Palomar Mountain News

The stories these guys tell!  Their folks, Fred and Florence Anderson moved their family to the Observatory about 1956.  Greg and Doug were thinking they were in maybe 3rd and 5th grade when they started at the mountain school. Read More…

Everyone is invited to the first 2017 meeting of the Fire Safe Council, tomorrow.  Saturday morning, 10 am at the Fire Department.

Here is the agenda.

http://www.mypalomarmountain.com/firesafecouncil/

Be sure to get BOTH Elsie books – links below.  The first one is a can’t put it down, delightful story of Elsie’s time as a school teacher and brings her to Palomar.  Must read that one first!  Both links are below:

FROM: Barbara Anne Waite

Today is my Grandmother Elsie’s 129th birthday. The second Elsie book, is free as an E-BOOK on Amazon (today only). The book, taken from my grandmother’s diary and letters, is a peek into life as it was 100 years ago. Here is an excerpt from Elsie’s Amazon page:
It was love at first sight when, as a young girl in 1904, Elsie first visited Palomar Mountain. Forever after she would refer to “my mountain” as some might speak of “my husband.”

Elsie and her husband Jack managed their own apple ranch and rustic mountain resort on Palomar during WWI and the years following. Rising 6,000 feet above San Diego and other coastal cities, Palomar provided a creative setting for a life that was anything but dull. Elsie recalls in delightful detail their “proper” British cook, the threat of dangerous forest fires, and the shock of finding out that they had hired an escaped ax murderer. When Elsie Hayes Roberts was ninety-seven, writer Larry Littlefield described her as “having a memory as sharp as an Ansel Adams photograph.”

Here is the  Amazon FREE link: https://www.amazon.com/Elsies-Mountain-Memories-California-1897-1987-ebook/dp/B018P0M83I

12:15 PM

The CHP said there is a power line down across the road on Crestline.  They are waiting for SDG&E to come up to repair the line.  It’s going to be a while….

Chains are required on Palomar so very few people up here and we’re only looking at an inch or so of snow.

Enjoy staying in by in the fire!

Most of us have had the flash flood warning for Palomar come to us this afternoon. You might think being on top of a mountain, we wouldn’t have flooding.  Well, there is a LOT of water out there and it causes other problems, too.  Apparently quite a few downed branches with these high winds.  Mud and rock slides to watch out for, culverts get blocked pretty quick and there is standing water like we haven’t seen in many years. (I’ve always wanted a pond in the orchard. If only we’d dug the hole a few days ago, if only…)

Jim and Teresa McCarthy are up checking on their vacation rentals.  She posted this photo on Facebook. That is her husband in yellow checking out that downed oak  blocking Crestline. Thanks to all who work together to help make Palomar safe and the wonderful community it is.

My last post I said “according to NOAA” we were promised the possibility of  29 inches of snow over this storm.  So far it has just been pretty much slushy, constant rain.  Still the possibility of a few more inches of snow before the weekend. If some of you have a better source for weather forecast, please send my way.  Meanwhile, we’ll just continue to look out the window and enjoy the ‘showers of blessings’ headed our way.

Don’t forget to pack that chain saw when out and about!

Bonnie-enjoying-the-storm

That’s what they say!  When I add up the inches promised this morning on NOAA, I get 29 for Palomar.  The forecast changes, sometimes, a couple times a day, however much we get, another beautiful snow is headed our way.

I do love snow.  It is very wonderful to have a plow in the driveway, the driver living under the same roof, and trainees moved in next door (that is the best part!).

OLD TIMERS – We can all learn from the old timers up here know what to do; propane tanks are topped off, culvert’s cleaned out, firewood supply in, cars parked close to plowed roads with wipers up, extra food and water, just in case. With the high winds expected, we could also have power outages. Doing some planning ahead, avoids being inconvenienced.

NEW FOLKS – You new folks might benefit by checking out our  ‘Resident Tips’ at: http://www.mypalomarmountain.com/snow   You’ll also find a weather link, webcams (I need to update some of those!), CHP road conditions and more.

TOURISTS –  I get many calls from tourists wondering if we have snow.  To make your trip the most enjoyable, please carefully read the top of this page, written in red:  http://www.mypalomarmountain.com/snow/   In addition, the weekends are always VERY crowed after a big snow.  If you can come mid-week, you have a much better chance of parking where you would not risk getting ticketed.

Everyone is welcome to give me a call with questions you might have.   Of course, I’m always open to sharing real estate opportunities on our beautiful mountain.

Bonnie Phelps  http://www.palomarproperties.com/contactus

Poured rain much of yesterday and last night. A little before midnight, it got real quiet.  I turned on an outside light and it was snowing.  So beautiful – real windy and really coming down.  A few minutes later it stopped.  I do believe all the snow on the ground was from when “We were sixteen, going on seventeen, Baby, it’s time to snow…”   (All you Sound of Music fans, I couldn’t resist).

Like to come see our snow?  Mid-week is the absolute best.  Today there will be lots of cars and virtually no parking.  Roads are plowed.  Please respect private property and take your trash back with you.  If you do park along the side of the road, be sure you are outside the white line or tickets are promised.

Looking forward to our first snow for 2017!  Make it a great Year and Climb Every Mountain!

Joy to the World and a very Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

If you are headed this way, the roads are clear but icy so guessing CHP will be wanting chains in your vehicle.  Since we have so little parking they might limit the number of cars they let up at a time.

Have the Merriest of Christmases today with your family and friends.  Hot chocolate is on at our place and you’re welcome ’round our fire anytime.

Bonnie and Don and Family

From: Cliff Kellogg [mailto:clkellogg49@gmail.com]

Subject: Palomar Fire Station Up-staffed for storm

Per Cal Fire Division Chef Nick Schuler, Palomar Mountain Fire Station 79 will be staffed with two engines starting tomorrow due to the expected snow and the possibility of a large number of mountain visitors.

Rincon Fire Station (the one near Highway 76 and Valley Center Road) will also be staffing an extra engine to assist with any calls on the South Grade.

They will re-evaluate after tomorrow to see if Sunday up-staffing will be needed.

Cliff Kellogg

President

PMVFD Board of Directors

From: Danielle soto [mailto:dotsoto@gmail.com]

Is this your dog? This gorgeous, well mannered black lab mix with white chest was wandering around Oak Knoll.

We have him in a temp kennel for tonight but if no one claims him, we have to leave tomorrow morning so we’ll let him loose hoping he’ll find his family.

Thank you!

Danielle

Cel 773.405.7267