Lake Jennings

Only seconds outside of busy Lakeside, CA is beautiful Lake Jennings.  It is really a hidden jewel in the hills of East County San Diego.  An abundance of wildlife can be seen there, including a Pelican!  Almost 30 miles from the ocean I was shocked to see one.  There are also a lot of coyotes, so watch out for them if you’re camping overnight!

The trail is a wide, rough, dirt track that winds up and down around the lake giving glimpses through the trees of its shimmering surface.  So much birdsong fills the air as you walk along; ducks and a lone white egret along with more you can’t see but only hear.  Even on a weekend we didn’t see any other hikers, it was a very quiet and tranquil experience.

Sunset Trail/Laguna Meadow

Refreshing smells and views permeate this small loop trail in Mt. Laguna (~3 miles).  Most distinctive is a wild honeysuckle bush and the faint hint of vanilla from the pine trees.

Cows can be seen grazing in and around “Little Laguna Lake,” our dogs were not fans of these gentle giants however, they lend a peaceful quality to the scenery.

*All photographs are by MMMoskowitz

Kwaaymii Trail Part 2

Late winter afternoon hiking with my closest friend and my dog.  I’m reminded nature is beautiful in every season.  *All photos by Meghann Maureen Moskowitz*

Slow Sunsets

Walking along the Pine Valley Community Trail in the late afternoon, the sun playing hide & seek in the clouds, I notice the first rays of sunset.  Some sunsets come on quickly, others slowly, this sunset is slow starting with a fast finish.

The air is warm and thick with humidity, the path before me winding through sagebrush and golden yarrow.  The fresh scent of sage brings back memories of camping as a child at Rock Creek Lake and playing with childhood friends.  Nature sounds and scents seem to be able to trigger memories in me like nothing else does.

Glancing up at the sky I see the colors of the sunset deepening to darker, thicker shades of orange and red.  The colors dance across the sky changing imperceptibly unless you look away and look back, then you can notice them.  After much picture taking, we continue down the trail for several more minutes before being captured by the sunset again.  This time the clouds have lost all color except for some mute purples and grays.  The sunset is over that quickly, here for a few minutes only, then gone.

 

The moon rises in the wake of the sunset and darkness descends.