Well, for the second year in a row, it looks like we're not going to have a winter. I could actually bring us good luck by stating this prediction. As I look out my window, it's the end of February and we've had one tiny little snow so far this season. But we're suppose to get snow tonight and tomorrow so who knows....maybe winter is just late this year. I hope so.
Our mountain has fantastic water because it's OUR WATER! No Colorado River water. Not from some aqueduct or holding pond. Straight off our mountain. Where else in California can you get a delicious glass of water straight out of the tap? THAT's the reason we need it to snow.
Unlike some global warming alarmists, I choose to believe that the earth goes through regular cycles of dry years and wet years. I do believe we can be good stewards of our earth, but even if you go back to the bible, you hear things like... there were 7 years of drought followed by 7 years of plenty. Or stuff like that. So I'm a believer that this too shall pass; the dry winters that is. The east coast is getting all the weather this year, and maybe next year it'll be our turn.
So don't fear my friends. We may be having another winterless year, but just like our own bodies, the earth is designed to heal & balance itself, and I for one believe it will tilt the other direction soon and we'll be wishing for a mild winter.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Monday, April 14, 2014
Spring is here to stay...
Well, after a snowless winter, it's SPRING and it's definitely here to stay. I saw lupins on the trail the other day, and the bees are congregating in my windows. The creek still has some water, in spite of a very dry winter, so come soon or there won't be any water left.
The days are very mild, but the sun feels great. It's in the mid to high 60's during the day, and still hitting high 30's at night. Everything is green and budding. It's my favorite time of the year. And if you're a hiker, you can't ask for better weather for hiking. It's SPECTACULAR!
There have been some changes in Idyllwild as far as businesses. The new "Swiss Fondue House" opened on North Circle. And Hidden Village, the Chinese restaurant closed. I know....I can't believe it either. But Frank & Lori Ferro (formerly of Cafe Aroma) are moving into the old Chinese restaurant space and creating a new italian restaurant named "FERRO". I don't know exactly when it will open, but I believe they've created a FACEBOOK page for FERRO so keep tabs on that.
The Pacific Crest Trail hikers (PCT) are starting to trickle in. These crazy folks are hiking from Mexico to Canada. Their official start is April 25th, but they're already coming through town. I think with the low snowfall, hikers are feeling safe to leave a little earlier this year. A section of the PCT is still closed due to major fire damage last year. Hikers are exiting the trail near Warner Springs, and getting a ride to Idyllwild where they can get back on the trail.
The Art Alliance of Idyllwild is in full swing. The Lilac Walk and Art Show is Saturday May 3rd, with artists tucked amongst the lilac gardens & an optional High Tea. June 7th - 8th is the Plein Air Festival where artists are stationed all over town in different outside settings, painting and "making art". Sunday is a judging ceremony at the beautiful new Grand Idyllwild Lodge.
The school year at Idyllwild Arts is coming to a close all of May which means there are many concerts, recitals, senior shows, etc. May is a great time to catch all the budding artists showing off their talents at Idyllwild Arts.
If you're planning to spend time in Idyllwild, be sure to check out the website www.IdyllwildHerald.com It has a listing of everything fun and interesting on a daily schedule with links to more information. It's the bomb.
Well I guess that's it for now. I'm sure there's more to say about spring, but that should whet your appetite. For more information or availability, call us at Silver Pines Lodge 951-659-4335. We'll be happy to help you plan a spring getaway.
Chris
The days are very mild, but the sun feels great. It's in the mid to high 60's during the day, and still hitting high 30's at night. Everything is green and budding. It's my favorite time of the year. And if you're a hiker, you can't ask for better weather for hiking. It's SPECTACULAR!
There have been some changes in Idyllwild as far as businesses. The new "Swiss Fondue House" opened on North Circle. And Hidden Village, the Chinese restaurant closed. I know....I can't believe it either. But Frank & Lori Ferro (formerly of Cafe Aroma) are moving into the old Chinese restaurant space and creating a new italian restaurant named "FERRO". I don't know exactly when it will open, but I believe they've created a FACEBOOK page for FERRO so keep tabs on that.
The Pacific Crest Trail hikers (PCT) are starting to trickle in. These crazy folks are hiking from Mexico to Canada. Their official start is April 25th, but they're already coming through town. I think with the low snowfall, hikers are feeling safe to leave a little earlier this year. A section of the PCT is still closed due to major fire damage last year. Hikers are exiting the trail near Warner Springs, and getting a ride to Idyllwild where they can get back on the trail.
The Art Alliance of Idyllwild is in full swing. The Lilac Walk and Art Show is Saturday May 3rd, with artists tucked amongst the lilac gardens & an optional High Tea. June 7th - 8th is the Plein Air Festival where artists are stationed all over town in different outside settings, painting and "making art". Sunday is a judging ceremony at the beautiful new Grand Idyllwild Lodge.
The school year at Idyllwild Arts is coming to a close all of May which means there are many concerts, recitals, senior shows, etc. May is a great time to catch all the budding artists showing off their talents at Idyllwild Arts.
If you're planning to spend time in Idyllwild, be sure to check out the website www.IdyllwildHerald.com It has a listing of everything fun and interesting on a daily schedule with links to more information. It's the bomb.
Well I guess that's it for now. I'm sure there's more to say about spring, but that should whet your appetite. For more information or availability, call us at Silver Pines Lodge 951-659-4335. We'll be happy to help you plan a spring getaway.
Chris
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Does it get hot in Idyllwild?
Does it get HOT in Idyllwild. This is a common question I get when people are making reservations. It's hard to answer, because everyone has a different perception of what "HOT" really is. Do you mean Palm Springs hot, where it's 100 + degrees every hour of the day? Do you mean beach hot, where it's toasty warm in the middle of the day with a constant breeze and opportunity to dunk into the water at any time? Idyllwild in the summertime is neither of those kinds of hot.
The average "High" temperatures in July and August are around 85 degrees. It reaches the high around 1:00 in the afternoon and starts to cool after 3:00. The mornings are gorgeous, the evenings are gorgeous, but yes, it can be hot for a few hours right in the middle of the day.
Last year, I counted 7 days in July that reached 100 degrees. Because this small amount of short duration heat is all we have to deal with here at 5300 feet, the majority of lodging establishments and homes to NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONED. Visitors to the hill seem to think this is an oddity. My recommendation is, if you have to have air conditioning, Idyllwild is not for you.
There are a handful of places that have window air conditions installed for the "faint of heart", but if visitors would take their lead from the creatures who live in the mountains and do their adventures and activities in the morning before lunch time. Then after lunch, take a rest. Sit in front of a fan (all places have fans....it's what we use to keep cool here in the mountains) and do NOTHING until after 3:00. Then the temperatures get beautiful again and you can go at it again. It stays light out until around 8:00 PM so there is plenty of time to hike before and after the hottest time of the day.
I know that's a long explanation, but I'm always brutally honest. If you want a short answer to "Does it get hot in Idyllwild"? Kind of....for about 3 hours a day.
The average "High" temperatures in July and August are around 85 degrees. It reaches the high around 1:00 in the afternoon and starts to cool after 3:00. The mornings are gorgeous, the evenings are gorgeous, but yes, it can be hot for a few hours right in the middle of the day.
Last year, I counted 7 days in July that reached 100 degrees. Because this small amount of short duration heat is all we have to deal with here at 5300 feet, the majority of lodging establishments and homes to NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONED. Visitors to the hill seem to think this is an oddity. My recommendation is, if you have to have air conditioning, Idyllwild is not for you.
There are a handful of places that have window air conditions installed for the "faint of heart", but if visitors would take their lead from the creatures who live in the mountains and do their adventures and activities in the morning before lunch time. Then after lunch, take a rest. Sit in front of a fan (all places have fans....it's what we use to keep cool here in the mountains) and do NOTHING until after 3:00. Then the temperatures get beautiful again and you can go at it again. It stays light out until around 8:00 PM so there is plenty of time to hike before and after the hottest time of the day.
I know that's a long explanation, but I'm always brutally honest. If you want a short answer to "Does it get hot in Idyllwild"? Kind of....for about 3 hours a day.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Winter one day...spring the next.
We had our biggest snow this season. In fact, many locals say it was the biggest single snow since 1968 (how do they know that?). Yup, more than 2 feet in one single snow one week ago, and there's still plenty here. But this whole week, there's been beautiful 60 degree sunny days. The trees are even starting to bud. Not that winter's over, but this is the time that it seems to vacillate back and forth between winter and spring. There are mini-creeks and streams flowing everywhere. Come on up and enjoy the mountains!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Winter In Idyllwild
Winter seems to be here early this year. We had our first snowfall on November 21st and over Thanksgiving, temperatures dropped into the teens. Very unusual. According to the acorns on the trees, it's going to be a harsh winter. All the locals will tell you they've never seen so many acorns on the Oaks. Nature's way of telling the squirrels to "Stock Up".
According to the Farmer's Almanac, December is suppose to be wetter than normal. That MAY mean snowier than normal for us, or it could just mean rainier than normal. January and February will be the coldest months, but below average for snowfall (yeah.....I'll believe THAT when I see it).
The bottom line is, the weather has been wacky EVERYWHERE, we are in the mountains, so be prepared for extreme weather in either direction (unseasonably warm AND unseasonably COLD). If you are in doubt, don''t come. I don't want anyone to have a bad visit because they are too cold, and most all our units are heated with wall heaters. None of our houses have "forced air heating" so that means that in the coldest months, some rooms may be colder than others.
If you think of yourself as a "Pioneer Type" then you should be fine. If you think of yourself as a "Marriott Type" you may want to wait until Spring when the weather is more predictable. I'm just being VERY honest with you! Give us a call. We can usually predict up to 10 days in advance what kind of weather you may be in for.
If you are looking for snow, sign up on our "Snow Alert" list on our website. We'll send out an email when it snows or snow is eminent.
According to the Farmer's Almanac, December is suppose to be wetter than normal. That MAY mean snowier than normal for us, or it could just mean rainier than normal. January and February will be the coldest months, but below average for snowfall (yeah.....I'll believe THAT when I see it).
The bottom line is, the weather has been wacky EVERYWHERE, we are in the mountains, so be prepared for extreme weather in either direction (unseasonably warm AND unseasonably COLD). If you are in doubt, don''t come. I don't want anyone to have a bad visit because they are too cold, and most all our units are heated with wall heaters. None of our houses have "forced air heating" so that means that in the coldest months, some rooms may be colder than others.
If you think of yourself as a "Pioneer Type" then you should be fine. If you think of yourself as a "Marriott Type" you may want to wait until Spring when the weather is more predictable. I'm just being VERY honest with you! Give us a call. We can usually predict up to 10 days in advance what kind of weather you may be in for.
If you are looking for snow, sign up on our "Snow Alert" list on our website. We'll send out an email when it snows or snow is eminent.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Fall is in the Air.
Fall is definitely in the air. The acorns are dropping like crazy, and the squirrels are gnawing on pine cones & acorns, making messes EVERYWHERE! In addition, they are NOT watching out for oncoming cars in their haste to store away their Winter meals. So now is the time to drive carefully & give a little honk to help the squirrels make up their minds and possibly save their lives.
Even though we got down to 42 degrees last week (just one morning), the warm weather is still here, and soon we will be getting those pesky Santa Ana winds that make us all nervous about fires. Early September is a great time to catch a 1-nighter at your favorite Lodge or Inn. There is a natural "lull" right after Labor Day when people tend to get back to school, back to work, back to whatever it is they've spent the summer NOT doing. So it is extra quiet up here in Idyllwild the first few weeks following Labor Day.
If you haven't made plans for Thanksgiving, now is the time to secure your cabin in the mountains, if that is what your family likes to do. www.IdyLodging.com has Thanksgiving listed including all Inns, Lodges, B&B's & Property Mgmt Co.'s that have availability for the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.
Looking for fire starters? The Forest Service Fire Roads are full of pine cones big and small that make GREAT winter fire starters. Bring up an empty trash can and collect the small dry "Prickley" Ponderosa pine cones or the "Gentle" Jeffrey pine cones. For real impact, you can find those awesome "Killer" Coulter pine cones. They ARE the biggest pine cones in the world, and they are usually covered in sap that makes for great fire starters. If you want to bake one in your oven (don't forget to line your cookie sheet with foil first) you can make your home smell like a pine forest. Those fold-able canvas trash containers they sell at Home Depot make great light-weight collection containers for your winter pine cone cache.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at Silver Pines Lodge or Creekstone Inn. We will be happy to help you in whatever Fall endeavor you're attempting. We're here to help you have a good time in Idyllwild.
Silver Pines Lodge 951-659-4335
Creekstone Inn 951-659-3342
Even though we got down to 42 degrees last week (just one morning), the warm weather is still here, and soon we will be getting those pesky Santa Ana winds that make us all nervous about fires. Early September is a great time to catch a 1-nighter at your favorite Lodge or Inn. There is a natural "lull" right after Labor Day when people tend to get back to school, back to work, back to whatever it is they've spent the summer NOT doing. So it is extra quiet up here in Idyllwild the first few weeks following Labor Day.
If you haven't made plans for Thanksgiving, now is the time to secure your cabin in the mountains, if that is what your family likes to do. www.IdyLodging.com has Thanksgiving listed including all Inns, Lodges, B&B's & Property Mgmt Co.'s that have availability for the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.
Looking for fire starters? The Forest Service Fire Roads are full of pine cones big and small that make GREAT winter fire starters. Bring up an empty trash can and collect the small dry "Prickley" Ponderosa pine cones or the "Gentle" Jeffrey pine cones. For real impact, you can find those awesome "Killer" Coulter pine cones. They ARE the biggest pine cones in the world, and they are usually covered in sap that makes for great fire starters. If you want to bake one in your oven (don't forget to line your cookie sheet with foil first) you can make your home smell like a pine forest. Those fold-able canvas trash containers they sell at Home Depot make great light-weight collection containers for your winter pine cone cache.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at Silver Pines Lodge or Creekstone Inn. We will be happy to help you in whatever Fall endeavor you're attempting. We're here to help you have a good time in Idyllwild.
Silver Pines Lodge 951-659-4335
Creekstone Inn 951-659-3342
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Back To Basics Vacationing!
It's been a hard year for most everyone. Many have lost their jobs, others are struggling to keep their doors open. In this economy, nobody is taking BIG expensive vacations. You can still get away and get "Back To Basics" the way people used to vacation 100 years ago.
Idyllwild has been a beautiful Off-The Beaten-Path getaway for 100 years or more. You can still find lodging for under $100 a night, BBQ hamburgers or steaks, feed the squirrels, walk your dog, play cards, jump rocks along the creek, and watch a movie in the coziness of your own little cabin.
If you can, come mid-week and get a discounted rate. It's quieter too! You can go out to eat for "Taco Night" where $1 tacos are affordable. No stop lights, no Starbucks, no city lights, no loud noises, just peacefull mountain nights.
Idyllwild has been a beautiful Off-The Beaten-Path getaway for 100 years or more. You can still find lodging for under $100 a night, BBQ hamburgers or steaks, feed the squirrels, walk your dog, play cards, jump rocks along the creek, and watch a movie in the coziness of your own little cabin.
If you can, come mid-week and get a discounted rate. It's quieter too! You can go out to eat for "Taco Night" where $1 tacos are affordable. No stop lights, no Starbucks, no city lights, no loud noises, just peacefull mountain nights.
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