Kumeyaay Solstice Sunrise Traditional Geocache
LavaLizard: As there's been no cache to find for months, I'm archiving it to keep it from continually showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements.
If the cache owner addresses the issues that lead to archival and contacts me within a reasonable period of time (6-8 weeks), it may be possible to unarchive the cache.
=LavaLizard=
Groundspeak Volunteer Cache Reviewer
Kumeyaay Solstice Sunrise
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A stunning event takes place near this site at daybreak every winter solstice. For four days either side of December 21st, a double sunrise occurs at dawn when the sun first touches a ridge south of Lyon’s Peak and is bisected by a prominent rock formation. The posted coordinates are for the CACHE site, not the solstice site, which is reportedly held sacred by the native Kumeyaay people.
Update 12/3/2015
New container is a camouflaged cylindrical waterproof match container. It is placed adjacent to the Barker Way Trail just west of the junction with main Cowles Mountain Trail. This location was selected to comply with recent habitat restoration work and new signage. You do not need to leave the trail to access the cache. Please replace as found as this is a high traffic area. Please bring your own writing implement to record your visit on the cache log sheet.
The Kumeyaay people appear to have been quite familiar with this important event and this site. They were experienced observers of their natural surroundings, including the annual north-south migrations of the sun.
Some years ago, a circular rock arrangement, thought to be a solar calendar, was discovered in this area during trail work in the Mission Trails Regional Park. The discovery was subsequently reported to the Museum of Man and their staff surveyed the site and designated it as the Cowles Mountain Observatory. You can see a reconstructed replica adjacent to the outside amphitheatre of the MTRP Visitor Center.
The winter solstice sun rises over the eastern skyline at about 6:54 am on December 21st of every year. Gecko Dad has made a tradition of making a stop here on his annual solstice run up to the top of Cowles Mountain. Hiking time is about 20 to 30 minutes depending on your pace. You should try to get to the trailhead about an hour earlier than the sunrise. A flashlight will be handy since you will be starting out in the dark. One-way distance is a bit over 3/4 mile with an elevation gain of about 550 feet. You might enjoy joining one of the free interpretive hikes led by San Diego Natural History Museum or MTRP staff. Schedules vary but these hikes tend to be offered for a couple of days preceding and possibly following the actual solstice morning. I believe they start hiking about 6:00 am.
TO VISIT THE SOLSTICE SITE, follow the main trail from the staging area at coordinates N 32 48.272, W 117 02.234. After you reach the 3/4 mile marker, you need to go another 120 paces along the winding trail until a hairpin turn. Coordinates for this TURNOFF are N 32 48.560, W 117 01.882. Head south along a short loop trail to find a vantage point for sunrise. The imaginary line between the sunrise point and the solstice site moves north before December 21st and back south after so your observation point needs to move this way, too. Part of the fun is making your own guess for the best spot to view those critical 4 or 5 seconds when the sun is split. From my favorite spot (on December 21st), the sun comes up at a bearing of 104 degrees magnetic. As for all occasions of observing the sun, it is important to PROTECT YOUR EYES. Please use SMOKED GLASS or other appropriate filtering material.
Of course if it is cloudy in the east, as it often is during the winter, you may not be able to see sunrise but you can still enjoy the hike and learning about the site from the docents. If you are blessed with a clear horizon, you will be treated to an unforgettable experience.
(UPDATE - TO VISIT THE CACHE SITE any time of the year, return to the main trail and proceed toward the summit of Cowles Mountain. When you reach the Barker Trail junction, you will see a small natural side trail heading to the northeast between the two signposts. You do not need to bushwack to find the cache.
The cache container is a 4 inch diameter x 1.5 inches tall plastic screw top container retrieved from my backpacking supplies. It is painted dark green and contains a log sheet and a photo. Please bring your own writing utensil. There is a small signature item included in the container.
Good luck and have fun!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[updated location, 12/3/2015] Nqwnprag gb genvy, fbhgu fvqr, whfg nobir tebhaq yriry, gjb zrgref rnfg bs genvy fvta. Penpx va ebpx pbirerq jvgu n fznyy jrqtr fgbar.