Photo: The Pacific Crest Trail in Mount Laguna

Hello Hikers!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and had the opportunity to get outside for a hike or four. I’m happy to see more rain and even some snow up in the mountains, hopefully we’ll have a lot more of that this winter. It looks like the current round of precipitation should be moving out Monday and we’ll have clear skies after that. Remember to always check the forecast before you head out, as things can change quickly!

With snow up in the Mount Laguna area this weekend, I thought it would be a good time to re-share this video from the County regarding driving safety and parking considerations in case you head up there for a hike or some snow adventures. Also remember you may need an Adventure Pass (available at Big 5, REI, or the Mount Laguna Store) depending on where you end up parking.

Residents in Poway have started a petition to save a section of open space near Twin Peaks. The land is privately owned by a developer who has recently begun seeking approval to build 10 homes over 80 acres on the western slope of Twin Peaks. The proposed project would include 58 acres of designated open space.

The San Diego City Council has approved $1.8 million to purchase an 80 acre parcel of open space near Rancho Penasquitos. This acquisition, adjacent to Black Mountain Open Space Preserve, is a step towards the City’s goal of completing a connected system of preserved open space in the northern part of the city.

The San Diego River Park Foundation (SDRPF) is currently raising funds to acquire and preserve a 40 acre parcel of land near Temescal Creek. From the SDRPF’s web site: If we can buy the property, we can remove the threat of a road, and turn the existing dirt road into a trail for hikers, bikers and equestrians. We can also protect the incredible wildlife in the Valley. Recently bobcat cubs, fox kits, deer fawn and more have been documented in the Valley. They have until December 16th to raise about $4000 more. Please head over to their web page for more information on the property and to donate if you can. You can also help by sharing their page and helping to spread the word.

Next Sunday head on out to William Heise County Park for a guided hike. Join Ranger Dave for an easy-to-moderate hike on the beautiful Fern Trail. Our final destination will be the bubbling waters of Cedar Creek where sights and sounds of nature dominate the surroundings. This hike will cover approximately 1 mile. Bring water, wear hiking shoes and dress in layers. Start at the ranger station. Inclement weather will cancel this event. Visit the San Diego County Parks and Recreation Program Guide for more information, or check out our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and events.

It’s Cyber Monday, so that means loads of good deals on Outdoor Recreation gear over at Amazon. Here’s a few of our favorite deals:

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Have a good week!

Photo: Lake Jennings

Photo: Corte Madera Mountain

Hello Hikers!

That wet stuff falling from the sky is called rain, just in case you’ve forgotten. It looks like should clear out tomorrow, and then we will have 100% perfect hiking conditions for the rest of the week. Hooray!

I hope you are fortunate enough to have Thursday and Friday off this week for Thanksgiving, because there’s a lot going on. Once again this year, there is a big push in the outdoor community to eschew the Black Friday phenomenon and “Opt Outside” for “Green Friday.” (There, I think I got all the requisite catch phrases in!) Here’s what you need to know:

• San Diego County Parks and Recreation is waiving Day Use Fees at all county parks and preserves on Friday. They’ve got 10 different activities including hikes, volunteer projects, and animal encounters planned at various county locations on Friday. Check out the schedule.
• California State Parks is offering a limited number of free passes to state parks for Friday. You need to reserve and print your pass ahead of time, and some locations (including Palomar State Park and Torrey Pines) are already sold out, but for the moment there are still available passes for Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and several of the local state beaches, Head on over to www.greenfriday.org to get your pass ASAP.
• There is a Naturalist Hike scheduled for 8 am Thursday at Daley Ranch. Join Naturalist Lee Dezan on a slow-paced 4 mile hike lasting 3-4 hours. Routing: RH Road, Sage, Mallard, Diamondback, Coyote Run, East Ridge and Creek Crossing. Recommend a wide brimmed hat and treaded footwear. Water on the preserve may be limited so bring at least 1 liter. Binoculars are always handy as we usually see many birds. Dog friendly hike (leashed). Free parking in the La Honda lot. RAIN NEVER CANCELS. Vist the City of Escondido’s web site for more information.
• Many more hikes are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday – visit our Events Page for the full list!

And the freebies don’t end this weekend! Anza-Borrego Foundation is sponsoring free day-use admission to Borrego Palm Canyon one weekend per month from now through March 2017. Head on over their website for more information and to get your pass. Free passes are limited, so be sure to reserve in advance. This trail is part of the 5 Hikes for 50 Years Challenge, so make sure to get a selfie!

The National Park Service has announced 10 fee-free days for 2017, so mark your calendars.

Last week Congress unanimously passed the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act. “The act would expand the number of trails that could be maintained by requiring a national strategy to maximize the use of volunteers and partners while addressing liability concerns that restrict outside groups and individuals working on the trails.”

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I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Photo: French Valley Trail at Palomar Mountain State Park

Photo: Lopez Canyon

Hello Hikers!

Well this has been some crazy hot weather for November. The good news is that a low pressure trough should be moving in tomorrow, bringing cooler temperatures. Maybe now we can start fall?

Next Sunday head on over the Santa Ysabel County Preserve East for a Back Country Autumn Hike. Hike “over the river and through the woods” in search of fall colors while enjoying the brisk mountain air! This 7-mile hike, led by a ranger, will take you around the unique and beautiful Kanaka Loop Trail. Meet at the Farmer Staging Area. Inclement weather will cancel this event. Visit the San Diego County Parks and Recreation Program Guide for more information, or check out our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and events.

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

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Have a good week!

Photo: Morena Butte

Photo: Pictographs Trail in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Hello Hikers!

I hope everyone was able to use their extra hour to get some more trail time in this weekend. It looks like things are going to warm up a bit this week.

Next Saturday, celebrate Veteran’s Day by joining the County Parks Warrior Challenge at El Capitan Open Space Preserve. County Parks is hosting a Veterans Day Warrior Hike – designed to “wow” and challenge local heroes and their families. Come to hike or support your military! Choose from 3 adventures: an easy 1-mile jaunt to the ridge for a beautiful view of eastern San Diego. This hike is 2 miles round-trip, and is open to all ages. Skilled hikers can continue on to the next peak located roughly 3 miles in, for a total of 6 miles, round-trip. This hike is best suited for teens and adults in good shape. The final warrior-level trek is not for the faint of heart or ability; warriors will hike 10 – 12 miles, traversing multiple inclines and declines with several hundred feet of elevation gain and loss. Check out the County Parks and Recreation Program Guide for more information, or visit our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and events.

The Anza Borrego Foundation is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, and in honor of this milestone they are inviting hikers to participate in the 5 Hikes for 50 Years challenge! Complete the following 5 hikes and take a selfie at an easily identifiable location unique to that hike before June 1, 2017, and you will receive a signed certificate and commemorative 50th Anniversary sticker:

• Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trail
• The Slot
• Pictograph Trail, with optional Smuggler Canyon Overlook Extension
• Calcite Mine
• Mountain Palm Springs Loop, with optional Torote Bowl Extension

Visit the ABF’s 5 Hikes For 50 Years web page for more information.

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Have a good week!

Photo: Corte Madera Mountain

Photo: Sweetwater River Loop in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Hello Hikers, Happy Halloween!

I can’t believe its almost November. I’m hoping this means that we’re finally done with hot weather and can get on with our hiking for the next six months or so.

Don’t forget next Sunday is the end of Daylight Savings Time. This is the one we like, where we set our clocks back 1 hour and get to sleep in!

Mark your calendars for Veteran’s Day, November 11, which will be fee-free day in National Parks and National Forests.

Next Sunday you can work off some of that Halloween candy by joining the San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers as they hike Kanaka Loop at the Santa Ysabel East Preserve. This hike starts as an easy walk on a wide firmly packed dirt trail through grasslands and wildflower meadows. After crossing Santa Ysabel creek the longer hike will climb to the upper meadow and walk the Kanaka Loop. The landscape is dotted with giant sycamores and several varieties of oak trees. This is an easy 3 or 6 mile hike with an elevation gain/loss of up to 500 feet. Visit the Canyoneers’ web site for more information, or check out our Events Page for more upcoming hikes and events.

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Have a good week!

Photo: Barnett Ranch Preserve

Photo: Boulder Loop Trail at Daley Ranch

Hello Hikers!

Looks like we’re back to nice, reasonable temperatures. There might even be a few light showers today!

Next Saturday, head on out to Daley Ranch for a 5 to 7 mile Discover Daley Ranch Hike. Meet Naturalist William Sherrard for a slow to moderately paced hike on the trails of Daley Ranch. The planned hike is between five and seven miles in length and will last about 2.5 to 3.0 hours. I will be happy to map out a hike for those wishing to go longer distances. Choices are hikes of 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16 or 18 miles in length. Visit the City of Escondido web page for more details, or check out our Events Page for even more upcoming hikes and events.

We finally have a release date for the long anticipated 5th edition of Afoot & Afield: San Diego County – March 14th, 2017! The new edition has been fully updated by co-author Scott Turner, who has re-hiked every route contained within the book  to ensure that information for each trip is fully current, as well as adding up to 30 new routes!

The San Diego River Trail has been selected as just one of 12 trails in the country for a national online voting contest from the American Hiking Society and Michelob ULTRA. Michelob ULTRA is donating a portion of their proceeds to these trails… up to $140,000! YOUR VOTE will help determine how much of this money will be spent right here in San Diego! If they receive enough votes, they will use he funds to support their volunteer Trail Team and create a new online Trail. You must be 21 or older to vote. Voting requires email confirmation. Click here to vote.

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

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Have a good week!

Photo: Mount Gower Open Space Preserve

Photo: Horsethief Canyon

Hello Hikers!

I hope everyone’s been enjoying this cooler and getting some hiking in, because it looks like things are going to warm up again starting Wednesday. Come on, winter!

We are happy to report that the bald eagle that was found near death in Ramona has recovered and been released back to the wild. Awesome work by the Fund for Animals Wildlife Center!

Almost 27 miles of new trails are being added to the existing trail system on Catalina Island. The new trails will connect with the island’s existing trails and offer visitors a greater variety of hiking experiences, including shorter loops that can be done in a few hours. Ideally the trails will be completed by next summer, however weather conditions may cause delays.

Next weekend take the kids out to one of San Diego County Park’s Haunted Trails hikes. Hikes are happening at Dos Picos County Park, Oakoasis Preserve, and Sweetwater Regional Park. Check out the County Parks and Recreation Guide for more details, or check out our Events Page for even more upcoming hikes and events.

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Have a good week!

Photo: Mountain Palm Springs

Photo: Trail to Airplane Monument in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Hello Hikers!

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am over this hot weather and ready for fall! Luckily, it looks like things should start to cool off this week so relief is in sight.

Note that the staging areas in the San Diegiuto River Park are now on winter hours and gates will be closed at 6 p.m.

Next Sunday, October 16th, is the Palomar Apple Festival at Palomar Mountain State Park from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be free admission to the park for the entire day, as well as games, arts and crafts, apple pressing demonstrations, apple goodies, live music and more!

CBS 8 reports that a human skull was found near Lake Hodges on Friday morning. Detectives suspect that it may belong to Marisol Lopez, who went missing last year. Some bones belonging to her were found in October of last year in the same area. A cause of death was not determined, and investigators hope that if the skull is hers that it may help the medical examiner finally determine a cause of death. Hopefully this will all result in some closure for her family.

In happier news, a bald eagle that was found near death in Ramona last month is recovering. The bird was suffering from West Nile Virus, but was found and treated early enough that it appears to be making a full recovery. It is currently being housed and cared for at the Fund for Animals Wildlife Center after being treated at the Pet Emergency and Specialty Center in La Mesa. Officials hope the eagle will be released back into the wild in a couple of weeks.

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Have a good week!
Photo: Tijuana River Valley Regional Park

Photo: Twin Peaks
Hello Hikers!

Welcome to October! The cooler weather the past couple of days has been nice, but unfortunately it looks like things will be warming up again towards the end of the week. Hopefully we’ll have fall eventually.

We were hiking at Lake Hodges on Saturday when we spotted a rescue chopper land on the south side of the lake. Turns out it was for a hiker who had broken her ankle. We are relieved to hear it was nothing more serious and hope she makes a full recovery!

The San Diego Union Tribune reports that SDG&E will begin replacing thousands of power poles and transmission lines throughout the Cleveland National Forest. Wooden poles will be replaced with steel poles, and some overhead lines will be buried in Laguna Mountain Recreation Area and Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. The goal is to harden the existing power infrastructure and make it less likely that power lines can start a wildfire or power poles are destroyed if a wildfire burns through the area.

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Have a good week!

Photo: Blue Sky Ecological Reserve to Ramona Dam

Photo: Sunset from the Iron Mountain Trail

Hello Hikers!

Welcome to fall! While much of the country gets to look forward to cooler temperatures this time of year, San Diego gets Santa Anas and red flag fire conditions. It look like things should start cooling off a bit around Wednesday.

We are sad to report that a hiker collapsed and died on Cowles Mountain Sunday morning. The hiker went into cardiac arrest while on the trail, and despite rescue efforts, died.

Mark your calendar for October 16th, when the 6th Annual Palomar Apple Festival will be held at Palomar Mountain State Park. There will be free admission to the park for the entire day, as well as games, arts and crafts, apple pressing demonstrations, apple goodies, live music and more!

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Have a good week!

Photo: Laguna to Cuyamaca