April 26, 2011 - Fortunately for Wilson and I, the backup plan to this morning's failed attempt at hiking Lake Sutherland, Dos Picos Trail was not very far away. Thirteen miles to be exact. Like Lake Sutherland, Dos Picos County Park is in Ramona though you get to it off of Highway 67 rather than the 78. It really is a beautiful place and a great place for family outings. No surprise that so many weddings take place here. Our goal was to hit the trail and that's what we did without delay! The trail is an easy and straightforward two mile loop. Since it's so self explanatory and because we didn't encounter anything unusual, I'll simply let the pictures do all the talking. Though we only marched for a couple miles, Wilson got all dramatic on me, panting and feigning exhaustion. For a walking stick, he sure is high- maintenance! Another Great Hike! MAP |                          |
Monday, May 23, 2011
Dos Picos (#61)
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Lake Sutherland (#60)
June 26, 2011 - This was to be a cool hike around Lake Sutherland, a beautiful location in Ramona to which we had never been before. It seemed to be quite a few miles down Sutherland Dam Road off of Highway 78 before the lake came into sight. Eventually the dam appeared off in the distance. The dam has an interesting history. It's construction started back in 1929 but was halted for political and financial reasons. It was eventually completed in 1953 at which time the lake was opened to public fishing. Bad news! The entrance was gated and locked. Wilson, being the ever-so-willing-to-point-out-my-mistakes kind of side-kick that he is, suggested that had I actually read any one of my varied trail guides I would have known that, today being Tuesday, this place would be closed! That's okay, we kept driving to see what else we would see. We were able to get an up close view of this unique dam. According to Lonnie an Barbara, in their book Walking San Diego, this structure, built at a 45 degree angle, is said to be the most earthquake proof dams around. We drove far enough to see the backside of the dam. Pretty cool! Okay, I admit it! This posting would be much better suited for a blog titled "Driving" Here and There! But we'll be back to hike here in the future... ...and at least we ventured on far enough to discover this historical site! To be revisited at some future point in time when we won't get arrested for trespassing! MAP |
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Monday, May 16, 2011
Canyon Oak Trail (#59)
April 25, 2011 - Soon after hiking the short Cedar Trail loop, Wilson and I found our way to the Canyon Oak Trail. We were feeling pretty stoked because this was our third hike of the day. We were on a roll and feeling good! As we strode along the pavement paths of the William Heise Campround in search of the Canyon Oak Trail, Wilson kept nudging me and mumbling about how he was sure that he spied some creepy plump creatures loitering in the undergrowth. While at times I have my doubts about Wilson's utterances, I always listen to him because sometimes he's spot on... like this time! All of a sudden, out into the light of day, strutted nearly a dozen wild turkeys, all of them loudly gobbling. For some reason, when we invited them all to dinner they hastily marched up the nearby hill and as far away as they could. Eventually the trail head came into view and the hike was on. The first portion of the hike was shrouded by a friendly, well-shaded forest. As the trail went on there were some mild uphill sections... ...and more remaining evidence of the 2003 Cedar fires. The downhill portions of our hikes are always the most appealing as far as Wilson is concerned. After a few hours of hiking we made it back just in time for sunset. Another Great Hike!! It was more than a little bit creepy to wake up the next morning and peek out the back window of my cabin only to find a lone turkey waiting in ambush. Freaky little creatures they are, I'm telling you! MAP | 
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