Palomar Mountain News

Would you like a delightful day trip from Palomar?  With all the rain and recent sunny weather, the desert wildflowers are going to be spectacular this year in Borrego.  Here is a great link to locations for best viewing:  http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca_abdsp.html

Friend of Palomar and photographer, Ernie Cowan has published a second edition of his Anza-Borrego book:  https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=anza-borrego+ernie+cowan and here is an article by Ernie predicting a pretty impressive flower show this year:  http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-tr-california-anza-borrego-wildflowers-20170208-story.html

A trip to Borrego wouldn’t be complete without seeing the amazing metal sculptures.   Here is quick map to catch all:  https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1Eh2KAR81FCa5sgPDCaGwoPcF-8g&hl=en_US&ll=33.255457461934164%2C-116.35907649993896&z=12

Great pix of the sculptures: http://californiathroughmylens.com/anza-borrego-sculptures

Enjoy and Happy Spring!

Bonnie

Here is a great article Frank McCarthy wrote about a satellite tracking device that he will be testing. It is a good follow-up to what we posted last week.  I’m thinking some of you will find it interesting.

From: Frank McCarthy

Security Series #2 – Satellite Tracking 

In keeping with my off-the-shelf & affordable security technology theme one of the concepts I have been exploring is the notion of augmentation of game cameras for security purposes. Cameras are not totally full proof, if found, they can be stolen or destroyed if someone is well equipped.  Standard cameras are part of the answer because generally they can be hidden well enough to avoid detection. Especially if you are using a number of them.  The new wireless game cameras can be useful for alerting you when you have “movement” on your property, animal or human, as long as you have three bars of cell service. My property has pretty good service for Palomar Mountain but most of the time, I’m at one or two bars of cellular service with Verizon™.   I’ve been thinking that satellite tracking might be the answer.  The big knock against satellite phones and tracking has been the affordability issue.  When I’ve been on Long Range fishing boats you can rent a satellite phone or use the captain’s but it costs you three dollars a minute. Yikes!

However, there is a Louisiana company called SPOT™®, which many hunters and adventurers are familiar with, that makes satellite devices that are reasonably affordable (including service).  One of the things they have introduced is the SPOT TRACE® tracking device. The unit itself costs about $99.  The monthly data plan runs at $9.99 monthly or $99.00 a year.  So it is reasonably affordable. They claim that you can track movement at various intervals.  My thoughts are; could this be put on a swinging gate and would it pick up movement and then alert you?  I talked to a company representative and they are unsure of this idea.  They said it will definitely track a stolen high value item like a car, boat or motorcycle leaving your property and alert you via email, text or GOOGLE MAPS™.   It is supposedly water-resistant for 30 minutes in one meter of water so it should withstand our deluges.  Never the less, it would also work in a waterproof case.

Now there are other personal tracking devices available so why would I tend to trust this company? The main reason is that they have a good track record with satellite tracking in very extreme outdoor environments.  Palomar Mountain is probably not an extreme environment but it is pretty harsh and most homes are off-the-grid. So if it works in Antarctica it will likely work well here.

I’ve purchased one of the units and will be testing it out on my property. I’ll do the gate first, the possibly staging a few “break-ins” where something valuable of mine grows a pair of legs. Since the device can also track the item via GOOGLE MAPS™, it can be tracked. I’d like to see how that works. There are some other good features like:

• Movement alerts
• Power off message
• Low battery message
• Status messages

So, after a month or so I will report back some real world experience and we’ll see how well it fits with the mountain security needs.

As I mentioned last time, I’m gathering a list of people on the mountain who might be interested in a security service. I got a couple of responses last week and I welcome more. It’s a pilot program for now but my hope is well get enough folks to support a small business.

Please contact me at 619-993-5237

See also https://palomarmountainnews.wordpress.com/2017/03/01/like-trail-cams-installed/

The Palomar Mountain Kids Club has some fun events coming up that all mountain kids are invited to!

Tuesday, March 7th
Visit Cecelia’s Farm!
Learn about sheep, goats, chickens, and more! We’ll get to tour her loom room and hear how and why thread was made by spinsters, when our country was just beginning.  Meet in front of the Lodge at 9:50am to carpool. Our visit should be done around noon. Make sure to wear play clothes and shoes, because you might get dirty!

Tuesday, March 14th
St. Patrick’s Day Party!
Join us at the observatory Outreach Center (the old school house) from 10a – 1p to celebrate with games, crafts, and food! Be sure to wear green (unless you want to be pinched!), and bring a white t-shirt for one of the crafts for each child to paint.

The Palomar Mountain Kids Club meets every Tuesday morning at various locations on Palomar. We welcome mountain kids of all ages, and currently have children from infant to 12 years old playing and learning together.

For more information, email PalomarMtnKids@gmail.com or call 0214.
Come play with us!

Everyone is invited to the Community Center of Palomar Mountain board meeting Friday Night. They have their six events planned for this year and you could be a part of the fun:

From: Terri Sproul

March 3rd CCPM Board Meeting Agenda at 6:30 pm

Here is the agenda and location:  http://palomarmountaincommmunity.blogspot.com/

Terri Sproul

https://palomarmountainnews.wordpress.com/2017/02/26/six-events-save-the-dates

The lake has “quadrupled” according to J. Harry Jones’ article in the Union Trib:

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/sd-no-lake-henshaw-20170301-story.html

Sure will be a beautiful Spring!

(Thanks Rosemary for sending our way!)

When I saw the recent post about the burglary on Palomar it got me thinking.  My wife and I have a cabin on Palomar and I usually spend a few days a week on the mountain.  We have trail cams on our own property for security and to enjoy wildlife.  Over the past few years, I fine-tuned mounting and disguising the cameras to avoid detection. When I heard the last victims of the recent burglary had multiple cameras stolen, it got me thinking about offering a Security/Camera service for Palomar Mountain.

The plan would be to help homeowners establish a security plan. I’m usually available 4 days a week (Mon-Thu) and depending on how much interest there is, would determine how much time I spend on Palomar. I’m an avid outdoorsman so I spend a lot of time hiking, scouting, checking cameras etc. I can certainly provide references. I’ve been through full background checks for my Orange County CCW and CA Real Estate License. If enough people are interested I would get a business liability policy, etc. and make it an official business/service with a fee schedule. If only a few people are interested I could do a barter-for-service type of thing and just “help you out”….

Some ideas for service:

1) Utilization of game cameras either old (SIM Card) or new (Wireless/Data Plan) cameras. It might be a combination of the two, each would require a different “strategy”. The cabin owner would buy the camera(s) with my assistance and recommendations, or reimburse me. A data plan is another option which is not expensive at 5-10$ a month. Cameras can run $100 or $500+ depending on capabilities. Some can be solar powered. Most are battery operated.

2) My service would include placing and securing the cameras against theft. I’d look at routes of possible access and position cameras accordingly. Securing the cameras would include Python Locks or Secure Boxes. Another strategy is to get them high enough to be very impractical to steal and/or camouflaging them.

3) If the homeowner wants, I could do weekly security checks and camera checks. Wireless cameras give you an instant picture to your iPhone but would it actually prevent/interrupt the crime? That would likely require a pretty fast Sheriff’s response time which is unlikely. Cell service is an issue too, you need at least three bars for wireless cameras to route. So a less expensive “catching-the-crook” strategy with older cameras may make more sense in some cases.

In addition to peace of mind for security reasons, game cameras are a lot of fun simply to view the wildlife….

Interested?  Questions?  Please contact me directly.

Frank E. McCarthy

Cell: 1-619-993-5237

Office: 1-714-853-1947

Email: mccarthyscc@gmail.com

Apparently there are three large boulders completely blocking both lanes of the South Grade.  If you are heading up or down anytime in the next couple hours, you might want to take the East Grade.

Pouring rain most of the past 20 hours or so…   Stay safe, warm and dry out there!

Kids and moms and those who love them are invited to the Phelps’ Game Room (above their garage) tomorrow.

Farm animals, owls, snowflakes and a few ballerinas are waiting to be created with paper crafts and origami.  Giant checkers or Twister and other fun games are waiting, too.  One thing for certain, there is a cozy, warm fire waiting for all.

Oh, hot spaghetti with meatballs, a big green salad, and probably mac and cheese and little smokies, too.

9 to 12 ish

Need directions?  Please message me.

Thank you!

Driving through one of our little dirt roads showing property this week, we came to the end a little sooner than planned.  The top of that big fir tree must have snapped off in the last wind storm. See the tall stump on the far left?  Huge. It truly is the biggest fir I have ever seen on the ground.  At least 5 feet across.

I have a little story for you.  Maybe a decade ago I got a call from a family who had just put in a new kitchen.  They invited me to pop by and see it.  When I drove up, I couldn’t help but notice a huge fir above their cabin that looked like it was dressed in fall colors.

During times of drought, firs can die so quickly.  They die from the top down and once they get started, it can happen pretty fast.  I complimented that new kitchen then we talked about the fir.  It is not uncommon for firs to snap off during the storms.  I suggested they have it taken down. About two weeks later, we had a storm and that tree landed right down the middle of the kitchen.  The new cabinets were just fine but the kitchen was suddenly ‘air conditioned’.  So sorry for that family.

You might want to carefully check out your property (and maybe tall neighboring trees, too). This tree had been dead a few years.  In fact, it was marked to come down at one point but then a ribbon is still on that trunk with ‘Do not cut’.  Sometimes people keep trees as wild life trees.  It is totally up to you, but can be wise to put a tree on the ground when convenient for you instead of deal with a surprise someday.

Of course, if you aren’t Paul Bunyon, it can be pretty pricy to have trees removed, but we have good news for you!

The Fire Safe Council has a grant that can pay 50% of the cost! All the info is on the flyer at the top of their webpage:  http://www.mypalomarmountain.com/firesafecouncil

The grant applies to dead or dying trees close to structures.  Be sure to check it out.

Bonnie Phelps

The Community Center of Palomar Mountain has some fun events scheduled for us!  Thanks to Terri, Rosie and the committee for all their planning and decorating to give us fun times to look forward to.  Here is the calendar for the rest of the year: