Hello Hikers!

Well the weather’s been pretty decent lately, I hope everyone’s been able to take advantage and get some trail time in. Looks like it might be warming up just a tad over the next week, but hopefully it won’t be too bad out there. As usual, inland areas will be much warmer than more coastal areas, so if you’re a heat wuss like me, get out early or stick to the beach hikes!

If you’re looking for something to do next weekend, head out to Daley Ranch Saturday Morning for the Discover Daley Ranch Hike. Meet Naturalist William Sherrard for a moderately paced hike on the trails of Daley Ranch. The planned hike is between eight and ten miles in length and will last about four hours. Visit the City of Escondido’s Daley Ranch page for more information, or check out our Events Page for even more upcoming hikes.

If you ever visit Mission Trails Regional Park, please take a moment to fill out this survey being conducted by a Master’s Degree student on Human-Wildlife Perceptions – it only takes a few minutes.

And speaking of Mission Trails wildlife, ABC 10 has a report about a mountain lion sighting at the park. It doesn’t sound like the lion was being the least bit threatening, but its always good to be aware of your surroundings and be prepared. Mountain lions inhabit just about every hikeable part of the county, so the occasional encounter is not surprising.

The National Park Service has announced that effective November 1, they will be increasing entrance fees at Cabrillo National Monument. Fees will increase from $5 to $10 per vehicle for 7-day entry. The Annual Pass will go from $15 to $20 per year. Motorcycles will pay $7 for entry and pedestrians and bicyclists will now pay $5 instead of $3 for a 7-day visit. If you’re a frequent visitor of National Parks and other Federal lands, you can get an annual pass good at ALL National Parks, Monuments, and National Forests for $80.

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Have a good week!

Hello Hikers!

I hope everyone a good Fourth of July weekend and had an extra day off to do some hiking. It looks like this week is going to bring us a thick marine layer and some cooler temps along the coast and valley areas, so go outside and play!

The Times of San Diego reports some great news for Border Field State Park and the Tijuana River Valley area. The new state budget and other sources will provide funds to improve the road into the State Park, which is often flooded and unusable during the rainy season. Furthermore, funding is also being allocated to address cleaning up trash and tires that pollute the river and surrounding valley both in Tijuana and in the US. This is especially timely news since this year we are predicted to have a very wet El Nino year, since rain water causes the river to swell and carries trash downstream and throughout the river valley area. Hopefully these efforts will help protect sensitive habitats near the river like the Tijuana Estuary, and will improve

Next Saturday evening, check out the Wildlife Night Hike at Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve. A moderately paced walk on flat ground. Do bring insect repellant and a flashlight. Enjoy the Preserve at night. On past walks we’ve seen Mule Deer, bats, tarantulas, owls, and more. Meet at the kiosk near the corner of Park Village Road and Camino del Sur Rd. in Rancho Peñasquitos, 92129. For more information, visit the Friends of Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve’s Events guide, or visit our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and events.

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Have a good week!

Hello Hikers!

Hope you enjoyed the muggy weekend and got some hiking in. Looks like there’s still some chance of thunderstorms through Monday, but hopefully after that we’ll have some normal uneventful weather conducive to hiking.

The rescue count continues to mount at Cedar Creek Falls and Three Sisters Waterfall. Last Monday alone, there were seven calls to emergency services, and on Wednesday, 2 9-year old girls were airlifted out while hiking with a YMCA group who had been warned against doing the hike by a volunteer at the trailhead. During the summer, both of the falls are generally dry and the pools are filled with a lovely algae green funk. I recommend doing these hikes in winter or early spring.

Friday is the 4th of July! Enjoy the fireworks from the top of Volcan Mountain on the Fireworks from the Summit Hike. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the many fireworks displays from around San Diego County from the Volcan Mountain summit. Join Park Attendant Bill Augustus in discussions on the history and geography of the area. We will arrive at the summit just as the sun sets to enjoy the coastal views. Around 9:00 PM, we can enjoy the many fireworks displays from around the County. We will be on the summit for about an hour before the fireworks start, so bring a jacket, water and a snack. We will hike back down to the staging area in the dark so please bring a fully charged flash light. Check out the San Diego County Parks & Recreation Program Guide for more information, or visit our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and activities.

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Hello Hikers!

I hope everyone safely survived the hot weekend. According to the National Weather Service, the current high pressure system should be letting up a bit, leading to an expanded marine layer and somewhat cooler temperatures later this week.

As usual when the weather gets hot, there have been a number of incidents along the trails, especially near Cedar Creek Falls and Three Sisters Falls. Last Tuesday, a 24 year old was evacuated by helicopter and later died while hiking back from Cedar Creek Falls. On Thursday, a woman was evacuated from the Three Sisters Falls trail after suffering an asthma attack, and later that afternoon another hiker in the area had to be evacuated by helicopter after being overcome by the heat. Remember, no matter how good of shape you’re in or how much water you’re carrying, sometimes it is just TOO HOT! Check the weather forecast before you head out, and during these crazy heat waves, consider a coastal hike instead of venturing out to the sweltering inland areas.

The City of Chula Vista has announced they will be installing fences and “No Trespassing” signs to close off access to local use trails used to climb Mt. Miguel. The City says this is part of an effort to protect sensitive habitat and protected species that inhabit the area, however a number of people have speculated that the real motive behind the closure is to appease nearby homeowners who have complained about being disturbed by hikers. Trespassing in California can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor under the Penal Code with penalties of up to six (6) months in county jail and/or a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000). South Bay hikers who wish to climb a mountain will now have to travel 20 miles or more to the closest peaks at Mission Trails or McGinty Mountain in Jamul. Let’s hope they all have electric cars!

If you’re looking for a South Bay hike without risk of being arrested, head to the Tijuana Estuary on Saturday for a Nature Walk!  The Tijuana Estuary protects a variety of plant communities and wildlife. Come and discover the richness that unfolds around the Visitor Center, be it upland plant adaptations or the significance of our estuarine habitat. Walks begin at the Visitor Center. All ages welcome. Visit the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve’s Calendar for more information, or check out our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and activities.

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Have a good week!

Hello Hikers!

Well it looks like its officially warming up. Just a reminder to everyone to check the weather forecast before you head out on your hike, and make sure you have lots and lots of water and appropriate sun protection on your hikes!

Next Sunday you can join the San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers at Palomar Mountain State Park to enjoy a hike along the Thunder Spring/Chimney Flats trails. This is an intermediate 4 mile hike with elevation change of up to 1000 feet. Enjoy a picturesque trail to Thunder Spring while hiking through bracken fern, oaks, and conifers. There are some steep elevation gains/losses as well as plenty of poison oak along the trail. Visit the Canyoneers web page for more information, or visit our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and activities.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors recently approved the purchase of an additional 175 acres of land to connect the east and west portions of the Santa Ysabel Preserve. Hopefully this means some new trails are in our future!

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