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.

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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.

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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!