Golf Ball Hill provides you with a lot to look at… the ocean,
mountains, trees, golfers, joggers, walkers, islands, sunsets and a
distant view of other cache sites. I stashed this cache at sunset,
and the view was MAGNIFICIENT!
On really clear days, especially at sunset, you can see the low
outline of San Clemente Island straight out. Santa Catalina Island
is to the northwest, with its Black Jack Mountain highly prominent
on the right side. Dana Point can also be seen up the coast line,
all the way in Orange County.
Even on average seeing days you’ll see the Encina Power Plant
smokestack in Carlsbad, with Mount San Onofre eight degrees to its
right, 24 miles away at 314 degrees by your magnetic compass.
For the best hike, all legal on a scenic trail, begin in the
golf course parking lot. Head east into the golf course complex,
following the path BEHIND the golfers hitting balls at the driving
range. Continue east over a little ridge by the putting green and
you will find yourself on a trial taking you North up into the
trees.
For a most enjoyable time, I recommend that you mark a waypoint
of N 33° 04.382, W 117° 16.389 where two brand new interpretive
panels show you the names of the mountains spread out before you…
Cuyamaca, Woodson, Iron, Lyon, Black, Cowles, Palomar, Double Peak,
Whitney. The ridge line to the left of Paint Mountain is Mt Israel,
the site of a geocache, as is Double Peak (San Diego Ocean View)
and Woodson (Mountain Of The Moonlit Rocks).
Another “Mountain Finder” panel with even more views and
mountain identifications can be found at the gazebo at N 33°
04.449, W 117° 16.458. This is a popular area for walkers and
joggers. You’re on a hill, but no strenuous hiking is involved.
This is a great hike for children, about a mile round trip from
the parking lot. Please sign and date the logbook and say a few
words about the day, the view, or how you got started geocaching!
Be sure to add a few notes to this site, too, when you return!
The cache is a green steel army ammo box. You do NOT need to go
up or down cliffs or bushwack to reach this cache. You can walk
right up to it by going AROUND stuff. Please be discrete and rehide
the cache. It disappeared once in November 2001. Replaced
Thanksgiving Weekend, 2001.
Enjoy the sun, the sunset, the ocean, the views, the golfers,
the hike! Carpe Diem!
“Tuna”
P.S. By the way, the golfers remind me: Every time I jog or hike
this area I find golf balls. You’ll likely find a few, too. Why not
leave them in the cache for golfer/geocachers? I put two in that I
found.
Note posted 4-4-04: I was just at the cache, and it is evident
that some cachers are bushwacking around in the sagebrush. This is
NOT necessary! THE CACHE IS NOT IN THE SAGEBRUSH! YOU CAN WALK
RIGHT UP TO IT. IF YOU NEED HELP, PLEASE LOOK AT THE PHOTO, BUT
DON'T TROMP ON THE SAGEBRUSH. It's okay to walk on the iceplant.
Iceplant is an invasive. Looks like the sagebrush is making a good
comeback from the iceplant except where cachers have tromped on
it.
PPS Visit http://www.SoCalBirding.com if you like adventure.
PPPS Visit http://www.InnAtMoonlightBeach.com for a great
vacation on the beach in Encinitas.