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“Okay, so the premise is a little off-kilter – teaming up exhausting adventure sports with craft beer. These well-written columns are fast-paced, fun and really will get you off and exploring natural areas, with a cold brew as your reward.”
James Murren is an award-winning independent writer, with numerous pieces having appeared in outdoor sports and recreation media outlets, adventure and travel magazines, newspapers, practitioners’ journals and newsletters, including:
L.A. Times, The Surfer’s Journal, Adventure Sports Journal, Mountain Flyer, Roads & Kingdoms, Backpacker Magazine, Cranked (UK), Snowshoe Magazine, Sub-Saharan Magazine, San Diego Union-Tribune, Spoke Magazine (NZ), Dirt Rag Magazine, Bike Magazine, Bicyclist Magazine, Strung Magazine, Bicycle Times, Switchback, and XXC Mag.
Currently, he is a columnist for Adventure Sports Journal (“Earn Your Beer“). Earn Your Beer is about pushing yourself in the mountains, deserts, oceans, rivers, wherever and then sitting back and enjoying a beer when relaxing at camp or home. Additionally, he is on the editorial team for Snowshoe Magazine.
I’ve a new project for 2021. Check it out here: MTBeer
Several articles and writing samples are available under Portfolio in the menu bar up top, where you can also enter the Blog for current postings.
Murren has published three books. Go Here, Go There: Travel and Workis a collection of words and photos depicting such experiences in ten countries around West Africa, Central and South America, North America, and Eurasia. The other two books are based on his work and travels in Honduras and Ethiopia. You can buy the books online via the link in the sidebar, or at the following locations: The Reader’s Cafe in Hanover, PA and Verbatim Books in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego, CA.
Member: Society of American Travel Writers and North American Travel Journalists Association
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- Earn Your Beer #132: Digital Detox - 02/15/2024
- Earn Your Beer #131: Mendocino Redwoods - 12/14/2023
- Earn Your Beer: Issue #130 - 08/28/2023
Seasonal waterfalls in San Diego and Julian Beer Company
The Earning
When enough rain comes to San Diego’s hinterlands, seasonal waterfalls appear on the landscape, making for new experiences in a land where it is dry most of the year. One such place is along a somewhat recently built trail named Cold Stream in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Whether I am mountain biking or hiking it, come winter-into-spring, I keep my eye out for a little waterfall easily visible from the trail. Seeing the water flow and drop some six feet or so is a bit of a meditation piece. On a group ride a few years back, we stopped and walked the little path to the fall and revelled in its cool and refreshing water after having ridden several hours on a warm afternoon. It cascades down a ways and offers a good place for some water and rock hopping to break up your hike or bike outing.
Up in the vicinity of Julian town, if you ask around (or do enough gleaning of the web), and then go a-searching, you will find Mildred Falls. I have biked from town out to see it. You can also drive there, but why not make a little adventure out of it? Plummeting nearly 300 feet, Mildred Falls (pictured above) becomes San Diego’s longest/highest waterfall when it is flowing. To see it, conditions have to be just right. Officially, it is on Cleveland National Forest land and there are no marked trails, but there are several footpaths that take you to the falls and around to various vantage points to take it all in. Exercise caution, as it can get quite precipitous in some areas.
There is nothing quite like seeing water run where most of the year it is dry and brown. I cannot help but think of the wonders of nature that happen when rain falls and flows, the magic and majesty of falling water being a sight that slows me down and brings me to a stop. Life springs forth, green emerges, and out pop the wildflowers. I am reminded of impermanence when I see seasonal waterfalls. They remind me to enjoy the here and now.
And when the waterfalls come back around, the memory of joy from before bubbles back up, and fills me again, and reminds me to enjoy it while it is here/now.
The Beer
Julian Beer Company (JBC), in the famous little mountain town of Julian in San Diego county, offers outstanding beer, bar-b-que, pizza (including gluten free and vegan options) and huge salads. There is wine, too, and usually cider is on the libations menu as well. While you are walking around town looking for that perfect apple pie, and you really can’t go wrong wherever you buy one, remember to stop in at JBC for a laid-back, sunny afternoon in the fresh air. Weekends can be quite busy. If you prefer less of a crowd, stop by during the week. The energy is less hectic, and you will likely get on mountain time for an hour or two.
JBC is quiet on the San Diego beer scene, but those “in the know” seek out some of the best tasting pints this side of Mars. Recently, I had a quite quaffable porter, tasting extra delicious on a chilly afternoon. Like some San Diego breweries, JBC does IPAs very well. They also have all the standards/classic beer styles you would expect to find at a California brewery.
