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Hike in San Diego County, California

Volcan Mountain, Julian
Saturday, May 26, 2012

photograph

We'll be hiking up Volcan Mountain in Julian, partly along an unpaved access road and partly along a scenic trail. The total distance is about seven miles. The views from the summit are well worth the climb. A tower at the summit once held a beacon light, which was used by pilots to find their way at night before the advent of GPS (Global Positioning Systems).

Volcan Mountain was considered for the Hale Telescope, which was eventually built on Mt. Palomar.

More information about Volcan Mountain can be found on the County website at www.co.san-diego.ca.us/parks/openspace/Volcan_Mountain_Wilderness.html.

Leashed dogs are permitted.

We'll meet at entrance to Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve at 1209 Farmer Rd. in Julian, just north of Wynola Road (Thomas 1136 B3, N 33o 6.31' W 116o 36.15').

SUGGESTED ROUTE FROM SAN DIEGO: Take I-8 east and Highway 67 north through Ramona. Continue on Highway 78 to Julian. At the all-way stop in downtown Julian, turn left on Farmer Rd. Turn right on Wynola Rd., go a short distance (about 500 feet) and turn left into another part of Farmer Rd. The preserve entrance is on the right. Park on either side of Farmer Rd.

Directions to Meeting Place Sign at entrance

This hike has been (or will be) cross-posted to the Outdoors Club Web site.

The nominal starting time is 10:00 AM. I will be at the parking area by 9:30, and at 10:15 we will hit the trail. We should return to the parking area between 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM.

Call 858-675-8706 for the latest weather information or check your favorite weather page on the Internet. (I like www.accuweather.com.) Wear good hiking shoes and suitable layered clothing and take lunch, water and sun protection. Take a camera if you wish. Call or send E-mail if you have questions.

RAIN? Heavy rain will cancel the hike. If there is only a little rain, we may still hike.

CONTACT:

Cell phone service is available in this area, but there may be some dead spots, especially at lower elevations.

Note: We haven't had serious injuries on our hikes, but the insanity of current liability decisions prompts the following: These hikes are not officially sponsored by any group or individual. No one assumes liability for anyone else. So don't tease the rattlesnakes and don't scare the horses!

SUGGESTION: Check this page a few days before the hike for any last-minute instructions.

-- Philip J. Erdelsky


The April 28 Hike -- Daley Ranch

There were four of us, but there were many others on the trails. Not only hikers, but also mountain bikers and a couple of horseback riders. The weather was good, and the parking lot was nearly full, but not overcrowded.

We didn't climb up the big rock as some others did on our last hike, but we got close to it.

The old Daley Ranch House is being restored, so it's been fenced off, and trail users are being detoured a short distance to the south. There are still a few picnic tables, but the rest rooms have been moved to the south side of the ranch house.

We returned to the parking area about 1:30 PM.

-- Philip J. Erdelsky


Photographs from previous hikes.

List of previous hikes.

Rehydration drink.

Topographic maps from previous hikes, when available, will be archived on the Maps page.

Scanned topographic maps for San Diego, Orange, Imperial and Riverside Counties are available on CD-ROM by request, or by visiting www.efghmaps.com. These are public domain images in GIF format with no restrictions on use. E-mail the Webmaster for details.

Aerial photographs, which are sometimes helpful to hikers, can be downloaded from Microsoft Research Maps (formerly TerraServer 6.0).

A great deal of information about the Fallbrook area, including a list of hikes in the area, is available on Tom Chester's Web site at www.tchester.org.

A good general guide to hiking is available at walking-canes.net/walkjogrun.html.


Notes

  1. These hikes have been held monthly (with a very few cancellations due to weather or other reasons) since January 10, 1987. I have been leading the hikes since March 1993.
  2. Each hike is usually held on the last Saturday of the month. However, the hike is occasionally moved to another Saturday to avoid conflicts.
  3. Although each hike is listed on the Web site of the San Diego Libertarian Party, it is not a Libertarian Party event. Independents and members of other political parties are welcome.
  4. These hikes are recreational, not athletic.
  5. We hike only on established trails, mostly in parks, national forests, and nature preserves.
  6. Minors may participate only with the permission of a parent or legal guardian. Most of the hikes are not suitable for small children.
  7. No reservation or prior notice is required. If you want to hike, just show up at the trailhead on time.

-- Philip J. Erdelsky