SWEETWATER RIVER LOOP HIKE - 8 November 2013

The hiking divas were out again this week. Once again we went to East County for our hike in the foothills of San Diego County.

We set out from the trailhead for the Merigan Fire Road in Descanso, and headed North where we eventually crossed the Sweetwater River which was a small trickle this time of year. We connected with the Ca. Riding and Hiking Trail and eventually joined the South Boundary Fire Road. We then worked our way Northeast to Green Valley Falls. Most of this area burned in 2007 and is coming back slowly. The oaks are showing their colors as were the willows along the drainage area of the river.

There was water flowing at the falls, but not very much. In the Spring this will be quite different. We enjoyed our lunch at Green Valley Falls. We saw only 4 people there, two mountain bikers, and a couple of kids who came to where we were only briefly. The rocks were warming, but they can  be quite slick as they have been polished by flowing water over many years. Shortly after leaving the Falls we came across a couple of horsemen, and that was the extent of our human contact for the day. The horsemen had started where we had and eventually we saw them again back at the trailhead.

This was a pleasant outing with friends in the back country. We went 10 miles round trip, in cool shirtsleeve weather. The trail was quite dusty so the evening shower was much welcome.

Here are some photos -  

This fellow was looking over the trailhead as we headed off on our hike

Red-Tailed Hawk

Green Valley Falls

Blue-eyed Grass minus a petal

Moon over Ridge

Granite and Willows

INDIAN CREEK TRAIL, MT. LAGUNA - 1 November 2013

This past Friday I was off on a hike in our local mountains with my friends, Myrna and Chris, and a new friend, Caron. We all do patrols in Mission Trails Park, here in the metropolitan area. We decided that it was a good time to head to Mount Laguna, a 6,000 ft. mountain located to the East of San Diego. I have often gone x-country skiing in this area when we get enough snow to make the trip worthwhile.

We chose to hike the Indian Creek loop, a distance of nine miles.  The weather was perfect, with temperatures in the 50’s to start and probably reaching the mid-70’s by the end of the hike. There was a good breeze blowing most of the time so it was comfortable to have two layers of shirts on most of the day. It was like an Indian summer day with fall color provided by the many Kellogg Oaks.

The first half of the hike, was forested with Jeffery pines, and Black Oaks. We had a nice snack stop above Indian Creek where we enjoyed the colors of the small valley. 

Fungus on Tree

Montane Woolly Star

Mountain Mahogany

About halfway through the loop we crossed Sunrise Highway and had lunch at the Pioneer Mail picnic area. (This was a stop on the Pioneer Mail Line that ran from San Antonio, TX to San Diego in the 1800’s.) Here we linked up with the Pacific Crest Trail as it runs South past Storm Canyon, site of the devastating Chariot Fire that ran up Storm Canyon, over Garnet Peak, and South to Penny Pines T.H. this past July. This is 4 mile stretch was through the burn area from the Chariot Fire. It was interesting to see the new growth which has started recently after some rains came to San Diego in October.

California Goldenrod Adds Some Color

Lone Sunflower

Black and Green

Monkeyflower

Looking Into The Desert

Checkerbloom

Near Trail's End

 

It was a wonderful day out in the mountains with crisp temperatures, clear skies, and fall color. Hope to return to the mountains soon.