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Cuyamaca Peak (San Diego Mountains)
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During the last several weeks, obligations have prevented me from getting out to take photos. I’ve been itching to get out and take photos but this week found me down in Southern California for Christmas with my family. I realized that I had some time to squeeze in a hike while down in San Diego so I decided to revisit a hike I had done almost 17 years ago: Cuyamaca Peak in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. The primary attraction for revisiting this hike was that the area was subject to the massive Cedar Fire that occurred in 2007. This hike would definitely NOT be anything like I remembered.
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is sandwiched between the Cleveland National Forest to the west and the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to the east. The park contains a portion of the Cuyamaca Mountains which is the next mountain range west of the Laguna Mountains. It’s also approximately 50 miles east of San Diego and bisected by State Highway 79. The elevation of the valley floor is about 4,000 feet whereas Cuyamaca Peak tops out at 6,512 feet.
The park has many trails so there are several different ways to get to the top of Cuyamaca Peak. I chose to follow the paved access road to the summit since I used it during my only other hike to the summit. The starting point is the Pasa Picacho Campground. From there, it’s only 3.5 miles and roughly 1,500 feet of elevation to gain to reach the summit. Since my primary reason for visiting Southern California was family related, I didn’t want to take a bunch of hiking gear with me on my trip down. I called the park last week to inquire about general conditions and they told me that conditions were snow free which was good news.
During the 48 hours prior to my arrival in San Diego, fierce winds and some precipitation descended on the mountains of San Diego but the weather for my day of hiking was to be sunny and calm. I got an early start to the day and by 7am, I was exiting Interstate 8 and heading north on Highway 79. Within a few short miles, I began to notice frost and then some trace amounts of snow on the ground. A little further, the road itself began to be frosty and somewhat icy. This wasn’t really welcome since I had a 2WD rental car!
I stopped first in the heart of the Green Valley to take some photos and then to pay for my park entrance fee. Eventually I made my way to the Paso Picacho Campground and found it nicely coated with a thin layer of snow. Under blue skies, I gathered my gear and headed out towards the access road. Apparently the fire fighters were able to save the campground from the 2007 fires but the surrounding areas virtually burned to the ground. The evidence of the fires is everywhere- the forest exists but as standing death. The forest understory seems to have responded to ecological change and very dense thickets of 6 foot tall shrubs now flourish. Even some of the deciduous trees are regenerating from their bases.
The fresh coat of snow made it easy to spot the wildlife activity. Deer tracks were most prominent but some feline tracks (coyote, mountain lion) followed the road for almost 2/3rds of the distance to the summit. I felt a bit out of my element on this outing. Part of it would be the mountain lion warnings that exist at the trailheads (“Don’t hike solo at dawn…” Check. Check..) but part of it was the challenge of making sense out of something so chaotic. For the most part, this fire did not discriminate and burned everything within reach. Above 5,400 feet, there is a subtle change and one can begin to notice some trees which inexplicably avoided a death sentence at the hands of fire.
The other noticeable change (for this particular day) was the increase ice and snow across the land. As the sun rose higher in the sky, it began to warm the sky and helped loosen the grip that ice had gained on most of the vegetation. With no breeze to speak of, the only sound to be heard was the steady shimmering of ice breaking up and falling to the ground.
By the time I arrived at Cherry Flats at 6,200 feet, the snow on the ground was a little deeper (but we’re still only taking about 1 inch) and the trees were nicely flocked. I initially thought it was snow but then realized it was Rime Ice. Impressive Rime Ice! I would have never thought I would see several inch thick rime ice in Southern California.
After enjoying the view at Cherry Flats and taking photos, I continued on for the last half mile and couple hundred feet to the summit of Cuyamaca Peak. This last stretch enters some of the remaining intact portions of the forest not affected by the fire. The intact canopy also helps preserve a decidedly wintery scene with solid snow on the ground. The composition of the forest also changed from the pine/oak mix of the lower elevations to one where Incense Cedars and Spruce become more noticeable. Further still brought the first views of some mature Manzanita in all their red glory.
In short order, the communication arrays located on the summit came into view and there was no higher to go. In a scene more like White Mountain in New Hampshire, the equipment on the summit had thick rime ice which gave some idea as two the prevailing wind direction during the previous episode of high winds. It was now after 12pm and the sun was in full gear. The rime ice was regularly calving off all of the equipment, sometimes crashing harshly onto the roofs of the maintenance sheds below. The views all around you are wide and vast. To the east, you can see the Salton Sea in the Imperial Valley and to the north, the snowclad Palomar Mountains were visible.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end and so I packed up and headed back down. I spent most of my time on the way up taking photos so the trip back down was much quicker. In just over an hour, I was back in the parking lot at the campground. A really fine day for a hike and the re-establishment of forest should make for an interesting study for many years to come.
Top 10 of 2009
On one of the photography forums that I frequent, someone posted their “top ten” images for 2009. I thought that was a great idea so, in honor of the first full year of my blog, I went through my images and selected my top ten. It was very hard since I had such a tremendous year of growth thanks in part to this blog. So- in no particular order, here are my top ten images for 2009….
1. Autumnal Sunset – Mount Rainier National Park
Taken from the Tolmie Peak lookout, the warm light of sunset really stands out making this a “classic” Mount Rainier photo for me.
More photos from this trip can be found in my blog post here.
2. Horseshoe Bend – North Fork Nooksack River Valley
This panorama was the payoff of exploration. I’ve been interested in finding someplace where I could create a panorama centered on a horseshoe bend of the river in a snowy scene. My first attempt wasn’t quite to my liking but I happened to stumble across this location which turned out to be very accessible.
More photos from this trip can be found in my blog post here.
3. Park Glacier Icefall
This shot was just a quick one while I waited for some cloud cover to lift from the summit of Mount Baker. Over time, this photo has really grown on me and I think a great example of how telephoto zooms are beneficial in landscape photography.
More photos from this trip can be found in my blog post here.
4. Deception Creek Panorama
Beautiful is a word that comes to mind for me with this photo. This photo was taken at my first stop on this particular outing. It wasn’t until I got home and pieced the panorama together when this scene’s impact really became apparent. When I now look at this photo, I’m really drawn into the movement of the creek as well as its expanse across the entire image.
More photos from this trip can be found in my blog post here.
5. Trees in Threes – Mount Rainier National Park
Taken on a wet morning on Mazama Ridge, this is another example of a photo that really struck a chord after processing it back home. For me, the photo has a lot going for it- a variety of wildflowers in the foreground and a repeating sequence of trees which eventually fade into the mist and fog of the background. I’m very proud of this image.
More photos from this trip can be found in my blog post here.
6. Inside Out – Mount Rainier National Park
I had been on a mission to find a better representation of this perspective. My previous attempts, while successful, looked out at a largely uninteresting forest. I happened to spy this log downhill off trail and knew that this was the one. I thought the jagged appearance of the opening added interest while the stump located just upslope ties the foreground to the background. This photo was physically a challenge to take since it did require crawing into the hollowed out portion of the log to gain this perspective. Now add in steady rain and things got even more difficult.
More photos from this trip can be found in my blog post here.
7. Winter’s Frost
I took this photo along side a creek in a cold pocket. The shaded area facilitated the development of this frost but the steep sideslope made taking the photo a bit challenging. I just love the pattern of frost and fir needles.
More photos from this trip can be found in my blog post here.
8. Wrapped in Fall
This is another shot composed with the aid of a telephoto zoom. I shot a series of photos trying different compositions and really loved the contrast between the vibrant oranges and the darker, muted tones of the trunk of the tree.
More photos from this trip can be found in my blog post here.
9. Cougar Divide
I remember this outing very much, primarilly due to my disappointment in this day’s sunset (or lack of one). The oranges and reds of sunset never made their way towards Mount Baker on this afternoon since a storm system seemed to move in quicker than forecasted. Still, I shot what was presented and this image really struck me and a beautiful combination of foreground, sky, and mountain.
More photos from this trip can be found in my blog post here.
10. No Better Time – Mount Rainier National Park
Taken during my first visit to Mazama Ridge, this small pocket of widlflowers in prime bloom seems to have a nice flow across the image, anchored by the False Hellebore on the left side of the frame. A very pleasing image for me.
More photos from this trip can be found in my blog post here.
Thank you for visiting throughout this past year and I look forward to more posts and photos during the upcoming year! Seasons Greetings!
Website Updated
I’m pleased to announce that the update of my photography website is now complete! The biggest update was adding the best photos from my trips throughout the year (which turned out to be over 60 photos). A few months ago, my web host, Smugmug, offered the option of using Bay Photo for print fulfillment. The biggest advantage of this change was the ability to finally offer true panoramic prints. I’ve already been a Bay Photo customer and so this was a welcome change!
This change forced me to re-evaluate my print pricing as well as which sizes to offer as prints. My Ordering Information page on my website has all the details but here’s the basic rundown:
| Print Size | Print Price | Finished Frame Size |
| 8″ x 12″ | $25.00 ($30.00 for Lustre) | 12″ x 16″ |
| 10″ x 15″ | $40.00 ($45.00 for Lustre) | 16″ x 20″ |
| 12″ x 18″ | $75.00 ($80.00 for Lustre) | 18″ x 24″ |
| 16″ x 24″ | $125.00 ($130.00 for Lustre) | 20″ x 24″ |
| 24″ x 36″ | $175.00 ($180.00 for Lustre) | 30″ x 40″ |
NOTE: Not all sizes are available. Some images may also require cropping due to different aspect ratios
For panoramic sized prints, the following prices apply:
| Print Size | Print Price | Finished Frame Size |
|---|---|---|
| 8″ x 20″ | $65.00 ($70.00 for Lustre) | 12″ x 28″ |
| 10″ x 30″ | $120.00 ($125.00 for Lustre) | 18″ x 38″ |
| 12″ x 30″ | $145.00 ($150.00 for Lustre) | 20″ x 38″ |
NOTE: Images may require cropping
Website Update Coming Soon
Unfortunately, there’s no blog post this week as I’ve been working hard on updating my website. Along with the best photos from this year, I’ll finally also be able to offer true panoramic prints with a new print provider. I should have it all wrapped up sometime this week!
Nooksack Wetland
Thanksgiving meal bloat left me feeling a tad lazy so I just managed to explore another minor forest service road in the upper North Fork Nooksack River valley. I picked this location because of a couple of streams which bisected the road but those didn’t quite pan out. Instead, I was drawn to a huge wetland complex that feeds the Nooksack..
Unnamed Creek
I wanted to explore a new portion of the North Fork Nooksack River this weekend but the lack of a lower elevation snowpack made things too dangerous to continue. While in the general area, I decided to explore a different section of an unnamed creek that I’ve looked at before…
Going Green Again
Another foolish weekend in the rain down at Mount Rainier National Park and along the Carbon River valley. I had some regret for NOT taking a particular shot last week so I decided to head back down to get it. Once again, the weather was steady rain and a complete challenge to keep my camera & lenses moisture free.
This was the shot I noticed last week:
I also took advantage of the hike in to explore the old growth forest:
Green Lake
My first visit to Washington State was in the summer of 1992 and I spent a week with my best friend staying with his aunt and uncle. His uncle took us out on a few tourist type outings down to Mount Saint Helens and to Mount Rainier National Park. I was in awe of everything I saw but what left a lasting impression on me was a simple hike to Green Lake in the northwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park. I can’t explain it but the stillness and peace of the setting has always been something I’ve looked forward to. Now that I live here, the opportunity to visit Green Lake in a winter setting is really special to me.
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Back in 1992, accessing Green lake was pretty easy. The trailhead lies at the side of the road halfway between the Carbon River Park Entrance and the end of the road at Ipsuit Creek Campground. Flooding in the late 1990s changed all of this and sadly, the road can no longer be driven (and most likely will never be repaired). What used to be a 1.8 mile hike is now requires a 3 mile hike along the road just to reach the trailhead. The extra hike along the road makes this a long day but the flip side is that it allows you to enjoy the temperate old growth forest that would normally blur past you while driving the road.
On this particular outing, I expected rain and hoped for snow at the lake (both of which I got). I also enjoyed the entire day in solitude. At the lake, the weather was steady light rain with some brief sleet. After 2 1/2 hours of hiking in the rain, I was saturated and slightly chilled so I was not able to stay as long as I would have liked. After some quick pictures and lunch, I was headed back and trying to take photos of all the things I made a mental note of. I’ll have to make a return trip just to explore the forest along the road..
Frog Mountain and the Upper Beckler Watershed
Having studied the weather forecasts, Saturday was projected to be a dry day as a lull between storm systems. The snow level would also drop so I figured some early snowfall shots might be in order. During my visit last week, I noticed a mountain just east of Jacks Pass which had red tinted meadow slopes near the summit. The mountain is named Frog Mountain and, from looking at maps, it could be scaled halfway on a series of abandoned logging roads.
On my way to Jacks Pass, I could see that portions of the very top did have fresh snow and the weather seemed to be clearing out more. I was hoping that some visual navigation would be possible once the old roadway faded away. The first challenge was finding the entry point of the road. From Jacks Pass, the old road begins clearly but that leads to a huge open area littered with way too much target practice debris- shell casings, clay pigeons.
This made me very nervous because I didn’t want to be heading back only to be BEHIND some people firing guns. Anyways, I found the entry point which had grown over, making it less obvious. Once on the old road, however, it was still fairly well defined. Young alders are filling in the road surface but the going isn’t too bad. Without signage, some decisions had to be made at a few of the road spurs but I made good time along the road section.
I reached what I decided was the end of the road in short order but was not encouraged by what I saw. Above me, the more mature forest above the regenerating clearcut I was in was pretty thick, and there was no direct line of sight to the upper slopes. Being alone and without my GPS, I thought better of continuing. After that decision, I did spy a road spur that continued further upslope. I determined that one spur dead ends in a clearcut but the second spur is promising. I will have to check it out some other time.
I made it back down fairly quickly and still had most of the afternoon so I explored some of the other Forest Service roads in the area. Always good to know what’s out there for future pursuits!
The next storm system starting making its appearance in the late afternoon and on my way home, I across two rainbows at two different locations. Pretty cool!..
