Palomar Mountain News

Be on the lookout for a white truck, black male in a gray hoodie! Several witnesses have seen him lighting fires along Hwy 76. Last seen heading toward Pala / Pauma / Palomar areas. Please call Janice Mendenhall who is working with the Tribal Law enforcement 760-822-3652 or Sam Taylor 760-519-6654 or 911.

Please try to get photos with the license plate.

Thanks also to one of our Mountain Marines, Samantha for the photo taken about 11:30 before Mission Road was closed. Arsonist is apparently heading this way.

No more fires!!! Let’s stop this guy!!!

After 26 years in Real Estate, attending most all inspections, these inspections today were pretty sad to see. Two pre-marketing septic inspections for Vacation Rentals are needing leach field replacements. How can YOU avoid that costly repair? Keep reading for Tips to avoid Septic Woes.

When a septic tank lid is uncovered, what you normally see kind of looks like mud. Not today! It was almost white inside! Oh no….. I’d seen this in the past. Some people rinse their cooking pans off in the sink and pour their bacon grease or cooking oil down the drain. It gets cold in those tanks, the grease rises to the top and forms a very think layer that doesn’t break down, clogs the system and is a very pricy to resolve.

Even if you have a garbage disposal, after meals you might consider scraping all your dishes and cookware into the trash before washing them. After what I saw today, wiping them out with a paper towel is a good idea, too.

What about those “flushable” makeup or baby wipes? They flush but they don’t break down at all in a septic system. They clump together and it takes so much longer to pump. (So your service bill goes up!) Today I was blown away with what I saw in the tank – all different colors of plastic – pink, yellow, bright blue. I thought there were a few writing pens floating around – nope, they were syringes. All that stuff doesn’t break down either. For a healthy septic system, flush NOTHING but TP.

My buddy at ChatGPT made these little signs you might want to post.

Click for a fun Plumbing Poem.

Also see How to not have a Septic Tank as Acorn Storage

And Surprise in a Septic Tank

Good news for our beautiful mountain with the proposed map. (So sorry it has to go through the other areas but thankful). I was curious when this issue first launched so I had to search PMNews. Click to see the posts going back to April 20, 2024 — two years ago yesterday!

From: Jim Hamerly

A new 500 kV transmission line was proposed to deliver power from Arizona and New Mexico to the Los Angeles Basin. In April 2024, Horizon West Transmission (a NextEra Energy subsidiary) was named the project sponsor; however, as of August 2025, project leadership has transitioned to SDG&E.

For the past two years, our Save Palomar Mountain Task Force has worked tirelessly to prevent any proposed routes from crossing Palomar Mountain. Our mission is to preserve this “Island in the Sky” for the enjoyment of visitors from Southern California and around the world.

While SDG&E’s recently released draft path, shown below, excludes Palomar Mountain a- a significant victory – the final route has not yet been solidified. Because the risk of impact remains, the Task Force will stay fully engaged. We will continue to monitor SDG&E’s progress, participate in public forums, and collaborate with other affected stakeholders to ensure Palomar remains protected.

See more at: SavePalomarMountain.org

What a fun find! Out of state friends popped by today and shared this app with us. In seconds it identified the birds out singing, then you can click through the app for more info on each bird.

Simply download “Merlin Bird ID” and use it around the world!

Bonnie-the-newest-birder-on-the-mountain!

Stan Hill and his crew are on their way back up the Mountain! The contractor found a special lift needed to get to the more difficult trees. They plan to start removing their downed logs to make these areas more fire safe. Then, Stan said their plan is to stay until they are done, until they spend out the grant.

Back in on Birch Hill especially is where the wood is waiting to get removed. If you want to keep your wood be sure to call the number on the tags attached to the logs.

This photo shows a standing dead fir that lost the top 40 feet in one of our recent storms. The wind blew that huge treetop about 30 feet away, blocked the road but thankfully it did not hit the cabin. This tree was on the grant list but needed that equipment that is heading our way so rest of the tree will come down. So thankful for Stan’s work getting this grant for our beautiful mountain!

See also Grant Info

Like a front row seat for the next SpaceX launch? Come on up to one of the lookouts on Palomar Mountain. Mike Pique took the first photo from his deck on the East Grade: “The little orange dot below the “jellyfish” is the first-stage booster performing its entry burn before landing on the barge south of San Diego.”

Jim and Teresa McCarthy were at their Crestline Cabin. He came up the stairs and said to Teresa, “Oh, look outside!” She captured their shots of SpaceX Falcon 9 with the little dot being the planet of Venus.

Here is one more for you from a September launch. Son Nathan was outside and called to me. I happened to have my camera in my hand and have this for you from Round House Ranch. Pretty special Eye Candy, don’t you think?!

Bonnie Phelps, blessed to be on Palomar

Someone is going to get an even better deal on this charming cabin! After our winter storms, this little cabin had a Spring Cleaning ’round the property and is ready to move right in. Check it out and come up for a Tour!

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor

760-533-1742

The slash is already lining up for Free Chipping. Work will be done Monday, April 13th.

It will go the quickest to have all the slash staged prior to Monday, April 13th. It is important to have all cut ends facing the parking area so the chipper can drive right up and do their thing. Dump your slash in nice, neat rows to get the most done in the shortest amount of time to maximize the grant.

Directions: From the General Store, take the road to the left which is State Park Road. Travel one mile and turn right on Bailey Meadow Road. You’ll see the big 40 yard dumpster at Robert’s on the right.

If you don’t have a way to get your trimmings to Robert’s, as time allows, he may be able to have the chipper go to you. You’re invited to give Robert a call to see if that can work out.

760-742-1891

Just in time for Spring Cleaning! The Community Dumpster will be back Saturday, April 11th. 8 am until noon or full. Same fun folks to help you unload. Donation$ appreciated. No hazmat, no tires, no paint, no electronic waste or large appliances.

Directions: From the General Store, take the road to the left which is State Park Road. Travel one mile and turn right on Bailey Meadow Road. You’ll see the big 40 yard dumpster at Robert’s on the right.

Thank you Fire Safe Council!

Cecelia 760-594-4688

This was a very quick escrow as High Country Hideaway went from active to pending in just fifteen days!

We’ll miss the Cruz family! Ten years ago, Danny and Mari moved up with their three children and have lots of wonderful memories. They both work from home so were able to school the kids at their cabin in the woods. They’re all grown up now! Their son met his now-wife while working at the Christian Conference Center on the mountain. The girls have thrived and enjoyed so much surfing in the Pacific with their dad and all the fun times learning reading, writing and arithmetic while creating art, cooking, crocheting and being at the top of their class. North Carolina is calling to them and we have new neighbors heading our way.

Thinking of living full time or weekending on Palomar? We have some very special options available now and more on the way at Palomar Properties.

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor

PS. Reach out anytime and let’s get those questions answered 760-533-1742