Across the road from the cache you will find a gigantic specimen of
Monterey cypress. At over 40 feet in circumference and 120 feet
tall, it is claimed to be the largest in the United States,
according to San Mateo County records.
Curiously, this biggest tree is not on its home ground. While
Monterey cypress is a California native tree, as its name suggests
its original range is south of here. Therefore, this one must have
been deliberately placed. Its age is estimated at well over 150
years, which dates its planting back to the Spanish/Mexican
colonial period of California history.
Perhaps this tree once marked the boundary of a Spanish land
grant or Mexican home site. One candidate is the Pescadero grant of
1833 to Juan José Gonzalez, encompassing much of the Pescadero and
Butano basins in a 'four square league' grant. Gonzalez moved a
herd of cattle North from the Villa Branciforte near Mission Santa
Cruz, and it grew to 4,000 head by 1840. Gonzalez was mostly an
absentee landlord - he was also the mayordomo of the Mission. But
his connection via the missions to Monterey and Carmel could
explain how ths particular specimen of cypress came to be here so
early in California's history.
(After the American takeover of California, this land grant
became the subject of a Supreme Court
case, which contains transcriptions of the original
documents.)
You are looking for a bison tube. Please replace the cache so it
stays attached and is not out of reach.