As an avid member of My Country Club, Frank has dreamed of a cabin on Palomar for years. The A-Frame on East Grade had his name on it being next to National Forest. But, there was work to be done to make it a place his wife, Vicki, would also enjoy for weekend retreats. Frank quickly put the ‘Cabinator’ to work moving out the ‘occupants’ and doing everything possible to ensure no more free-loaders! Thanks to tips from neighbors and great contractors, they are now living off the grid successfully with their generator and propane system. The icing on the cake for Frank was letting Vicki plan and pick out everything ‘cabin’ to furnish and decorate their much-loved home-away-from-home. When Frank and Vicki aren’t at the cabin, he works in pharmaceuticals and Vicki in insurance, both looking forward to the next time they can come up, check the trail cams, and share their cabin with family and friends.
New Neighbors – Frank and Vicki McCarthy
Posted in Palomar Mountain News | Tags: frank and vicki mccarthy
Christmas Rose from Italy
Many of you know Bjorn and Mary Ellen Rafto, cabin owners out on Birch Hill. Mary Ellen had a job offer she couldn’t refuse for a couple of years in Italy, so Bjorn and their daughter Rigel, went along too. I thought you might enjoy hearing their lovely ‘Christmas Rose’, all the way from Italy, to start off your New Year on Palomar Mountain.
Posted in Palomar Mountain News
Palomar PO Hours to be Cut
Click to “Read All About It” from David Ross, editor of the Valley Center Road Runner.
Posted in Palomar Mountain News
Roxy with a Pink Collar
From: Elizabeth LaPlant
We are hoping someone comes across our dog, Roxy.
My name is Elizabeth, my father is Mike LaPlant with property out on Conifer Road.
We were up on the mountain this weekend, our dog Roxy is nowhere to be found.
She went outside about 12am New Years Eve, and have not seen her since.
Roxy is our very much-loved, old dog. Maybe she just choose this time to walk out in the woods, curl up under a big oak tree, and meet her maker. We’d like to find her regardless.
-14 year old
-Akita mix
-45lbs.
-Tan and White
-Pink Collar, with a heart-shaped tag with the name “Roxy”
If she isn’t sitting by the fire at someone’s cabin with them thinking she was a stray, maybe someone will be hiking through the forest and come across her pink collar some day and remember this post. All help is sincerely appreciated.
Thanks to all,
Elizabeth LaPlant 9four9 8four2 90four2
New Neighbors – Joe and Carol
Joe and Carol Dirks celebrated their 70th birthday year rehabbing a very tired fixer they picked up in Salton Sea. It is a fun place to go and soak up the sun when the temperature drops at their home in RB. But, it was about finished! They had been trolling Palomar listings for several years and when they saw Arbolito Lodge, they stepped up to the challenge. Level the floor 6 inches? Get power reconnected after being off for 8 years? Move the critters out? No problem! Let’s see, they already replaced the broken windows, the old wood stove works great, their new electric blanket is much appreciated when it’s snowy, and Carol has everything sparkling and cute inside. When you stop in, she might even have some of her yummy cookies waiting for you! They are having a wonderful time and love their newest project on the Mountain top!
Posted in Palomar Mountain News | Tags: joe and carol dirks
New Neighbors on Palomar
What a perfect day, to take a picture of some of our new neighbors from 2012! I have a lot of catching up to do for the New Neighbors page (thanks for your patience all you new folks!). I just thought I would post the latest one here on the Mountain News before the snow melts! It was really coming down Sunday afternoon when I was invited to pop by “The AK Ranch”, formerly owned by the Girl Scouts:
After looking all over Southern California, Ahmed Al-Khatib (AK), found his piece of paradise for his wife Mona, their three daughters, a son, and five year old (boy and girl) twins. Ahmed’s good friend, Lynn introduced him to hunting and campfire cooking. So, AK had to have a ranch! He’d dreamed of a place for my children, family, and friends to escape the city life, and experience the adventure of the great outdoors.
AK has great plans for a ‘Gentleman’s Ranch’ complete with horses, cattle, goats, chickens, huge garden, oh, and a good supply of sleds, and other fun activities for kids of all ages. He believes it is even better when shared. Lynn is an amazing chef and the eatin’ is always fine at what was the Girl Scout Camp, now known as the AK Ranch. We’ve had the pleasure of enjoying several meals with them and the food and the company is something we really look forward to. Each time we’ve been there we get to meet more of their family and friends that have fallen in love with the Mountain. This weekend another friend, Hussam, and his family will be back with Russian Dancing for New Years Weekend fun!
So glad to have them all as New Neighbors on Palomar!
Posted in Palomar Mountain News
Snow on Palomar?
We have had a beautiful snow for New Years – almost gone now. However, this has been a pretty pricy snow for many people needing tow trucks and car repair after visiting the Mountain.
Years ago I posted a “Snow Tour and Tips” webpage initially as a resource for new property owners on Palomar. Now it has so many hits and there are so many searches for ‘Snow on Palomar’ that I added a section to make it a nicer experience for Tourists coming to enjoy our snow: http://www.mypalomarmountain.com/snow/
Thanks to Rob Hawk, and DJ from The Store, who contributed to the Tourist Info in red, I also appreciate any corrections or suggestions YOU might have to make it an even better new year for all.
Caltech’s Rose Parade Float
Caltech’s Rose Parade entry, “New Frontiers” was dedicated to the opening of the New Frontier by the 200 inch telescope at Palomar Mountain. However, if you are at the parade today, or watching it on TV, you aren’t going to get to see it go by. This was a favorite in the 1950s! Thanks to Scott Kardel for the photo. Wishing you a New Year full of Happiness, Joy, Health and Success. May God Bless You and your Family!
Bonnie and Don on the Mountain
Posted in Palomar Mountain News
First Day Hike Cancelled
From: Palomar Mountain State Park [mailto:palomar.mountain.state.park@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2012 1:38 PM
To: Fans of Palomar Mountain State Park
Subject: First Day Hike CANCELLED
The weather is beautiful, but unfortunately icy road conditions require us to cancel this event.
Sincerely,
PALOMAR MOUNTAIN STATE PARK
Happy New Year!
Posted in Palomar Mountain News | Tags: Palomar Mountain State Park
It is Tow Truck Time on the Mountain
Yes, Palomar does have a beautiful snow today. If you are wanting to come up to enjoy our snow, here are some tips for you to make it a better beginning for Happier New Year for all:
We also have had more than our normal share of tow trucks for this snow. Many cars sideways in the roads yesterday. Saw tow trucks getting vehicles up from below the side of the road, and those vehicles are sometimes still drivable. But, one of the trucks I passed yesterday was pulling a fancy new car, looking like it went sideways into a tree. Ouch. It is still below 30 degrees and even though the roads are plowed, or in some places it looks completely clear, there is a lot of ‘black ice’. What is ‘Black Ice’? It looks like puddles or water running across the road. When it is below freezing, it is slick ice and can ruin your whole day.
Here are some tips for people wanting to come to the snow:
4 Wheel Drives with good snow tires and chains can save you a lot of money in tow bills and car repair. (Often chains are required).
Please bring a big trash bag up to take your trash back with you as we don’t have trash cans out and about.
Most of Palomar is private property. Keep in mind the Golden Rule and ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’, respecting the ‘private property’ signs.
More tips here including two webcams: http://www.mypalomarmountain.com/snow/
Make it a great New Year!
Palomar Mountain News 