Palomar Mountain Campout

We did another spontaneous overnight trip this past week, wanting to go somewhere before the three day weekend.  We decided on Palomar Mountain where the 5,000 foot elevation would make for cooler weather.

We were one of only four parties camping at the Doane Valley tents only campground.  It was very peaceful and almost secluded.

The tent is up and now it's time to explore the area.

 We relished the greenery and shade up on the mountain - a break from hot chaparral!

There were a number of burned areas in recovery.  A field of ferns doing well.  There were more Acorn Woodpeckers on this mountain than trees, practically.  They had all these dead trees for granaries, and there chortles were a constant background sound.

This Cooper's Hawk posed nicely on a limb for us.

 A very rare running spring during our drought!  Gail inspects.

A Hoary Comma butterfly.

Near the top of the crest were meadows, and even survivors of a 100 year old apple orchard.

 Eventually, the trail brought us down to the pond near our campground.  A Great Blue Heron was fishing on the other side.

Doane Pond in the late afternoon.  There were two very cute baby coots, and several adults, along with a couple mallards.

In the evening, we walked back to the pond.  We viewed the best sky in a long time, with a vivid Milky Way, accompanied by Great Horned Owls.  With my bat detector, we heard three different kinds of bats, clearly and frequently.  We lay down on the warm asphalt of the parking lot, staring at the stars.

 We got up before sunrise for an early morning hike -  before breakfast (including coffee!)  This bird, maybe a quail, was a nighttime snack for something.

 A Gail shot of a wild rose.

The morning light coming through the trees made for great silhouettes.

 This large tree trunk had bark that was very trippy.

 A group of deer on the distant hillside.

 This burned out Black Oak had fantastic portholes.

After breakfast, we headed down the mountain, circled it to the east and north, passed through Warner Springs, and then launched off onto a 7.8 mile Forest Service Road.  Our goal was the most remote area of Palomar Mountain - Barker Valley.

 An ironic photo here.

 It was a white knuckle ride, especially for Gail, as we climbed back up the mountain.  The road was one lane all 8 miles with some sheer drops in places.

The trail head sign added a touch of drama, too.

 There were these poppies that looked like a low growing Matilija Poppy.

 Trusty Dusty did the job.  That little white ball on the distant ridge is the mammoth Palomar Mountain Observatory.

Gail was able to balance the huge orb on her nose!  Woman of many talents!

The trail was a three mile shade-less descent into the valley below.  We had read about waterfalls and swimming holes down the gorge about a mile below the trail's end.

Going in for a Mylar balloon to save the wildlife (and score Gail points!)

 Giving a little blood for both.  How far did this one travel?

A large web funnel that Gail spotted.

Well, we got to the bottom, and there were some big meadows, tall oaks, sycamores, and willows, the river was mostly dry.  We ate lunch in the shade of a huge oak, and decided to hike out.  We didn't want to drive that narrow dirt road in the dark.

Lizard!  A large, beautiful Tiger Whiptail Lizard paused long enough for us to ooh and aah.

California Buckwheat looks pretty against the green vegetation.

The view from the trail on the way back from the canyon on the right.

Dave, this is where you could be transferred if you pop a superior!  This was the entry sign on a side road to a mysterious site in the middle of nowhere outside of Warner Springs.  What could the USN be doing out here?  Dave?