and hit the trails. Remember, today is a fee-free day for National Forest Lands, so no Adventure Pass is required. Check out some of the many great hikes in the Cleveland National Forest to take advantage of the day!

San Diego County public health officials have reported finding ticks infected with tularemia, or “rabbit fever,” in the Lopez Canyon area. Tularemia is potentially fatal but can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early. Hikers should always take precautions against ticks, including using insect repellent, staying on the trail, wearing light colored clothing, and performing a thorough inspection for ticks after every hike.

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

Have a good week!

Photo: Cactus Hill Viewpoint

Weekly Update

This Week in San Diego Hiking – February 12, 2018

Photo: Oasis Spring

Hello Hikers!

Looks like we’re finally in store for some rain! Enjoy it while it’s here.

Don’t forget next Monday, February 19th, is President’s Day. This will be a free entrance day for Forest Service lands (so no Adventure Pass needed). It will NOT be free for National Parks like it has been in past years.

The Ramona Chamber of Commerce has announced the Ramona Hiking Challenge. To complete the challenge, do the following six hikes in Ramona: Mount Woodson (via highway 67), Barnett Ranch Preserve, Ramona Grasslands Preserve, Dos Picos Park (Eagles Crest Trail), Mount Gower Open Space Preserve, and Santa Ysabel Preserve West. Then submit the registration form with the dates you completed each hike by the end of May 2018 to be entered to win a backpack filled with hiking gear and gifts from local Ramona businesses. Participants are also encouraged to share photos of your hikes on the Chamber’s Facebook and Instagram pages using the hashtag #RamonaHikingChallenge.

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Have a good week!

Photo: Dust Devil Nature Trail

Weekly Update

This Week in San Diego Hiking – February 5, 2018

Photo: Piedras Pintadas Trail

Hello Hikers!

Apparently this summer weather is just going to keep going, so stock up on the sunscreen!

We have President’s Day coming up this month on February 19th. This will be a free entrance day for Forest Service lands (so no Adventure Pass needed). It will NOT be free for National Parks like it has been in past years.

Mission Trails Regional Park put out a warning on their Facebook Page yesterday – there has been a recent rash in car break-ins, particularly at the Jackson Drive parking lot and along Father Junipero Road. Its NEVER a good idea to leave anything that looks valuable in your car, and its particularly risky to do so while you’re hiking since thieves know you’ll be gone awhile. Wear a backpack and carry your wallet, phone, and other items with you. If you must leave things in your car, stow them out of sight (preferably in the trunk) before you get to the trailhead – thieves may be watching to see where you stash stuff. If you see anything suspicious at Mission Trails, you are asked to report it immediately to the Visitor’s Center at 619-668-3281 and the Police Department at 619-531-2000.

CBS8 reports that a foul, sewage-like smell at Lindo Lake is being investigated by the County Parks and Recreation Department, but so far there has been no identification of the source.

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Have a good week!

Photo: West Mesa Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)

Weekly Update

This Week in San Diego Hiking – January 29, 2018

Photo: Desert View Trail at William Heise County Park

Hello Hikers!

How is everyone enjoying summer in January? There is a red flag fire warning in effect through today due to high winds, warm temperatures, and low humidity. It looks like temperatures should start dropping around mid-week.

You might want to get up early Wednesday morning to check out the “Super Blue Blood Moon lunar eclipse.” The total eclipse will begin at 4:51 am, reach maximum at 5:29 am, and end at 6:07 am, just in time to head off to work. Check out timeanddate.com for more information.

And in related sky-watching news, Anza Borrego Desert State Park was recently recognized as an “International Dark Sky Park.” The park and neighboring community Borrego Springs (also designated an International Dark Sky Community) have retrofitted light fixtures and switched from bright white lights to amber lights in order to lessen light pollution. This means the park is an outstanding place to visit for stargazing activities.

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Have a good week!

Photo: Wilderness Gardens Preserve

Weekly Update

This Week in San Diego Hiking – January 22, 2018

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Photo: Del Mar Mesa Preserve

Hello Hikers!

Well I’m not sure how long this government shutdown is going to last. I’m writing this Sunday evening so by the time you read this we may be lucky and its all over, but in case it’s not, here’s some things you need to know:

  • Cabrillo National Monument is closed during the shutdown
  • Cleveland National Forest lands are generally still accessible, but you might find some locked gates and restrooms. Most campgrounds will be closed. Trash service will not be happening, so PLEASE pack out all of your trash if you go up there, and consider bringing an extra trash bag or two and hauling out any trash you encounter so a huge mess doesn’t build up.
  • Recreation.gov is down, so no getting permits or making reservations for future trips right now.

Cowles Mountain hikers should be aware of a recent report from NBC 7, who found that that thousands of parking citations have been issued over the past two years for cars not having their wheels properly cramped to the curb along Golfcrest Drive. Other frequent infractions cited on the street include expired registrations and being parked too far from the curb.

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Have a good week!

Photo: Silvercrest Trail

Weekly Update

This Week in San Diego Hiking – January 15, 2018

Photo: Del Mar Mesa Preserve

Hello Hikers!

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend and gets the day off today! Today is a fee-free day at National Parks and National Forests in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so you can head on out for a great hike without worrying about getting an Adventure Pass.

I don’t know about you guys, but I was really happy to see the rain last week. Right now the forecast is calling for rain again this Friday, and even snow up in the mountains! Let’s hope this actually comes to pass.

The Santee City Council has voted to prohibit smoking cigarettes as well as using electronic cigarettes and vaping devices on Santee City Trails.

The County Board of Supervisors has approved a $2 million expansion of a program to replace weakened trees in County Parks. Parks slated to receive new trees include Dos Picos, San Elijo Lagoon, and William Heise, where numerous trees have been lost in recent years to drought, the gold-spotted oak borer and shot hole borer.

There will be a public meeting regarding the Goodan Ranch/Sycamore Canyon Public Access Plan on Wednesday, January 24 from 5:30 – 7:30 at the Lakeside Community Center, 9841 Vine St., Lakeside, CA 92040. Join staff from the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation to see options and provide your input to help develop this preserve’s public access plan.

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Have a good week!

Photo: Eagle Peak Preserve

Weekly Update

This Week in San Diego Hiking – January 1, 2018

Photo: Sunrise from Otay Mountain

Hello Hikers!

Holy cow, people, it’s 2018! Are you making any big hiking plans for the new year, or maybe setting some goals? There are lots of hiking “challenges” you can take on this year to keep yourself motivated – the Mission Trails Five Peak Challenge, the Coast to Crest Challenge, The 52 Hike Challenge, or just make up one of your own.

Starting in January, the Californian Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will begin requiring hikers to obtain a CDFW Lands Pass to hike in a number of local areas: Batiquitos Lagoon, Boden Canyon, Buena Vista Lagoon and San Elijo Lagoon ecological reserves and Hollenbeck Canyon and San Felipe Valley wildlife areas. A day use pass costs $4.32, and an annual pass is $24.33. Passes can be obtained online at www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/internetsales or anywhere hunting and fishing licenses are sold. You can use a current fishing or hunting license instead if you have one.

The San Diego County Parks and Recreation Spring 2018 Program and Activity Guide is now out. Among other events, the guide lists numerous guided hikes and other ranger-led events at parks all over the county, so check it out if you’re looking for something new to do.

The San Diego Union Tribune has a good article on the City of Poway’s recent approval to fund plans for a pedestrian tunnel below Highway 67 which will connect the Iron Mountain trail system with the Mt. Woodson trail system. This is part of a larger plan to connect even more of the county’s trails, including Dos Picos County Park.

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Have a good week!

Photo: Otay Valley Regional Park

Weekly Update

This Week in San Diego Hiking – December 18, 2017

Photo: Winter Solstice Sunrise from Cowle’s Mountain

Hello Hikers!

Happy almost-Solstice! Thursday (December 21st) marks the first day of winter (can’t you tell by the weather?) and is the shortest day of the year. So the good news is days will slowly begin to get longer, and eventually we can all go hiking after work again.

The deadline to submit comments on the National Park Service’s proposal to increase entrance fees to certain National Parks during peak seasons is this Friday, December 22nd. Visit the NPS website to learn more and submit your comments.

The National Park Service has also announced a significant decrease in fee-free days for 2018. While 2017 had 10 fee-free days, in 2018 there will only be four: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 15), the First Day of National Park Week (April 21), National Public Lands Day (September 22), and Veterans Day (November 11).

And finally, a bill has been introduced to the US House of Representatives that will allow bicycles, strollers, wheelchairs, strollers, and game carts in designated Wilderness areas. More information on the bill can be found here, and you can find and contact your representative here.

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

Have a good week!
Photo: Del Dios Highlands Preserve

Weekly Update

This Week in San Diego Hiking – December 11, 2017

Photo: Black Mountain Ramona

Hello Hikers!

I hope everyone is safe from the recent fires. It looks like the winds will hopefully start dying down today, but we’re still in store for low humidity and warm temperatures.

On Tuesday, a man who had been lost for 3 days in the Cleveland National Forest near Horsethief Canyon after running out of gas set a signal fire to get the attention of a passing helicopter. Unsurprisingly, the intense Santa Ana winds quickly spread the fire through the dry brush in the area. Some nearby hikers saw the fire and reported it, and fire crews were miraculously able to contain the fire before it grew beyond an acre. If this scenario sounds familiar, it is similar to how the 2003 Cedar Creek fire started, when a lost hunter set a signal fire during Red Flag conditions. The moral of the story is don’t set signal files during Santa Ana or Red Flag conditions, and to make sure you’re prepared for an emergency if you travel to the backcountry. Have a full tank of gas, abundant water, a map of the area, and make sure to let someone know where you’ll be and when you expect to return. Don’t ever rely exclusively on your cell phone since you might not have a signal when you need it, and batteries die. Be prepared and be safe!

The San Diego Audubon Society will be conducting a series of Christmas Bird Counts in various locations throughout the month of December. Volunteers of all skill levels, including beginners, are welcome to participate in this community science project which helps provide important information about bird population numbers, avian movements and associated trends. If you’re interested in participating, you must register in advance by contacting one of the coordinators. More information is available on the San Diego Audubon website.

If you’re looking for a great stocking stuffer for the hiker in your family, check out the newly published Laguna Mountain Recreation Area Map, by Calico Maps. This is a shaded relief topo map, printed on waterproof and tear-resistant paper showing the greater Laguna Mountain Recreation Area. Even better, Calico Maps is a local San Diego company, so hopefully we’ll have even more new maps of the county to look forward to in the future!

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

Have a good week!

Photo: Love Valley Meadow

Weekly Update

This Week in San Diego Hiking – December 4, 2017

View west from Corte Madera MountainPhoto: Corte Madera Mountain

Hello Hikers!

Looks like we’re in store for some Santa Ana conditions this week – strong winds and low humidity – which means fire danger! Welcome to December?

The new guidebook Anza-Borrego Desert Region by Lowell and Diana Lindsay is now available on Amazon, this would make an excellent Christmas gift for the hiker in your life.

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

Have a good week!

Photo: Tooth Rock