Julian California: Fall in the San Diego Mountains
October 24, 2006
October is hands down the best time of the year in Southern California. Of course with the perfect October temperatures comes the Santa Ana Winds. This October is no different. After days a gusty offshore wind, large wildfires, and blowing smoke, it was time for a break. The weather was a little less dramatic on this particular October Tuesday when Nicole and I took a trip up to Julian to pick apples and collect firewood. The fall colors were spectacular for southern California standards, the weather was absolutely perfect, and the ghoulish signs of Halloween lay around every corner...the classic portrait of October in the rural countryside. What a perfect day! The trip report is broken up into four parts: Fall Foliage, Julian, The Drive, and Collecting Firewood.
Fall Foliage in Julian, Pine Hills, and Mt Laguna
A brilliant display of color marked the arrival of Fall in the mountain town of Julian
I was surprised to find that even many of the native oaks (which often yield less than spectacular colors) were drenched in a symphony of yellow and gold
Wild turkeys search for food as red and gold leaves fall from above
Four miles from Julian rests the quiet little community of Pine Hills
Fall colors on display in Pine Hills
Rural country road in Pine Hills
Hard to obey the signs with colors like these
The color was just as good at Mt Laguna as it was in Julian
Julian, CA
An old hotel on the main drag in Julian
Mmmm.... Julian Pies!
Mmmm.... Julian Apple Cider!
Now leaving Julian
The Drive: Highway 78 & 79
A wonderfully creative photo taken by my wife Nicole near Lake Henshaw on Highway 76
Fall color pouring down the hillsides near Santa Ysabel
In Southern California, it's only a matter of time before all the views are gone!
Collecting Firewood
Collecting and chopping firewood from dead, down trees
Such concentration, such intensity...
Such Satisfaction!
The harvest! Plenty of firewood for the condo!