Photo: Barnett Ranch Preserve
Hello Hikers!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Earth Day!

With the warmer weather, snake activity has been rising significantly. There have been lots of rattlesnake sightings on local trails, so keep your eyes and ears open while hiking.

The Marines have announced the process required for hikers and mountain bikers who wish to get a permit to access the Stowe Trail. It’s rather involved, requiring two trips to offices at Miramar, so you might want to start the process now if you’re hoping to access the trail anytime soon.

Sad news from Torrey Pines, where a man died last week after he and his companion fell from the cliffs above Black’s Beach.

Highway 78 between Escondido and Ramona will be closed over the next few weekends while workers construct a retaining wall to contain rockslides. Plan accordingly if you’re planning any hikes in the area.

Next Friday, April 28, Adventure 16 San Diego will be hosting a PCT Rendezvous! There will be a special showing of the 2016 PCT Class Video, celebrity guests, manufacturer’s reps, and PCT supporters.

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

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Have a good week!
Photo: Blue Sky Ecoogical Reserve to Ramona Dam

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Photo: Lake Hodges West

Hello Hikers!

I hope everyone had a good Easter and enjoyed the lovely weather.

It’s National Park Week, and next weekend (April 22-23) there will be free admission to all National Parks!

This Wednesday (April 19) there is yet another opportunity to meet Afoot and Afield co-author Scott Turner and get your book signed, as well as enjoy some awesome food. Head on over to Burger Bench, 237 E Grand Avenue in Escondido to hang out and talk trails from 5-8 pm. Show your book and enjoy 15% off your order (one per person).

Next Friday, April 28, Adventure 16 San Diego will be hosting a PCT Rendezvous! There will be a special showing of the 2016 PCT Class Video, celebrity guests, manufacturer’s reps, and PCT supporters.

Registration for the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy’s 2017 “Exploring Our Sense of Place” (ESP) program is now open. Participants, or “explorers,” will experience the San Dieguito River Valley and watershed in all seasons. Eight excursions will be held monthly from September through May, including a welcome reception at the Del Mar Powerhouse and seven outings with experts in a variety of topics including: Mammals and Tracking, Native Americans, Birds of Bernardo Bay, and more. Enrollment is limited to 26 to maximize the experience for participants. Enrollment will close on August 10, 2017.

The San Diego Union-Tribune has an article about a recent Ramona Community Planning Group discussion regarding traffic and parking along State Route 67 near the Mount Woodson trail.

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

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Have a good week!

Photo: Sunset Trail in Mount Laguna

Photo: Cottonwood Creek Falls

Hello Hikers!

Next week is National Park Week, so on both weekends (April 15-16 and April 22-23) there will be free admission to all National Parks! Note, this is just for National Parks and does not include National Forest lands – you’ll still need an Adventure Pass there.

If you weren’t able to attend Scott Turner’s Afoot and Afield: San Diego presentation and book-signing last week, or if you couldn’t get a book because they were sold out, never fear! There will be another book-signing event this Friday, April 14th from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Adventure 16 San Diego. No presentation this time, just a chance to hang out and get your book signed.

This Saturday, April 15th, San Diego Canyonlands will be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony as they unveil their long awaited trail improvements along the City Heights Canyon Loop Trail. The event will be at 10 am at the intersection of 46th and Myrtle Avenue (near 4601 Myrtle). This five mile canyon trail includes Olivia/47th Street Canyon, Swan Canyon, Hollywood Canyon and Manzanita Canyon with a few street connections.

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Have a good week!

Photo: Roadrunner on the Highland Valley Trail

Photo: Mount Woodson via Lake Poway

Hello Hikers!

I hope everyone was able to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather and hit the trails.

It’s starting to warm up out there, so make sure you take that into account when planning your hikes. Fox 5 reports there was a heat-related rescue at 3 Sisters this weekend. According to the article, the rescue occurred around 12:30 in the afternoon; if you are aiming to do a strenuous hike, plan on heading out early so you can be done before it gets hot.

San Dieguito River Park staging areas are now open until 7:30 p.m.

Poway Mayor Steve Vaus pulled a fantastic April Fool’s joke when he announced that Potato Chip rock had broken off and fell into Lake Poway, and would be repaired by “world renowned adhesive expert Dr. Lirpa Sloof, Chairman Emeritus, School of Viscoelastics, University of Eastern Finland.” That’s some quality humor!

Don’t forget this Wednesday, April 5th, Adventure 16 San Diego is hosting a book-signing and presentation with Scott Turner, co-author of the new 5th Edition of Afoot and Afield: San Diego County. The event begins at 6:30 p.m.

KPBS reports that The San Diego National Wildlife Refuge is seeing some success from their recent efforts to help the endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly reestablish itself on the slopes of Mount San Miguel in the south bay.

California State Parks will have a new and improved online reservation system for camping and tour reservations beginning August 1. The new system, ReserveCalifornia, will provide a more user-friendly interface and include more campsites available for online reservations and interactive campsite maps with more detailed views of campsites.

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Have a good week!

Photo: La Cima Trail/Soapstone Loop

Photo: South Clevenger Canyon

Hello Hikers!

At long last, the new edition of Afoot and Afield: San Diego County has been released! This long anticipated update of Jerry Schad’s hiking bible has been completely updated and includes 30 new routes. Adventure 16 San Diego will be hosting a free book-signing and presentation where you can meet co-author Scott Turner on Wednesday, April 5, starting at 6:30 pm.

The superbloom isn’t the only exciting thing going on in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park right now. The park is also full of migrating Swainson’s hawks who enjoy feasting on the resident caterpillars. Check out this article from SFGate and the Borrego Valley Hawkwatch blog for more information.

NBC San Diego reports that Cabrillo National Monument is seeking public input on plans to expand trails at the national monument. The comment period runs through April 16, you can see the plan or submit comments online here.

The San Diego Reader has another article regarding the Marine’s plans to open up access to the Stowe Trail which passes through Miramar. In order to access the trail, users will need to get a permit, similar to a driver’s license, which will be valid for one year. An announcement is expected sometime in mid-April when permitting will begin.

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Have a good week!

Photo: The Rim Trail at Mission Trails Regional Park

Photo: Wooded Hill Nature Trail

Hello Hikers!

Wow, what a beautiful weekend! I hope everyone got out to enjoy the great weather and the flowers that are popping up all over the place. It looks like we’re going to get some more rain this week.

If you haven’t been out to see the desert wildflowers, they still seem to be going strong! Check out DesertUSA.com, and the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park web site for more up to date information on where the best spots are.

The Carmel Valley Trail in Del Mar has been renamed to honor local trail advocate Marvin Gerst, who helped establish the Carmel Valley Restoration and Enhancement Project trails.

The San Diego River Park Foundation successfully raised enough money to purchase 21 acres in the South Rim Conservation Area that were scheduled to be auctioned off by the county! Had they gone to auction, these parcels would likely have ended up being developed.

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Photo: Lopez Canyon

Photo: The Historic Flume Trail

Hello Hikers!

I hope everyone has adjusted to Daylight Savings Time and has recovered from having an hour of your life mercilessly taken from you. The good news is it will be light out later, so maybe we can squeeze in some evening hikes after work.

If you are interested in seeing the wildflower display in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, now is the time to go! If you are able to go on a weekday, you will be much better off then during the crowded weekend. If you do have to wait until next weekend, there should still be some great flowers, but I highly recommend leaving very early, and bringing lots of patience. It is VERY crowded out there right now! Check out DesertUSA.com, and the State Park web site for more information.

Along with longer days and lots of flowers, unfortunately spring can also mean parasites! The County of San Diego has a great article and video on avoiding ticks.

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Have a good week!

Photo: Highland Valley Trail

Photo: Horsethief Canyon

Hello Hikers!

Hopefully today should be the last of the rain for a little while and we can look forward to some good hiking weather.

It’s almost March, so both Daylight Savings time and the vernal equinox will be here soon. I, for one, am looking forward to some longer days and getting out for hikes after work!

Next Saturday, head up to the Wilderness Gardens County Preserve for a Saturday Hike. Wilderness Gardens is a beautiful place to enjoy a hike, and a lovely spot for a picnic! Join us once a month for a special ranger-led hike through the preserve to several spots of historic significance. Learn about the land, its wildlife, and why it was a lucrative location for early settlers. This 1.5 mile walk is easy for family friendly. Check out the San Diego County Parks and Recreation Activity Guide for more information, or visit our Events Page for even more upcoming hikes and events.

The Anza Valley Outlook has an informative article on an invasive weed that is threatening wildflowers in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Volutaria is a non-native flowering plant that grows taller and faster than native plants, impeding their growth. The Anza-Borrego Foundation is organizing weekly weeding events if you would like to volunteer and help protect the park from this invasive plant.

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Have a good week!

Photo: Mountain Palm Springs

Photo: South Tecolote Canyon

Hello Hikers!

I hope you all have the day off today and can get out and enjoy some time on the trail. Remember, today is a fee-free day for National Parks and National Forests, so get outside!

Next Saturday, head on out to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and join the San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers as they hike Maidenhair Falls. Explore an ideal desert canyon fed by a year-round spring on this challenging hike. See vegetation not generally found in the desert—sycamore trees, palms, maidenhair ferns, and even a sighting of orchids. The higher portion of this canyon trek does involve some boulder scrambling. This is a difficult 6 mile hike with an elevation gain/loss of up to 1000 feet. Visit the Canyoneers’ web site for more information, or check out our Events Page for more upcoming hikes and events.

The San Diego Reader published an interesting article last week about a recent study published that found a number of creeks and reservoirs in the area had detectable levels of caffeine, which is basically a proxy for detecting human urine. Hikers can help keep our water sources clean by making sure they are at least 200 feet away from creeks, streams, and other waterways when answering nature’s call.

And speaking of waterways, KPBS has an article showcasing the San Diego River Park Foundation’s vision for a River Park in Mission Valley.

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Have a good week!

Photo: Monument Peak