Matilija Backpack March 26, 27 and 28

Finally! Made a trip up the main for Matilija Creek with my brother Rob and my friend Mark. We hiked in about halfway on Friday evening and made our own private little camp in a spot on a side of the creek that looked like people have not been for quite a while. We packed in some good food and ate like kings. I was blown away by the beauty of the twisted tilted up landscape with the creek cascading into beautiful deep aqua and green pools. Lots of flowers were blooming everywhere under a cloudless sky all weekend. We made the hike up to all of the waterfalls on Saturday. They were totally amazing. We caught a water snake and seen several others along the way as well. We had a great time, laughed a lot, and really enjoyed being out in the mountains.

Borego Palm Canyon March 20, 2010

My daughter Barbara and I took our friends George and Courtney out to Borrego Springs to see the desert flower bloom and to take a hike up into Palm Canyon. We started out at the visitor center and walked along the flat trail across the desert floor enjoying an abundance of flowers blooming everywhere. Yellows, Purples and Reds all around in the middle of this hot desert. It was really beautiful. Some cactus were just starting to bloom but not quite there yet. Anyway we kept going and made our way up the canyon. We couldn't tell from a distance but when we started to get a little ways up in we found a creek flowing very nice with lush green vegetation, tons of flowers and spectacular views throughout this canyon. About a mile an a half up into the canyon we reached an oasis of palm trees, several different small waterfalls with a creek flowing through some of the biggest boulders I have ever seen. We had lunch inside of a room in the palm trees and cooled off by the creek. We all had a good time and I now realize just a little more of just how beautiful the desert can be.

Mens Mountain Retreat March 5, 6 and 7

Hello Everybody, I went to a men's retreat up on the top of Palomar mountain. We stayed at a really nice retreat center. The fellowship was great. Good fellowship with the guys. The food was incredibly good and we ate like kings. We arrived on Friday as a cold Winter storm was about to move in over the mountain. The first day was sunny and then massive clouds and cold air swept over the mountain creeping up through the valleys. The next day Saturday it started raining and hailing. There was not a lot of wind though. It was all coming pretty much straight down. Saturday night it snowed. It was really great to see the snow coming down as I haven't got to see it actually snow in quite a while. Anyway, during Saturday me and a really cool dude Joe that I met geared up with warm clothing and our rain gear and some necessary emergency items in the backpack and set out on a hike. The mountain was extremely beautiful as we hike and it rained and hailed off and on. We seen a couple of deer and every creek and rain runoff creek and spring was flowing good. We hiked somewhere around a five mile loop I think. We lost track of time and we had to hustle back to the retreat center as fast as we could to get back before dark. The next day it was snowing lightly as we made our way off of the mountain. This was a great mountain adventure.

Daley Ranch Jacks Meadow Feb 21 2010

Sunday Linda and I went for a hike into Jacks Meadow on Daley Ranch. We seen the early signs of spring really taking hold. Flowing Carpets of green over the rolling hills underneath the groves of Oaks. All of the rain runoff creeks were flowing. The rain came down a little bit off and on and then the sun would come out for a little while and we definitely got a little bit muddy, but it was worth it to see this beautiful meadow coming to life for the spring to come.

Inaja Trail and San Diego River

I took My daughter Barbara and our friend Courtney on a hike on the Inaja Trail. We seen great views of the San Diego River Canyon and the surrounding rolling green hills dotted with Oaks and some Pines. Then we got brave and traversed the very steep canyon several hundred feet down to the upper reaches of the San Diego river. The creek was flowing nice after all of the recent rain. Great day in the mountains with the kids.

Mount Laguna Snow Days Jan & Feb 2010

Hello Everybody, I haven't posted in a while so I thought I'd better get you all up to date on the recent mountain trips. I have taken a couple of trips up to Laguna Mountain recently with My daughter Barbara and various friends and family members to play in the snow and just explore the forest a little. We have had a great time and we are really experiencing the seasons to the fullest this year. I have noticed early spring in some areas already with fields of wildflowers blooming at some of the lower elevations and everything is green and fresh.