Kim_Johnson
In our North County San Diego’s town of Escondido, land was sold around the turn of the century but the land had no water which kept the town from growing for years.
In 1916 the San Dieguito River flooded and destroyed agricultural land owned by the Santa Fe Railroad. To restore the company’s land values W. E. Hodges supported local developer Col. Ed Fletcher’s ambition to build a dam that could provide water for the community.
The cost of the dam was $350, 000. In 1925, the city of San Diego purchased Lake Hodges Dam and has operated it since that time.
Anyway, I tried to get there.. Tried being the operative word here.
This is my walk. I took my dog and son along on this short hike. I mean very short!!! You will see why if you continue to read….
The dam and trail. This used to be open to the public, but after a wildfire devastated the area they closed it down for good. Photographers brain… Keep out sign? I must enter!!
Notice the white plaque mid frame one the left? There is information about the dam here, which I touched on above.
I was told by a friend and professional photographer to always turn around when you are on a photo walk, there is always a photo opportunity behind you as well as ahead.
So I turned around and clicked this one.
I made it to that plaque I mentioned earlier. There was this.
Here is the plaque: and it really worked well. I found all three points of interest.
The sign for the dam.
I mentioned the fire.. This is a Black Oak Tree that died during the fire.
The sign below it read: This tree was burned in the Cedar Fire of October 2003. The Cedar Fire was the largest fir in California’s history, burning over 280,278 acres. While the Cedar Fire hit the back country worse, The Witch Fire of 2007 burned over 197,990 acres including 62% if the San Dieguito River Park, including the location where you are standing.
San Diego County fire awareness is a constant concern. Drought and climate change are contributing to make wildfires larger and more frequent. Join your local Fire Safe Council, and see your local fire agency to learn ways to protect your family, your property and our environment.
This was indeed a very sad time.
The trail was a switchback trail, it zigzagged down to the canyon, this was my view from above the second to the last Z.
That hill that rises to the right of the frame is here.
Another collage that shows my son below..
Some burned trees..
A line of them…
The hill on the other side of the dam.
Another angle.
And this old aqueduct..
I had to take a few, this one a bit closer.
Then I heard voices coming closer, I had not seen my son and Meika since I took those picture of them from way above….
Getting closer to the dam, four teen-aged boys passed me… at the same time I spotted my son. Can you? Look under the first spillway column.. He is in a black shirt.
The dam as close as I was able to go..
Those teens started climbing the dam. We do have rangers that watch the dam. I circled the teens in red, my son in blue and the ranger in green. Because the ranger saw the kids, my son was spotted and asked to leave as well. I didn’t want to stick around although no one noticed me..
This was our trip to Lake Hodges Dam. Hope you enjoyed the trek.
Nice post and nice pictures!
Fun and cool short hike, Kim. You didn’t specify whether the dam did not work before the fire or because of a fire.
Error in writing Albert, the dam is fully functional, but the hiking trails below are closed.
Oh, okay. Unfortunately, we can not see the dam with water in it. Thanks for the explanation, Kim.
I thought about that as I was leaving the area..shouldve snapped the other side, but there was no where to pull over for a safe shot.
After all, your adventure has cheered me up, Kim.
Your pictures are beautiful and it gives us a good idea of how the place is 🙂
Thank you Nela, I try to take pictures of the whole area.
Very nice post, thanks for sharing
Thank you for reading it!!
I love your DAM posts Kim. But this one is the best ever! The pipe scope looks cool!
Awe, thank you! It was such a short walk too. lol darn rangers.
There is a park where my dog and I like to walk. Recently part of the trail washed out, everyone else was making a new trail. We (my dog and I) stopped and asked the ranger what we should do. (she was glaring at the folks cutting the new trail).
She said to stay on the high side of the old trail so we did! Gotta love Rangers.
I always wanted to be one. What a great job it would be…
My cousin was one for many years. She is actually in charge of part of the Great Smokey Mountain state park in Tennessee.
I broke down there one time. I tried to take short cut through a forest road to save me an hour drive. Seemed easy enough though I didnt know it was snowing really hard up on the hill/mountain. I had a flat at 2am in a blizzard. A ranger came by, got my tire off by jumping up and down on the jack, and finally sent me on my way with a thorough talking to.. I never made that mistake again.
That was really an amazing walk. It would take more than that puny iron gate to keep you back, I reckon! The pipe-scope was very cool. But I couldn’t make out your son in his black shirt under the spillway 🙂
I could always use my native card, we can walk anywhere within reason. I don’t do that though,, well only once… long time ago. The pipe scope really worked welll, just like a good binocular. Now I know why the ships captains used them. My son is the size of an ant in the photo. Tiny lil thing. Thank you for coming along. How are your leg muscles? Mine were sore.
It’s a nice reassuring ache that the muscles have been used. It’s there to remind you of how much you enjoyed exercising them 🙂
Thank you for sharing this blog about the Lake Hodges Dam.
You’re welcome, there are so many interesting places to see here. Glad you liked it.
I did not about the Lake Hodges Dam before last night.
I love your friend’s advice about there also being a good shot behind you. What a brilliant idea!
One of the best pieces of advice I have received. I always turn around to shoot. Taking a walk with me takes a looong time.
Consider me warned, I’ll pack a lunch first…
Nice pictures but unfortunately the dam does not work.
The dam does work, I didnt write that clearly. Only the hiking areas are closed down, not the dam.
I have not understood correctly
It was the way I worded it Elenka, it wasnt you.
Amazing pictures, nice work!
Thank you Beatriz, it was fun time until the ranger ran us off.
That is too bad about the wildfires closing the dam.
Love the pipe scope photo, cool! And I spotted your son
in the black shirt!
You know how I wrote that was confusing, they only shut down the area for hiking not the dam. My fault. Good eye on finding the guy. (I rhymed) grins.
Awesome Place and Nice Clicks..@kim.
Thank you Hamza, I love clicking!!
Yeah! Me too Same Like This..!
My mini vacation viewing all your great photos was very nice. great photos!
Thank you for coming along! : ) My muscles were sore the next day, how are yours? ha ha