Palomar

RAIN, STRONG WINDS FORECAST OVER CHRISTMAS: SNOW POSSIBLE AT HIGH ELEVATIONS

By Miriam Raftery

December 22, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Two storms are forecast to bring strong winds up to 60 mph, chilly temperatures and rain to our region starting Tuesday, Christmas morning, through Friday. Light snow may fall above 5,000 feet, with up to two inches of snow potentially bringing a whtie Christmas atop Mount Laguna and Palomar Mountain, our region’s highest peaks.


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SNOW, ICY ROADWAYS IN MOUNTAINS

 

East County News Service

File photo: Snow in Cuyamacas by Grace Schleiser

December 28, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – A winter storm is bringing snow, ice and fog to our mountain regions.

Chains are required due to icy/snowy conditions on the Julian-Sunrise Highway from State Route 79 to Old Highway 80, according to the County Department of Public Works. Caltrans reports icy conditions on I-8 at Mountain Pass as well as on State Route 76 at Palomar Mountain.

The Laguna Mountain Lodge reports on its Facebook page that snow is falling on Mt.Laguna.  Residents across East County report snow in the Lake Cuyamaca area, an iced over pond in Descanso and cold conditions across our inland region.


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SNOW JAM!

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: courtesy 10 News

January 2, 2015 (Julian)--This week’s snowstorm transformed much of East County into a winter wonderland.

Nine inches of snow fell in Julian and a full foot blanketed the top of Mount Laguna, with several inches all the way down to Descanso, KNSJ’s home town.

The road to Julian has been ploughed and cleared for travel – but over this holiday weekend, that’s led to traffic jams as snow-loving San Diegans headed to the mountains.


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PRESCRIBED BURNING BEGINS IN CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST

 

 

 

East County News Service

December 6, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)—If you see smoke over the backcountry, be aware that the Cleveland National Forest will conduct prescribed burning from December 2014 through June of 2015 as weather and fuel conditions permit on the Trabuco, Palomar and Descanso Ranger Districts. The goal of the burning is to reduce hazardous fuels that have accumulated in the Forest and around local communities.


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SQUIRRELS TEST POSITIVE FOR PLAGUE: PRECAUTIONS URGED FOR HIKERS, CAMPERS AND HUNTERS

 

East County News Service

September 23, 2014 (Palomar) -- County officials are reminding people to protect themselves when they hike and camp after two squirrels trapped in routine monitoring in the Palomar Mountain area tested positive for plague.


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TWO SQUIRRELS TEST POSITIVE FOR PLAGUE

 

Source: County News Service

July 29, 2014(Palomar)--Two squirrels trapped at an empty outdoor school on Palomar Mountain have tested positive for plague, prompting San Diego County officials to remind people to take simple steps to protect themselves when camping and hiking.


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PALOMAR ‘S VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT FIGHTS BACK AS COUNTY PUSHES FOR TAKEOVER

 

By Miriam Raftery

June 16, 2013 (Palomar) –Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department has hired an attorney in an effort to stave off strong-arm efforts by the County, which seeks to force the tiny department to join the County Fire Authority or lose funds.  Joining would mean handing over control to Cal-Fire, which runs rural stations under the CFA.

“Our closest mutual aid is 45 minutes down the hill,” Chief George Lucia said at a packed public meeting in late May, the U-T San Diego reported. “They’re telling me  I can’t hire local community volunteers. I say to them that without my local community volunteers that live here, sleep here and have a stakeholder’s interest in the community, I can’t guarantee that I can cover a call.”


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CONTROLLED BURNS ON PALOMAR MOUNTAIN

February 27, 2013 (Palomar) --If you see smoke across San Diego's north inland areas, don't worry. The Cleveland National Forest is conducting burning operations this week on the northeastern side of Palomar Mountain along the Aguanga Ridge/Palomar Divide Road this week.  The Forest Service is burning fuels that have been piled as a result of fuel treatments in the area.


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FOREST SERVICE BURNING CLEARED BRUSH IN SAN VICENTE AND PALOMAR AREAS TODAY

February 19, 2013 (San Diego's East County) --Cleveland National Forest is conducting burning operations today in the San Vicente area in East County and on Palomar Mountain near Observatory Campground.  This is a continuation of burning operations that began yesterday, but are not expected to continue into tomorrow due to the weather system that may bring rain and that is moving into southern California.

The Forest Service is burning fuels that have been piled as a result of hand and mechanical fuel treatments in the area.


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PALOMAR STATE PARK’S APPLE FESTIVAL OCT. 21

September 27, 2012 (Palomar) -- Did you know that Palomar Mountain State Park is made up of pioneer homesteads that included magnificent apple orchards still producing delicious apples to this day? On Sunday, October 21 from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. you’re invited to join in a celebration of  the Park's apple heritage with fresh apples picked from the park's 100 year old orchards, apple dishes, live music, cider, arts and crafts for kids, prizes and living history volunteers /re-enactors.

Guests are welcome to bring their own homemade apple dish-- and come dressed in 19th century homestead period attire. Admission is free to this second annual celebration.


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GROUND SQUIRRELS TEST POSITIVE FOR PLAGUE

Campers, hikers warned to take precautions

September 13, 2012 (Palomar)--Two ground squirrels trapped during routine monitoring at the Cedar Grove Campground on Palomar Mountain have tested positive for plague, County Vector Control officials announced Thursday.

Officials said the squirrels represented a low risk of transmission because their blood tests showed that their exposure was not recent, but that they were conducting flea-control measures and posting plague-warning signs at Cedar Grove and nearby Doane campground as a precaution.


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BRUSH FIRES IN PALOMAR AND OCEANSIDE; CHIHUAHUA FIRE NOW 100 ACRES

 Update 6 p.m. - The Chihuahua Fire is now in the Warner Springs area, threatening to jump firelines, Cal Fire reports. The blaze is 125 acres.

August 9, 2012 – A major brush fire at  Highway 79 and Chihuahua Valley Road in the Poway area is now more than 100 acres.  The likely cause was a lightning strike, Cal Fire reports.  Traffic control is in effect with access limited to residents only.

A second fire just south of the Chihuahua Fire is now 25 acres in size, spreading rapidly. Additional strike teams and crews have been dispatched to the scene.

In addition,  a brush fire at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside is burning in a heavy stand of trees, with smoke affecting traffic on I-5.


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STATE PARKS FOUNDATION LENDS A HAND TO KEEP PALOMAR PARK OPEN

 
June 2, 2012 (San Francisco) -- Efforts by a local group to keep Palomar Mountain State Park open were given a shot in the arm with a $20,000 grant from the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF), the San Francisco based charitable organization dedicated to protecting, enhancing and advocating for California's magnificent state parks.

 


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EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: TOP LOCAL AND STATE NEWS

 
 
April 16, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media.  This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:  
 
 
 
 
STATE  
  • CSU faculty members set to vote on strike (Sacramento Bee)
  • Jerry Brown turns to robocalls and mailers to qualify his ballot initiative (Sacramento Bee)
 
LOCAL   
  • San Diego County: Rents are Rising (KPBS)
  • Palomar campgrounds reopen after successful fundraising drive (KPBS)
  • Rattlesnakes cruise for females, find people (North County Times)
  • Caregiver sentenced in elder abuse of Pearl Harbor victim (San Diego Union-Tribune)
 
Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

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GOOD NEWS! RESURRECTION OF PALOMAR MOUNTAIN STATE PARK IS APPROVED

April 8, 2012 (Palomar) – It seems fitting that on Easter Sunday, we got word of a modern-day resurrection.

Rick Barclay chairs a foundation that’s been striving to save Palomar State Park from permanent closure in July, drawing help from many of our readers to fill the budget gap.  Today, he sent East County Magazine the following message of hope: 


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SMALL QUAKE RATTLES AREA ON ELSINORE FAULT

 

March 30, 2012 (San Diego)—A quake measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale and centered 4 miles southwest of the Palomar Observatory rattle the region at 12:06 a.m.  The quake, centered on the Elsinore fault line, was felt as far away as El Cajon.


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ONLY $13,375 MORE NEEDED TO SAVE PALOMAR MOUNTAIN STATE PARK


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PICTURE-PERFECT: PRESIDENT’S DAY ON PALOMAR MOUNTAIN

 

“The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired in value.” – President Theodore Roosevelt

By Miriam Raftery

February 21, 2011 (Palomar Mountain) –President Theodore Roosevelt, the great conservationist who founded our national park system, once observed, “There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy and its charm.”

 

Roosevelt would have been enchanted by the pristine beauty of Palomar Mountain, blanketed in a foot of snow this President’s Day. No doubt he would also feel melancholy to learn that Palomar State Park is among those state parks under consideration for possible closure due to the state's budget gap.  For now, however, visitors frolick in the powdery snow, most blissfully oblivious that the park's fate hangs in the balance.

 


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PALOMAR RANGER DISTRICT BEGINS PRESCRIBED FIRE ACTIVITY

 

October 22, 2010 (Ramona)--The Palomar Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest is conducting prescribed burning from October 19th 2010 to May, 2011 if weather and fuel moisture conditions permit. This vegetation treatment is for community defense, fuel break maintenance and forest health, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The prescribed burning will take place on Forest Service Land that adjoins the San Diego Country Estates.


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