Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve
June 15, 2007
This place is a real gem! Expansive grasslands, gigantic manzanita, weathered oaks, old cedar groves and more. The best part is, this beautiful hike is just five short minutes from my front door! So many photographic opportunities for all seasons. Emerald green hillsides and wildflowers in Spring, transitioning to gold under the summer sun. Fall brings vivid color to the leaves while winter covers it all in a blanket of white. The process is then repeated all over again as Spring arrives. Honestly, I didn't really know what to expect when I decided to hike the "mountain down the street." Given the current drought and warm temperatures, I was expecting a dusty, dry, "Inland Empire" like setting. Boy was I wrong! This place has water running through its rocky veins, and while most of the grasses had dried out, the color was phenomenal! I can't wait to experience this place during all four seasons!
Manzanita the size of trees grow on the lower slopes of Volcan Mountain. These plants rival the manzanita found on the trail to Suicide Rock in the San Jacinto Mountains!
The bark of the manzanita.
More manzanita bark on a giant manzanita.
Poison Oak I believe.
Large patch of Poison Oak.
Question: Can you tell me what
is so disturbing about this photo? (Hint: Look on the trail!)
Answer: Someone decided it was a good idea to light up on the side of a drought stricken mountain and then later stomp it out and leave it unattended next to tinder dry brush! First off, who has a smoke while out on a hike. This guy's lungs must love him for that! Second, and people wonder why we have so many destructive wildfires in Southern California. Droughts don't start wildfires, idiots like this guy do!!! Be responsible people!
The bark of an old Black Oak.
Yellow poppy-like flowers. I later found some purple ones just like these.
Close-up of the flower.
The trail up to Volcan Summit cuts through some amazing oak-filled grasslands! I can't wait to visit this place next Spring!
The moss & lichen-covered trunk of a large black oak.
More golden grasslands on the side of Volcan Mountain.
The lilacs were almost as big as the manzanita!
Pathway to the summit. The Indians would live up here during the summer months to escape the heat of the desert. Evidence of there visits can be found all over the summit ridgeline.
More classic California grasslands.
Nearing the summit, the views improve. From here you can see most of Julian as well as points westward towards the coast.
Another one of those gigantic lilac bushes!
Looking north along the Voclan Mountain ridgeline.
Looking south towards the Summit. In the 1920s, this spot was being considered as a potential location to build a large telescope/observatory. After much consideration, it was later built on Mt. Palomar (the one we are all familiar with today).
More of Volcan Mountain.
Hundreds, if not thousands of young cedars lined the summit among the more mature cedar stands. The smell of the cedar bark was terrific.
A look back towards the summit.
You can be sure I'll be experiencing much more of Volcan Mountain in the future!