Assuming that access to the cache is available to the general
public, I placed this cache to draw attention to a bit of local
Santa Cruz Mountains history and a colorful figure by the name of
"Mountain Charlie".
MOUNTAIN CHARLIE
BIG TREE |
NAMED FOR CHARLES HENRY "MOUNTAIN CHARLIE"
McKIERNAN, WHO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST WHITE
SETTLERS IN THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN AREA.
ONE OF THE LARGEST TREES OF ITS SPECIES,
THIS SEQUOIA SEMPERVIRENS WAS ORIGINALLY
OVER 300 FEET HIGH. THE TREE STANDS TODAY
AT 260 FEET FROM THE GROUND, HAVING BEEN
BROKEN OFF IN A STORM YEARS AGO. IT IS
18 FEET IN DIAMETER AT THE BASE, 60 FEET
IN CIRCUMFERENCE, AND OVER 5 FEET IN DI-
AMETER AT THE TOP. IN 1880 WHEN MOUNTAIN
CHARLIE BEGAN TO TIMBER THIS AREA, HE
PLANNED TO CUT BOTH THE BIG TREE, KNOWN
THEN AS"KING OF THE FORREST," AND THE
"QUEEN," WHOSE STUMP STILL REMAINS AS A TESTI-
MONY TO THAT GRAND TREE. PROBLEMS WITH
THE "QUEEN" CHANGED THAT DECISION AND
THE "KING" STILL STANDS TODAY AS IT HAS
FOR OVER A THOUSAND YEARS. |
CALIFORNIA REGISTERED POINT OF
HISTORICAL INTEREST No. SCR-005
DEDICATED JUNE 9, 1984
MOUNTAIN CHARLIE CHAPTER No. 1850
E CLAMPUS VITUS
"RIGHT WRONGS NOBODY" |
Park at the bus stop at the corner of Main and Glenwood Drive. (See
Park Here waypoint: N 37° 06.985 W 121° 59.196.)
Cross Glenwood Drive.
Seek the trailhead to the right of the "Private Drive."
Follow the short trail to the plaque.
As with all hides in redwood forests, GPS reception will be iffy
at best but the coordinates should get you to the plaque.
Once at the plaque, seek about. The cache is hiden under forest
debris.
Enjoy! And happy caching!
50sumtin