Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

EXPLORING CEDAR CREEK FALLS’ NEW TRAIL

Printer-friendly version   Story, photos and video by Elena Peña June 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)–Nestled in between slopes in the Cleveland National Forest lies a gem known as Cedar Creek Falls, often referred to as The Devil’s Punch Bowl. A wondrous waterfall is the picturesque background to the swimming hole at the end of this approximately four-mile hike. 

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PHOTOS OF THE MONTH: EAST COUNTY SHOWS ITS PATRIOTIC SPIRIT

Printer-friendly version June 19, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – From La Mesa’s Flag Day Parade to the Wings Over Gillespie Air Show in El Cajon, East County displayed its patriotic pride.   At left, Dexter Levy drives a vintage auto in La Mesa’s Flag Day Parade, heralding in the City’s upcoming Centennial year of celebration. Photo by Kristin Kjaero.        

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WINNERS IN MISSION TRAILS PHOTO CONTEST ANNOUNCED

Printer-friendly version                           June 5, 2011 (San Diego) – Winners in the 19th annual Amateur Photography Contest sponsored by Mission Trails Regional Park have been announced.   Verland Nolta received the Leonard Butterman Best of Show Award for “Old Mission Dam Moon Light.” The award is presented in

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: EXPLORING OTAY LAKES

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery   May 21, 2011 (Otay) – Last weekend, I took a drive to explore the southeast section of our readership area. I headed south on Highway 94, then west on Otay Lakes Road, passing a parachute center before meandering among the various lakes that make up this close-to-the-border region. This area has a colorful—if largely

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EAST COUNTY VIDEO ADVENTURES: PARAGLIDING OVER EAST COUNTY

Printer-friendly version By Billy Ortiz View our video adventure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBqJStFzQD8&feature=player_profilepage   May 20, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) — On any day in this beautiful place in San Diego’s East County, you will find para-gliders–hang-gliders sailing the winds high above the El Monte Valley. Take off point is roughly 1,800 feet above sea level and is located in Blossom Valley,

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PHOTOS OF THE MONTH: EAST IN EDEN

Printer-friendly version    April 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) — While beach denizens are contending with coastal fog, the sun is shining out here in East County–where it’s just another day in paradise this time of year.     We hope you’ll enjoy our local photographers’ images of springtime in East County!   Dennis Richardson and Chuck Palmer headed out on a back-packing trek along Pine Creek. 

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WE FOUND THE END OF THE RAINBOW IN EAST COUNTY

Printer-friendly version   By Miriam Raftery   April 13, 2011 – It’s official—the rainbow ends in Jamul!    A spectacular rainbow arched over a field behind Donna Hendrix’s Jamul home after last week’s rainstorm week—putting in a special appearance at a party celebrating Steve Rowe’s promotion from executive director of the East County YMCA to a leadership role in the

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: MARCH 29, 2011

Printer-friendly version    March 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)– Signs of spring abound!    The past couple of weeks, our photographers found no shortage of birds and bees, flowers and trees resplendant in spring foliage.  They also spotted signs of wild life both on the trail and off,  as East County residents heralded in St. Patrick’s Day.       Daren Sefcik spotted this red monkeyflower

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: MARCH 9, 2011

Printer-friendly version   By Miriam Raftery Photos by Daren Sefcik   March 9, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) — You just never know what you might encounter on the trails in East County!  Photographer Daren Sefcek headed out to the Anza-Borrego Desert to take photos of wildflowers in bloom–and captured a close-up of this yellow-backed spiny lizard on the trail.    Sefcek also shot this image

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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: CAN YOU NAME THIS BIRD?

Printer-friendly version   April 7, 2013 (Julian) – This photo taken by Nadin Abbott in Julian stumped our staff initially when we were asked to identify the bird with dramatic black and white markings. Fortunately, our “Bird Talk” columnist Greg Dunne checked with experts and confirmed that this beautiful bird in flight is Acorn Woodpecker. “Acorn Woodpeckers are social birds,”

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: EASTER BUNNY HOPS INTO JAMUL

Printer-friendly version   April 3, 2013 (Jamul) — Ariele Brooke sent in this adorable photo of her young relatives at an Easter event sponsored by Jamul Kiwanis. “They had a petting zoo with chickens, bunnies, and a goat,” Brooke reports, adding that activities also included an egg hunt, face punting and inflatable jump. “They always give away fantastic prizes (and

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SPRING VISITOR AT LAKE JACUMBA

Printer-friendly version   By Miriam Raftery March 24, 2013 (Jacumba Hot Springs) –I spotted this beautiful crested bird, a cedar waxwing, on a visit to Jacumba Hot Springs last week.  Lake Jacumba, once virtually dry, is now refilled and is a magnet for a wide variety of bird species. Cedar waxwings are most often found in the northern United States,

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PARTICIPANTS GET IN CHARACTER AT VALLECITOS DAYS: ANNUAL EVENT CONTINUES SUNDAY

Printer-friendly version     By Miriam Raftery View videos:   Soldier, sea captain, mountain man’s “Rendevous tale March 16, 2013 (Vallecitos) — A soldier, a sailor, and a mountain man—all bringing to life tales from the 1850 and ’60s, shared their stories at Vallecitos Days.  The two-day event continues Sunday morning (ending at 2 p.m.)  at the Vallecitos Stage Station in

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: FROLICKING FAWNS

Printer-friendly version     March 13, 2013 (Jamul) — Debbie Ekhaml caught the action as twin fawns leaped across a meadow in an ecological preserve in Jamul.  Who knew that Bambi could jump so high–nearly resembling a kangaroo at times? “I have many pictures of them with the doe, but like them jumping the best,” wrote Ekhaml, who declined to

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JACUMBA HOT SPRINGS: AN OASIS FOR TOURING CYCLISTS ON THE SOUTHERN TIER

Printer-friendly version   March 11, 2013 (Jacumba Hot Springs)–Pinch Flat Fortune Productions has created a delightful video that provides a cyclist’s eye view of Jacumba Hot Springs, a town built around a natural mineral spring bubbling up from the ground near a pond that’s a birdwatcher’s haven. The filmmakers call Jacumba Hot Springs “magical,” adding that in addition to free camping

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: HIKING AT MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK

Printer-friendly versionBy Greg Dunne March 6, 2013 –  Last week I did back to back hikes in Missions Trails Regional Park. I was treated with three Mule Deer on the trail—a great sight!  I have only seen deer at Mission Trails once before and that was after the Cedar fires of 2003. It was on my way back from North

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: CORTE MADERA PEAK

Printer-friendly version   March 2, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) — “A beautiful day, and a huge chunk of granite in The East County,” photographer Tom Lemon says of this image he shot of Corte Madera Peak, also known as the “Half Dome of San Diego County” rising majestically above pine trees.  Printer-friendly version

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: DESCANSO SNOW

Printer-friendly versionFebruary 26, 2013 (Descanso) — Julie Salmons shot these photos after this week’s heavy snowfall  blanketed her community in Descanso.  A headache for motorists when I-8 shut down nearby, the unusual weather created a tapestry of beauty from a photographer’s eye. Printer-friendly version

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: FOUR-WHEELING INTO MCCAIN VALLEY

Printer-friendly version   February 17, 2013 (McCain Valley) – Melody Ponchot of Boulevard sent this beautiful set of photos from an early morning adventure she took with a friend, Donna Tisdale, after the snowfall last weekend. “Four wheeling in the snow to McCain Valley is so much fun,” she observed.  This pristine public land, one of East County’s most beautiful

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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.