At The Backroads

San Diego Coast and Snow Capped Cuyamaca Mountains, Feb 08

It’s the time of the year where San Diego will be facing a winter storm (today - Wednesday according to forecast), San Diego style. Why I say San Diego style because our kind of storm here is actually a few inches of precipitation along the coast, in inland valleys and in desert, and a foot or two in the mountains.

San Diego Bay and Snow Capped Palomar Mountain, Feb 08

And since I am still suffering from bad allergies and heavy congestion, there is no way for me to enjoy the snowy slopes in the mountains this week. Maybe not even photographing it from the coast since I just dread any chilly air right now, something that I usually do not dread when I am at 100% of my health. The same reason why I had not been updating this blog that often as well. Thus most of the pictures in this post today are from last winter (January and February 08), since the last time I have been out of the doors to hike and take pictures was last Thanksgiving, it is just not me. Thankfully, my allergies do not bother me as much when I’m teaching so as not to scare my students away

My fist winter in San Diego was in 2004. I think winter 04-05 was also the wettest winter I had in my whole stay here in San Diego. December of 2004, I had a winter wonderland album from Mount Laguna, San Diego County.

Me @ Mount Laguna, December ‘04

That photo album sent to my friends and family in the Philippines and my colleagues and friends in Connecticut (where I came from before I moved to San Diego) drew a lot of the same question. “What? There is snow in San Diego? I thought there is no snow in California at all, much more in San Diego!” Yes, that’s what always people think that brings smile to my face. Anyway, yes, there are winter wonderlands within San Diego County. In fact, California has several top skiing resorts in the Sierra. We were there in Mammoth Lakes early summer, and the skiing resort was still open and the mountains still had thick snow accumulation from the winter.

However, the winter wonderlands in San Diego mountains (the highest peak just being a little over 6000 ft) do not last as long as in Mt. San Jacinto and Mt. San Gorgonio, two giants mountain peaks in the nearby Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, also of Southern California. Usually, the snow would melt in a week or two, and then, San Diegans would have to wait again for the next winter storm, unlike in the Sierras where the mountain slopes start to to be burried in snow by November and skiing resorts open as early as Thanksgiving. We usually do not go the Sierras on winter since we do not like driving in icy conditions, and there’s risk of being stuck in the middle of snow storm. So, for some of our winter wonderland outdoor activities, we usually just do them here in San Diego or if we can not wait for the next snow, in the nearby Mt. San Jacinto in Palm Springs,

Family Sledding in Mt. San Jacinto, Palm Springs, CA, Jan 08

where, even if there is no snow storm, the previous winter storms left lingering snow and accumulate thickly until they disappear in late spring or early summer. Mt. San Jacinto is about 1.5 hour drive from San Diego.

But for those living in San Diego, who wants to enjoy winter wonderland without leaving San Diego County, the following mountains turn into a temporary winter wonderland whenever there is a cold front accompanied by decent precipitation.

1. Mount Laguna

Mt. Laguna, Feb 08

Mount Laguna is only 50 miles from downtown San Diego. What is so unique with Mt. Laguna is that it is sandwiched by the sunny beaches of the Pacific Ocean and of the dry heat in Anza Borrego Desert, both just within an hour or less away.

Me, with the Anza Borrego Desert View in Mt. Laguna

Cactus and Pines, Mount Laguna

near Mt. Laguna Lodge

For more information on Mt. Laguna (hiking and lodging ), please visit the site http://www.lagunamountain.com/mtnfun.htm

And if you wanted to call first regarding the conditions (like if roads are open, and how are the accumulation), please visit the site http://www.lagunamountain.com/

2. Palomar Mountain -

Hiking @ Palomar Mountain

Hiking at Palomar Mountain

Family Preparing to Sled Down the Slope @ Palomar Mountain

I have a previous post on Palomar Mountain, for more hiking information and pictures, please visit my previous post at http://sandiegobackroads.today.com/2008/08/07/hiking-at-palomar-mountain-state-park/

 3. Julian - Julian is small mountain town nestled in Cuyamaca Mountains, however, frankly speaking, I have not been there yet at winter time. I love to visit Julian at fall for fall colors and also for apples. You can check however my previous posts on Lake Cuyamaca at Julian at http://sandiegobackroads.today.com/2008/09/05/lake-cuyamaca-2/ and Julian’s website at http://www.julianca.com/about_julian/index.htm

This is the simple uniqueness of San Diego that I really love, that is enjoying a cool kind of warmth along the sunny beaches ( if there is sun ) yet, in less than an hour, we can  bring ourselves to enjoy winter wonderland without having to suffer the brutal negative temperatures.

Have fun this winter . If you plan to go, you can check with the local news and best to call the place where you intend to go (Mount Laguna, Julian or Palomar Mountain) if the roads are opened already. If possible, do not go during the snowstorm as you may end up stuck on the road and driving on icy conditions on roads meandering mountain slopes are far more treacherous than on a flat road. Remember to stay safe when having some fun.

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