Il Dolce Far Niente: Hiking on Volcan Mountain

May 2013

About an hour's drive towards east from San Diego lies some great California State Parks, e.g. Anza-Borrego, Cuyamaca and Volcan Mountain. Desert been once, Cuyamaca with Mount Laguna is still to explore, but Volcan Moutain is not anymore.

Within a weekend wanted to have a good look on highest mountain area in the south. There was another water mouth place to visit there, too, namely a small old town called Julian.

The road from Poway via Ramona to Julian was simply astonishing, especially the last stint from Ramona. Twisted road climbing up and up shadowed by huge and old noble trees. Cannot wait to see it this Autumn time.

After passing through Julian, took a small country road to an entrance of the park. Maps in general are not so fine as they are in Nordic countries, however, one easily noticed that there was one trail to go and come back, though making a small loop in the middle.

The day was hot, the sun was too high already when starting the hike. Welcoming signs and gates are usually nice in the state parks of California. This one was an artistic one, nice work! Studied briefly an area map, but didn't really pay attention of elevation.

Very soon after passing the gates the trail started to ascend. Heartbeat raised. Terrain here looked quite different than on hills and mountains near San Diego, these have large fields of grass and what's more, lots of really old and massive noble trees. After some time saw again green nature. I guess it's the green color in nature which attracts people and get them feel more relaxed. Works with me at least.

A few people came across already. Happy faces, obviously descending felt great. In this country people greet each other, even total strangers. There's no work needed to establish a lively chat, and that's great chance to ask about local flora and fauna, latest observations etc.

The trail ascended all the time, more and more. Then suddenly came a thick cedar tree forest. Smell like a perfume. Finally reached on a flat part, nearly on top of them. Running fields looked nice, single trees were here and there.

Passed ruins while still continuing to the top. The sign explained the ruins to be one of the candidate places to establish an Observatory several decades back. We know now that the winner was Palomar Mountain.

Final climbing to the summit, which was covered by a thick forest. Fantastic 360 degree scenery. Large area of burnt land was on east side down in a valley. It's so dry here.

Worth to notice that a fracture of San Andreas Fault has caused an earthquake here (7.3 to be exact).

When descended there's a chance to take an alternative trail, a fairly new Five Oaks trail. Lots of old oak trees there, very many Poison Oak trees, too (be careful with them!). Twisted Manzanita trees looked really nice, their color was astonishing.

The new trail was really good, well made. Thanks for all volunteers!

Volcan Mountain is a small place. There's one main trail back and forth the summit and a short other trail which goes in parallel. It's really going up and then coming down, from 4000ft to about 5300ft in elevation. However, it's a perfect place for day hikes, having a picnic there, enjoying beautiful scenery in every direction. Will certainly return there late autumn.

Another reason for visit was to see an old country town, Julian. Well, not just to see, but to taste a piece of it, namely apple pies this town was famous nowadays.

When passed through the main street earlier in the morning, it looked like a ghost town. Now when returning, it was opposite of it, absolutely full of visitors, hard to find any parking space.

There were two or three more famous places to taste pies. Chose the one which had longest queue outside. To me it was a piece of real American taste, something from the past, a grand old apple pie, mmmmm.....

October might be a good time to visit Julian again, apple harvest. However, in early November I'll be back again, to participate Tour de Julian bicycle race, up and down on 5000ft will be an experience I wouldn't like to pass.