Kim_Johnson
On Monday this week I decided to drive the short distance from my house on the coast to Palomar Mountain. I hadn’t been up there since I was a kid. We used to drive up and play in the snow all day then drive back home. I still remember my mother in her swim suit posing for photos in knee deep snow. We always had a great time.
My son had never been there so I decided to take him and the dogs up to check out the old campsites and see how much damage had been done with the last wild fire up there. The firefighters did a fantastic job at saving the old grove trees.. The drive is only 45 miles away and a great little road trip.
The mountain’s peak is at an elevation of 6, 142 feet.
Palomar Mountain is probably best known for its Hale Telescope. This telescope was the largest one built from 1949 to 1992.
The last time I was here was on a tour with my dads best friend that was also one of the men responsible for getting the last lens up the mountain. We drove up to the top of the mountain where the observatory is located. You can see it below.
Since we had the dogs with us, we did not go in. It was 85 degrees that day and would of been too hot for them in the car.
We decided instead to go to one of the closest campsites to spend the day, and have a picnic lunch.
This is the site as we pulled up. You can see one of the picnic tables.
You might have noticed some of the trees in the photo above. The majority of this forest is conifers. The species of trees are White Fir, Bigcone, Black Oak, Canyon Live Oak, Coast Live Oak, Incense Cedar, and Ponderosa Pine.
We have had a problem with Borer Beetles as seen by the old forest trees laying scattered around.. You can see one of these trees in the photo above.
A closer look at the one from above. It was five feet in diameter. I bet it created some great shade long ago… If trees could tell stories..
The next is a close up of the tree above. You can see light through it. I liked its asymmetrical design..
We chose a picnic table under this tree..
Meika, my wolfdog is checking out her new surroundings, tail alert..
Excuse the blown out parts of these images. I did try..
I noticed that when we get to a new place that Meika has never been she goes and checks all of the surroundings, while the 5 month old pup pictured in the lower corner stays right at my legs. She waits until Meika’s tail goes down. An erect tail means warning. Caution.
I take advantage of the views around me. Look at this old pine tree, not sure what kind it is but it sure is majestic.
Looking up..
The tail is lowering.. as Meika heads out once again.. Body is still erect and rigid. I love watching the body language of dogs.
The huge red tree in the back really caught my eye.
Amazing trees! I sure do appreciate the beauty of nature more than I did when I was younger.
The giants of the forest.
Each little campsite has a fire ring and a bbq with a nice picnic table.
This park is a federally ran state park. If you live on this side of the pond you might recognize these camp sites, they are all the same all across the United States.
Meika comes back tail down, and grinning.
Ha, I got her to look at the camera! This is rare, I suspect she thinks like her native American buddies used to think. (The camera steals the soul)!
Look for part 2 coming soon!
Have a great day!
A beautiful place to enjoy the peace of nature, for a few hours or even a few weeks.
Thank you Albert! It is indeed a beautiful place.
Looks can be deceiving. I wont be back here until the Bubonic Plague is gone.
Yes, we should be wary, Kim. Glad that you are ok.
Thank you Tas. It is beautiful up there.
Looks like a relaxing trip down memory lane…
I’m sure you guys have fun!!
Yes it was, until we left that is.
Hey! You went without me! I have been meaning to go up there and camp overnight one of these days. Great pictures.
PLEASE DONT go up there. You must of missed my bubonic plague post. It is not safe, and I wish I wouldve seen the signgs when I got there. I feel so guilty that I put us all at risk of infection.
Plague infected squirrels have been up there since 2007, but to my knowledge there have been no humans involved, unlike Yosemite where there has been human contact. I don’t think Palomar is any more dangerous than any other forests or for that matter even than my own back yard. Ground squirrels are very cute, but my practice is if I see one I consider it a potential risk.
I had no idea the plague was still around. Or anything that could kill my dogs from just digging in squirrel holes. We don’t have the plague in our backyards thank goodness! Looks like I wont be going to Yosemite either. Last time on the mountain for me. I will research a lot more in depth next time I want to go on an adventure with them. I just can’t take that chance.
While you are at it, might want to research Hanta virus and Lyme disease.
Ah yes, I have heard of both. I had a friend that had Lymes. Very sad deal.
Great post….loved all the photos! Thank you for taking us along and sharing them with us!
Your welcome Mom, glad you came along. I just wish I wouldve left the dogs at home. I wont be back, until the plague is gone.
Wow such great memories you have of your childhood here Kim. And now to enjoy i with your son, that is priceless. The trees are magnificent. I know many have been destroyed by all the wildfires. But these are something else. Your photos reminded me of the song This Land is Your Land, then I saw the red trees, so cool….
This land is your land This land is my land
From California to the New York island;
From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and Me.
Thank you Carol. This land is your land, I used to sing that when I was a kid as well.
Thanks for sharing your trip.
Thanks for coming along!
It’s so great that they saved the old grove trees!!! Your photos of the observatory and the beautiful trees amaze the imagination!!!
It is, they really do a fantastic job! Thank you for your comment Anastasia.
I love the old telescopes. Looking at the night sky as a child we used to be able to see Skylab overhead. It always made me happy!
I love them as well, and some of the images this monster has gotten are awesome. Before the big lens went in there was a smaller one you could just walk up to and look. That was way before my time, but there are old photos around that show it, and the construction of the observatory. Neat photos and history too.
a beautiful post, as well as a phenomenal photo
Thank you Branka, I appreciate this!