Hello Hikers!

Who’s ready for Thanksgiving? I’m thankful for a long holiday weekend I can spend out on the trails, and all of our awesome readers we can share our adventures with. Whatever your Thanksgiving plans are, I hope you’re able to get outside and have some fun.

You can burn off some of those extra pie-induced calories next Saturday morning on a Discover Daley Ranch Hike.  Meet Naturalist Bill Sherrard for a moderately paced hike on the trails of Daley Ranch. The planned hike is between 8 and 10 miles in length and will last for approximately 4 hours. We recommend you bring a minimum of two liters of water and wear layered clothing as it will be cool in the mornings and warmer as the hike continues. Visit the City of Escondido’s Daley Ranch page for more info, or check out our Events Page for even more fun post-Turkey Day hikes!

Don’t spend the day after Thanksgiving at the mall when you could be out hiking and having fun instead. Instead, get your holiday shopping done this week online while you’re at work! There’s already a bunch of great deals to be had at some of our favorite outdoor retailers:

• Altrec.com‘s Pre Black Friday Sale is on NOW: Shop our Pre Black Friday Sale and save up to 60% on tens of thousands of products! Only at Altrec.com!
• The Under Armour Gift Guide. This gear’s on their list. Trust us. Shop Now.
• Eddie Bauer Sale: Shop Now.
• RockyMountain.com – Hiking Gear up to 50% off

Have a good week!

Hello Hikers!

I don’t know about the rest of you, but we’ve been busy busy busy. We’re taking advantage of the cooler temps by hitting the trails, as well as gearing up for the impending Thanksgiving holiday. And sadly, there’s that whole going to work thing too. Somewhere in there we’re squeezing in editing photos and writing up trip reports for the blog. We spent a couple of days last weekend at Anza-Borrego State Park, so stay tuned for some deserty goodness in the coming weeks!

In the meantime, you should totally start planning your next adventure. Next Sunday you can head to Daley Ranch for an East Side Overview hike. Naturalist Donna Tierney will lead a new hike on the east side of the ranch to take in all the overviews. The highlights will be spectacular views of Dixon Lake, Stanley Peak, Mallard and Middle ponds, and the ranch house. You will learn about the diverse geography and see many of the native plants on this 4-mile-loop hike that will last approximately 2 ½ hours. Check out the City of Escondido’s Daley Ranch web page for more information, our visit our Events Page to check out the many other hikes and events that are going on.

Mission Trails Regional Park has announced that the Kwaay Paay Summit trail will be temporarily closed from November 12 – December 18 for restoration work to repair damage caused by the fire last July.

If you’re looking to get a jump on your holiday shopping, check out some of these deals Amazon has going on:

• Up to 20% Off Select Water Bottles & Hydration
• Up to 50% Off Select Women’s Pants (includes outdoor and fitness pants)
• Up to 40% Off Select Lights & Lanterns
• Up to 50% Off Select Men’s Tops
• Adjustable Premium Paracord Bracelet with Fire Starter only $7.49 (great stocking stuffer)
• Yoga Gifts Under $25
• Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD Pocket Knife from $10.29 (also a great stocking stuffer)
• Up to 40% Off Select Men’s Jackets
• Up to 50% Off Select Women’s Jackets

Another great gift idea for the outdoor person on your list is a subscription to Backpacker Magazine. This Wednesday (November 19), you can get a subscription to Backpacker Magazine for just $4.50/year from DiscountMags.com when you use promo code 5715.

Have a good week!

Hello Hikers!

Tomorrow is Veteran’s Day! I would like to take a moment to thank all the Veterans and Active Duty Service Members out there (including my husband and favorite hiking partner) for their service. It’s easy to take their sacrifices for granted, but these people give up months or years of their lives away from their families and put their lives on the line so the rest of us can enjoy our freedom. Thank you all!

In honor of Veteran’s Day, the National Forest Service is waiving entrance fees for the long weekend, from November 8th – November 11th. This means you can skip the Adventure Pass when you head out to areas in the Cleveland National Forest. Here’s a couple suggested hikes in the Laguna Mountain area if you’re thinking of heading out there.

Not to be outdone, all National Parks are offering free admission on Veteran’s day (November 11th). Joshua Tree is not too far for a reasonable day trip, and the forecast’s looking pretty good out there with a high around 80 degrees. If you’d rather stay closer to home, you could check out Cabrillo National Monument for some hiking, history, and tide pool fun!

And there’s still more free admission for Veterans and Active Duty military at California State Parks. You’ll need to show valid Military ID or your DD-214.

And of course we can’t have a major federal holiday without some sales, so if you’re looking for some new gear or trail food check out these promotions:

• Save an extra 20% on clearance clothing and footwear at REI.com – Valid 11/8 – 11/11
• Save 5% on Wise Company Freeze-Dried Food! (valid until November 13, 2014)
• A Special Veteran’s Day Gift for Those Who Protect Our House: 15% Off for Veterans & Service Members at UnderArmour.com
• Teva.com – Get Free 2 Day Shipping on all orders of $40 or more with code T2DAYSHIPFALL.
• Free Shipping Over $50 at Altrec.com!
• Get $10 off your first order over $30, plus free shipping on all orders over $49 at Vitacost.com

If you would like to support Veterans in need with your purchase, as well as support our website, check out The Veterans Site over at GreaterGood.com.

Have a good week!

Hello Hikers!

Welcome to November, complete with actual bona fide rain! Hopefully this weekend’s weather is a sign of what’s in store for us this winter, and we’ll have some full streams, cascading waterfalls, and abundant wildflowers come springtime. Not to mention we can finally start showering again.

November also means we’ve got some holidays to look forward to. November 11th is Veteran’s Day, when admission to National Parks will be free. National Forests will have free admission for the entire weekend, November 8th – 11th. That might be a good weekend to head out to the Mount Laguna area to get your hike on!

And of course November 28th is Thanksgiving, which means a nice long weekend to hit the trails while everyone else is at the mall buying crap!

Right now the forecast says it should be clear and sunny next weekend, so start making plans! On Saturday, you can enjoy a short hike up Ghost Mountain in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Experience the Marshal South story on this trek up Ghost Mountain with Volunteer Naturalist Dan Leidecker. The hike is steep but relatively short (one mile up, one mile down) and offers a glimpse into the family’s life on this remote mountain top. Bring water, a snack, hat and sturdy footwear. Meet at the entrance to Blair Valley, about a 45 minute drive from the Visitor Center. Check out the Anza-Borrego State Park Interpretive Activities Guide for more information, or visit our Events Page to find more upcoming activities.

If you’re looking for some new gear for fall, Amazon has some good sales this week:

• Up to 20% Off Water Bottles & Hydration
• Up to 35% Off Tents
• Up to 35% Off Sleeping Bags
• Up to 25% Off Camp Bedding & Air Mattresses
• Up to 50% Off Select Snow Sports Clothing
• Save 25% or More on Carhartt for Women

Have you checked out LeftLane Sports yet? Membership is free, and once you join you can save up to 70% off top brands of outdoor gear. Plus you get free shipping on orders over $75!

Have a good week!

Hello Hikers!

Can you believe its almost November already?? We’re getting into prime hiking season with the cooler weather. Unfortunately the days are getting shorter too. At least next weekend is the end of this silliness known as Daylight Savings Time and we get an extra hour to sleep and/or hike!

If you’re looking for a constructive use of your extra hour, or a way to burn off some of those post-Halloween calories, check out the San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers hike at William Heise County Park on Sunday:  Intermediate 5 mile hike with elevation change up to 1000 feet. Forests of oak, pine, and cedar are found in this 929-acre park that is one of the few county-run parks to have snowfall each year. Be prepared for temperature changes. Check out the Canyoneers’ web page for more information, or visit our Events Page for more activities.

The Union Tribune recently had a story about two arrests that have been made related to vehicle break-ins at trail heads in Mount Laguna. Its always best to avoid leaving any valuables in your car while you’re out hiking.

Also in the news is this story from NBC San Diego, which reports on a new trail being built at the Walker Preserve. This new trail will link Santee and Lakeside along the San Diego River, and will close a large gap in the ever growing 52 mile San Diego River Trail. The trail is expected to be completed in the next few months!

Today only, you can get a subscription to Backpacker Magazine for just $4.50 a year from DiscountMags.com. Use promo code 6972 at checkout.

And now that the weather is starting to finally cool off, it’s time to start thinking about a new hoodie! Shop Under Armour Hoodies. We’re just getting warmed up.

Have a good week!