We are just aching to find any excuse to avoid "Black Friday". Our plan is to meet Brian (XToolbox) at Little Blair Valley Campground at 10AM. We are going to leave San Diego at 8AM and drive the HWY 78 through Santa Ysabel, Julian, and Scissors Crossing.
We are thinking some hikes to explore Pictograph Trail then drive south to the Canyon Sin Nombre entrance to explore Mud Caves/Diablo Drop-off, and Arroyo Seco del Diablo Trail. We'll exit via the Vallecito Wash Trail. If time permits, we'll check out the Dos Cabezas Drive.
See you out there!
I was planning to leave San Diego at about 8:00AM as well, and will take the same route. Where are you coming from in San Diego? I live just off of Scripps Poway Parkway, which is the one of the main roads up to Hwy 67, which leads to Hwy 78 in Ramona. If you want to caravan from San Diego let me know, or if I don't see you on the road I'll meet you at the Blair Valley Campground at 10:00AM.
The Pictograph Hiking Trail is a very nice one, about a mile long each way, gentle climb on the way out. Also in the same area there is a shorter very flat trail to some morteros and also a mile-long (each way) much steeper trail up to the old Marshal South homesite on the top of Ghost Mountain. The views from the top of Ghost Mountain are pretty good. In case you have not seen them, and haven't been there, here is a link to some pics from our last trip out to Blair Valley, and the 3 hikes.
http://www.sccxterra.com/smf/index.php/topic,234.0.htmlThe drive to the water tank and rail stop at Dos Cabezas is pretty short, with nice views and the old tank and rail stuff is cool. I might pass on that smelly mud in Vallecito Creek (if you're going that way) but I've never seen Canyon sin Nombre and would like to. I hear it's nice.
The Julian Pie Company main bakery in Santa Ysabel, which is where they actually bake all of the pies, opens at 9:00AM. Depending on where you leave from in San Diego you should get there at just about that time.
My cell number, in case you don't have it is: six one nine 855 zero eight three six.
I'll have my FRS set to Ch. 11, subcode 24.