Weekly Update

This Week in San Diego Hiking – December 22, 2014

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Hello Hikers!

Welcome to the second day of winter! In many places across the US, winter means its time to put away your hiking boots and stay inside by the fireplace for the next few months. Fortunately in San Diego, hiking season is in full swing this time of year! The temperatures are perfect, and our recent rains have caused the hillsides to start erupting into a lovely shade of green.

If you’re thinking of celebrating Christmas with a little outdoor time, you’re in luck! Daley Ranch is holding their 9th Annual Christmas Hike at 8am Christmas Day. Join Naturalist Lee Dezan on a 3.5 mile hike, lasting about 3-3.5 hours. Three pond sites will be visited and the external Ranch House renovation will be viewed. Wear layered clothing and bring at least 2 liters of water. Treaded footwear is recommended, along with a wide brim hat. Binoculars are always handy as we usually see many birds. OK for leashed dogs. Rain never cancels. Free parking at the La Honda trailhead. Check out the Daley Ranch web site for more details, or visit our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and activities.

If you’re not done with your Christmas shopping yet, you’re cutting it close. But with Amazon Prime, you can get free two-day shipping and still make the deadline if you order today! Right now they’re also offering a great Spend More, Save More deal on select outdoor products.  Spend $50 and save an extra 10%, spend $75 and save an extra 15%, and save an extra %20 when you spend $100 or more. The list includes some great gift items for hikers, like:

Today only, you can get a subscription to Field & Stream for just $4.50 a year from DiscountMags.com! Use Promo Code: 3041

Tomorrow, you can get a subscription to Popular Photography for just $4.99 a year from DiscountMags.com! Use Promo Code: 8129

Happy Holidays and have a good week!

View southeast from Corte Madera Mountain

Celestial Events, Mission Trails, San Diego, Under 5 miles

Winter Solstice at Cowle’s Mountain

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20141221Solstice-2Winter Solstice is technically the exact moment in time the sun is precisely over the Tropic of Capricorn, however most people generally recognize the entire day on which this occurs as the Solstice. It is also the shortest day of the year, and the first day of winter. In many ancient cultures, the Winter Solstice was an important day that signified rebirth and the transition into winter, and was commonly celebrated with great festivals and feasts.

For us, Solstice, like most other holidays, is a great excuse to go for a hike! We woke up super early this morning to  join the San Diego Natural History Museum’s Canyoneers who led a hike up Cowle’s Mountain to observe the Winter Solstice. Continue reading Winter Solstice at Cowle’s Mountain →

Anza-Borrego State Park, Desert, Trail Write-Ups, Under 5 miles

Palm Canyon (Anza-Borrego Desert State Park)

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A desert oasis lies tucked away in the depths of Borrego Palm CanyonPalm Canyon is one of the most popular trails in Anza-Borrego. With a trailhead located at the Park’s largest campground, this easy 3 mile trail is readily accessible to hikers of all skill levels. It is also regularly visited by Peninsular bighorn sheep, who venture down into the canyon for water and to graze on the various plant life that depend on the oasis’s comparatively abundant supply of water. At one point, the endangered Bighorn sheep were so rare that even long-time residents of Borrego Springs could go decades without seeing one of the elusive creatures, however conservation efforts have paid off and the sheep’s numbers are growing. Knowing that Palm Canyon was a frequent destination for Bighorns, we were optimistic about our chances of seeing one on our hike. Continue reading Palm Canyon (Anza-Borrego Desert State Park) →

Weekly Update

This Week in San Diego Hiking – December 15, 2014

Oak tree

Hello Hikers!

Mother Nature was quite kind to give us a clear weekend in between rainstorms, so I hope everyone got out and got their hike on this weekend! It looks like we’re in for some more rain mid-week, but hopefully it should be clear again by next weekend.

And clear weather is what we want for Winter Solstice! Next Sunday, join the San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers as they ascend Cowles Mountain in near-darkness to watch the sunrise on the first day of winter. Their viewing spot is a Kumeyaay solstice observatory, about halfway up the mountain. Meet at the trail head at the corner of Golfcrest Drive and Navajo Road at 6 am. Check out the Canyoneers’ web page for more information, or visit our Events Page to find other hikes and activities!

Are you still working on your Holiday shopping? You’ve only got 10 days left, but fear not, we’ve totally got you covered. Check out our Holiday Gift Guide for some of our favorite gift ideas, or explore some of the other awesome new deals we’ve found for you:

Have a good week!

Iron Mountain Peak trail starts out as a wide dirt road

6-10 miles, Cleveland National Forest, Dog Friendly, East County, Mountain Empire, Peaks, Trail Write-Ups

Corte Madera Mountain

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Corte Madera Mountain

Corte Madera Mountain is a great hike if you’re looking for some quiet solitude. A somewhat long drive, rugged dirt road, and limited parking means not too many people venture out for this trek. But should you undertake this adventure, your effort will be rewarded with a peaceful trail that takes you through dense creekside oaks, hills covered in chaparral and speckled with colorful boulders, thick swathes of manzanita, a respectable showing of Coulter pines, and finally some expansive views of the southern portion of the Cleveland National Forest. Continue reading Corte Madera Mountain →

Weekly Update

This Week in San Diego Hiking – December 8, 2014

Cuyamaca Peak from the Upper Descanso Creek trail
Hello Hikers!

I hope everyone got to hit the trails this weekend and enjoy the post-rain beauty. We hiked El Cajon Mountain and my legs are still sore!

If you are NOT into long hikes that leave your legs aching and wobbly, there’s still lots to do! Next Sunday you can check out the Bird and Butterfly Walk at Tijuana River Valley Regional Park. This is a docent led, one hour interpretive walk through the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park, Bird and Butterfly Garden. The walk is led by Joan Brooks who has a great deal of knowledge about the local birds and plants in our area. The walk is free and open to the general public and is geared towards kids and adults. It is best to bring hats and sunscreen. Binoculars are also recommended for viewing the birds. For questions or to confirm the walk is still on: 619-428-2946. Check out the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve’s calendar for more information, or visit our Events page for more upcoming activities throughout the county.

Don’t miss this deal! Today only, Eddie Bauer is offering 40% Off Your Entire Purchase + Free Shipping & Returns on All Orders. Use Promo Code: GREEN

Need some cold weather gear? Right now Under Armour has 25% Off Select ColdGear Baselayer + Free Shipping, No Minimum.

If you’re looking for some good stocking stuffers, Amazon’s got some nice deals on hats and socks this week, as well as other outdoor goodies:

If you are looking for more gift ideas, check out our Holiday Gift Guide – some of our favorite gear and guides for the San Diego Hiker on your list!

Have a good week!

Oak tress along the Cougar Ridge Trail

Anza-Borrego State Park, Birding, Desert, Trail Write-Ups, Under 5 miles

Yaqui Well Trail (Anza Borrego State Park)

A variety of cacti can be found along the Yaqui Well nature trailThe Yaqui Well Nature Trail is an easy self-guided interpretive trail that leads to a natural spring. The spring supports abundant plant and animal life in the otherwise harsh and arid desert. In the late 1800’s, a well was built at the site of the spring to improve access to water for mule-driven freight wagon teams transporting goods through the area. Later, cattle ranchers took advantage of the water source for their herds. Today, it is frequented by squirrels, rabbits, coyotes, bobcats, birds, and the occasional hiker. Continue reading Yaqui Well Trail (Anza Borrego State Park) →

Weekly Update

This Week in San Diego Hiking – December 1, 2014

The Doane Valley Nature TrailHello Hikers!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and was able to get out for some awesome hikes over the long weekend. It’s hard to believe, but it’s already December. The holidays mean different things to different people, but to me its all about getting more time off work to go hiking!

If you haven’t seen the weather forecast for this week, looks like we’re going to get some actual rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. Hopefully this is a sign of a wet winter ahead!

Ready to start planning next weekend? How about checking out the Red Hill Nature Hike at Sweetwater Summit Regional Park. Join a ranger-led hike at Red Hill featuring a mild 1.5 mile walk. The ranger will point out interesting topics, history, native plants, and points of interest. Bring water, a hat, a walking stick and binoculars. Groups and clubs welcome. Meet at the flagpole next to the ranger station. Check out the County Parks & Recreation Activity and Program Guide for more information, or visit our Events Page to find even more activities going on next weekend.

Well, today is Cyber Monday, which apparently means you’re supposed to buy stuff. If you’re in the market for some new hiking gear or photography equipment, you should be able to score some nice deals today. Here’s a couple deals we spotted at Amazon that might pique your interest:

Here’s some more Cyber Monday deals and codes from other retailers:

Have a good week!

Heading towards Cowles Mountain from Big Rock Park

Gear

Hiking San Diego County’s Holiday Gift Guide

Great Gift Ideas for the Hiker on Your List

Looking for a great gift idea for the San Diego Hiker in your life? Or maybe you’ve just been extra good this year and deserve to buy yourself a little something special (you were pretty awesome this year). We’ve got your gift list covered with our Holiday Gift Guide. These are all items we have used and tested in our many hiking adventures and are confident that your hiker will be ecstatic to find any of these under the tree.

Afoot and Afield: San Diego County: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide  Jerry Schad’s Afoot and Afield San Diego has long been considered the Bible of San Diego hiking. This book contains descriptions of 250 different hikes of varying difficulty levels throughout the entire county, and showcases the best of San Diego’s trails. This guide provides clear, concise descriptions of each trail, and often includes historical background information on the area. Sadly, Schad passed away in 2011 so this, the 4th edition of the book, is likely the last. No San Diego Hiker’s library is complete without this gem.

 

50 Best Short Hikes San Diego If your hiker already has a copy of Afoot and Afield, they might enjoy Schad’s final work 50 Best Short Hikes San Diego. This book covers the same wide variety of landscapes as Afoot and Afield, but focuses on shorter trails between 1 and 8 miles long. This book is perfect for someone who is either just starting out with hiking, or who loves getting outdoors but doesn’t always have the time for hikes that take all day.

 

darn tough sockDarn Tough Hiking Socks Usually socks are considered a lame gift, something that Grandma or Aunt Gladys gives and kids have to pretend to be thankful for. But Hikers are different – a quality pair of socks in our stocking will bring us true and heartfelt joy. A good pair of hiking socks can mean the difference between a fantastic day on the trail or a painful, grueling, blister-infested death march. Darn Tough socks come in several varieties, including CoolMax – designed to wick moisture away from the skin – perfect for hot San Diego summers, and Boot Socks, made with Merino Wool – great for stopping odor on long or multi-day adventures. The best thing about Darn Tough? These babies come with a LIFETIME guarantee. If you manage to wear these guys out, send them back, and Darn Tough will replace them for free. FOREVER.

 

CamelBak Fourteener 20Camelbak Hydration Backpacks Hydration packs are a must for all but the shortest of hikes. Say goodbye to cumbersome water bottles and enjoy the convenience and comfort of the hydration bladder. Camelbak has a huge variety of different packs, with reservoirs of anywhere from 1 to 3 liter capacities. We’ve been through several different brands of hydration packs, and found that Camelbak offers the best in terms of comfort, reliability, and features. If you’re looking to buy a Camelbak for hiking, I recommend going all the way and getting one with a 3 liter reservoir. This offers you the maximum flexibility – you have the 3 liter capacity for longer hikes, and if you’re going on a shorter hike and don’t need 3 liters, just don’t fill it up all the way. I carry the CamelBak Fourteener 20 (pictured to the left) which provides a large amount of space for just about anything I might need even on the longest day hike: jacket, lunch, maps, headlamp, water filter, first aid kit – I can load this bad boy up and still have tons of room for carrying piles of trash down from Mt. Woodson. My intrepid husband and photographer carries the slightly more compact CamelBak M.U.L.E 100oz. Whichever option you go with, a Camelbak will be a welcome addition to your next hike.

Under Armour Women's Under Armour® Alter Ego Batgirl Fitted T-ShirtUnder Armour Men's Under Armour® Alter Ego Transformers Autobots Compression ShirtUnder Armour® Alter Ego Graphic T’s Cotton may be a big no-no on the trail, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be stylish. Under Armour’s fun Alter Ego collection offers several shirts made with UA’s signature Moisture Transport System to keep your Hiker cool and dry. They also contain anti-microbial technology so we’ll smell as good we look. Available in Men’s, Women’s, Girl’s, and Boy’s.


Happy Holidays and Happy Trails!

10+ miles, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Trail Write-Ups

Harvey Moore Trail/East Side Trail Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)

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One of the many great things about Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is the fact that there are numerous long, interesting trails that all interconnect, allowing a hiker to piece together a trek of just about any length and any difficulty level they choose. This hike combines the majority of the Harvey Moore trail (named for the first ranger of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park) with a short stretch of the East Side Trail to create a loop that explores much of the East Mesa portion of the park. This hike showcases a variety of different landscapes, including chaparral covered hillsides, wide open fields, creeks, rivers, and oak and pine woods. Continue reading Harvey Moore Trail/East Side Trail Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park) →

Hiking trails in and around San Diego County