Phoenix of the Cuyamacas Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

WestCoastAdmin: Greetings. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the Cuyamaca State Park officials have requested that I archive this cache due to the circumstances described below. At this time it appears the closures will be in effect for a minimum of one year.

As I am sure you are aware, Cuyamaca Rancho State park was temporarily closed after the Cedar Fire. The park authorities have been working very hard to reopen as much of the park as possible. Currently, the park is in a very fragile state. Due to this, the District Superintendent has posted an order as follows:

[b]1. The following land facilities of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park are hereby closed to the public indefinitely from October 7, 2004 to a date to be announced due to extensive wildland fires affecting this facility:

Dead Horse Trail; Willow Trail; Saddleback Trail; Arroyo Seco Trail and camp; Monument Trail; West Side Trail from West Mesa Fire Road to the Cuyamaca Peak Fire Road; Burnt Pine Trail; West Mesa Trail; The California Riding and Hiking Trail from Arroyo Seco Fire Road to Fern Flat Fire Road; Azalea Glen Trail; the connector trails from Paso Picacho camp on the west side; Conejos Trail; Sugar Pine Trail; Minshall Trail; Kelly Ditch Trail; The Stonewall Mine Day use area; Los Caballos Trail; Los Vaqueros Trail; Vern Whitaker Trail; the east side of Stonewall Peak; Cold Stream Trail from F12 to Stonewall Peak Trail; Cold Spring Trail; Harvey Moore Trail from Deer Park to East Side Trail going north; Paso Picacho Campground; Paso Picacho Group Camps A and B; Los Caballos Campground and Day Use area; Los Vaqueros Group Camp area; the Dyar House and garage area; Meadow parking (highway 79 at mile marker 5.5); Manzanita Parking (mm 6.5); Cold Stream Parking (mm 8); View Parking (mm 9).

OPEN TO HIKERS AND BIKERS ONLY is the Cold Stream Trail from the Stonewall Peak Trail to the Stonewall paved road; the Stonewall Road to the gate of the Stonewall Mine day use area; the Los Vaqueros Road to the intersection with the Stonewall Creek Fire Road; the Stonewall Creek Fire Road from the Los Vaqueros Road to the Soapstone Fire road.

2. All persons are required to stay on trail or in camps and day use areas; off trail activity is prohibited in an effort to protect the sensitive soils and afford for recovery of the natural and cultural environment.
3. Use of trails is restricted from sunrise to a half hour past sunset.[/b]

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact me via the link to my profile on the archive log.

Thank you for your understanding,

WestCoastAdmin

More
Hidden : 10/31/2004
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

We hid this cache to celebrate life anew up here in the Cuyamacas.

Back in October of 2003, the Cedar Wild Fire ravaged a large portion of San Diego County. Virtually all of Cuyamaca State Park was burned. The park was closed for 8 months so revegetation can take hold.

Like the mythical bird the Phoenix, the Cuyamacas are slowly rising from the ashes.

Parts of the park have started to be reopened including our favorite hike to the top of Stonewall Peak. Even though the fire has very much changed the landscape, it is still a very beautiful area. We placed this cache almost exactly one year after the Cedar Fire. It is very evident that life is coming back to this area.

This cache is hidden very, very near the top of Stonewall Peak. When you get to the summit, you will be rewarded with a 360° view of San Diego County (with a 50 mile view on a clear day).

The terrain for this cache is rated 3-1/2 stars because it involves a 2 mile hike up to the top of Stonewall Peak at 5,700 feet above sea level. There is about a 900 foot elevation gain. The “Stonewall Peak Trail” is well marked and does not involve any type of technical climbing. This trail is well suited even for most novice hikers, though the first .20 mile of the trail is a little steep and it may leave you out of breath. After that, the trail levels out nicely and it really does not feel like you are walking uphill. Please, please stay on the trail. This area is trying to revegetate from the fire. Absolutely NO bush whacking is necessary to get to this cache site.

This cache is hidden along the final “stairway” ascent to Stonewall Peak. To make the cache a little more Muggle proof, it does involve scrambling over a few rocks. Please be careful, as it gets a little steep when you get near the actual cache site. The cache is a medium size ammo can.

The Stonewall Peak trailhead is located on Rt. 79 (about 10 miles south of Julian) right across the road from Paso Picacho Campground (N32° 57.611 W116° 34.815). There is a day use parking area at Paso Picacho Campground. The parking fee is $6 per vehicle.

Note: As of 10/31/04, Paso Picacho Campground is still closed for overnight camping. Overnight camping at this campground is scheduled to be resumed in May of 2005.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

9gu envyvat frpgvba, gura ebpx fpenzoyr 10 srrg gb gur evtug.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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