Volcan Mountain Foundation

The Volcan Mountain Foundation's previously postponed 2019 Sustaining Friends Spring Exploration has been rescheduled for Sunday, June 30th. OK, technically, we know that it will no longer be spring then. None-the-less, please come and explore with us! 

There is no event charge for this essential connection and discovery outing of the Sustaining Friends group, but it's important that you register. Please fill in and submit the form below.

*If you prefer, you can always phone (760-765-2300) or email your RSVP to the VMF office.

If you previously registered for the original date: We will be reaching out and contacting all the original registrants to confirm your availability for the new date.

We will still be heading 'down the watershed' just a little bit and exploring the Wheatley Ranch in Mesa Grande (near Santa Ysabel and overlooking Lake Henshaw). For several years, Chuck and Judy Wheatley have been hosting an amazing array of conservation work and research on their 410-acre ranch. The ranch features a small lake, seven varieties of oaks, 300 unique plant species, rich riparian habitat, and an abundance of wildlife.

The main event runs from 11:00am to 2:30pm.

We'll start with lunch on the deck with sweeping views of the Santa Rosa, Palomar and Hot Springs Mountains across the Lake Henshaw/Warner Springs Valley.

After lunch, we'll walk about a mile and explore the ranch's small lake where the Wheatleys have been hosting different researchers for a variety of conservation projects, including habitat restoration and western pond turtle recovery activities. Unfortunately, our rescheduled date finds our primary researchers right in the midst of their prime research season, so they won't be able to join us. But it will still be very interesting to explore the ranch and learn about the Wheatleys' conservation focus.

That will wrap up the main event for the day around 2:30, but then there will also be an optional additional hike and exploration until 3:30 to 4:00.

Wear your walking shoes and bring your binoculars for the scenery and birds!

The main event will include a 1/4 mile walk from the parking area up to the house for lunch, and about a 1+ mile walk around the pond and back to the parking area--both with some minimal elevation change. An accommodation can be provided if there are guests that are not up for the walk and need to be ferried up to (and back from) the house for lunch.

The additional, optional hike will be approximately 1 to 1 1/2 miles, depending on how much we explore.

It's very important to register for this annual Spring Exploration. We’re fine-tuning the gate/access arrangements, and will forward that info along closer to the event.

Date: Sunday, June 30th, 2019

Time: 11:00am to 2:30pm (or optionally 4:00pm); We'll be ready for arrivals as early as 10:45am

Location: The Wheatley Ranch, 27229 Mesa Grande Road, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070

From Julian: Please allow approximately 35-45 minutes driving time, from either the Route 79 (near the Santa Ysabel Mission) or Route 76 (near Lake Henshaw) ends of Mesa Grande Road -- it's nearly equidistant either way.

From Coastal Areas: Please allow approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours driving time.

For those familiar with the old Hideout Saloon off of Route 76 near Lake Henshaw, the ranch is approximately a mile and a half up Mesa Grande Road from the saloon.

Help us grow this important visioning and support group!

If you know a friend or couple that may also be interested in becoming a member of the Sustaining Friends of Volcan Mountain, we encourage you to invite them to join you on this annual outing for exploration and discovery of the Volcan Mountain Range. Please be sure and mention your guest(s) when you register.