Update 2/5/2012: Replaced most recently missing container with a camouflaged plastic Lock & Lock. Location adjusted a couple of yards closer to the top of the hill and adjacent to use trail to make it more accessible. New contents include Sterling silver gecko charm, LIVESTRONG wristband, a circa 2005 Yrium's Pals series card #10 (Gromit), and other goodies.
Original listing: Our Geckos’ nesting place is a medium sized Rubbermaid clear plastic collectibles jar. We pre-loaded it with ten of Gecko Gurl’s hand-beaded gecko lizards in a variety of bright colors. We are hoping to observe how they migrate from their release point as well as get self-portrait photos to see who adopted them. We will replenish the cache periodically to ensure a selection is always available. Original cache contents included:
- 10 beautiful Geckos
- Kodak Fun Camera (to take your picture)
- Logbook and Pens
Cache coordinates marked on the container are slightly off since we found a better hiding spot than the one originally scouted. The actual position noted on this cache page is correct. We will fix the container insert soon.
The round trip bike ride is a little over 6 miles, all on pavement or nearly all can be on dirt as an optional route. The minimum hiking distance is only about ¼ mile but involves a fairly steep climb of 160 feet elevation gain on a rocky firebreak style road to get to the cache. Please watch your step, especially with children. On Saturdays through Tuesdays when the lake is open, it is possible to drive (cautiously, please, due to joggers, walkers, skaters, bikers) and park within ¼ mile of the cache at N 32.55.045, W 117.05.941. At the “summit” you will have very fine views to the east of Iron Mountain and our neighborhood, to the south over the lake toward Fortuna Mountain, Cowles Mountain, and downtown San Diego in the distance, and to the west to the coast and some great sunsets. You can easily make this a picnic outing with established areas available at either starting point (see below) and at the base of the hiking section.
There is an alternative access method which we prefer since it starts closer to our home. Go to N 32.55.141, W 117.05.316 in a small neighborhood park. At this waypoint, you will find painted on the sidewalk a small sign indicating “Lake Trail”. You will probably see lots and lots of grazing bunnies here in the early evening – we sometimes see over 50 at a time. From here, go downhill on a narrow foot trail, take a right turn at the wider dirt road, keep going down to the pavement, then continue around to the cache site as before. This route is 2 miles one way. It also starts very near the Lake Loot cache so you can do a 2fer outing. Note the gate for this parking lot closes at 8 pm sharp so park outside on the street if you are going out for a sunset hike.
Just a tip in case you are walking and the distance feels daunting. You can short cut the long arms on the northside of the lake by taking several dirt trail sections above the paved road. In normal years, there are a few wildflowers this way, too. First good opportunity is at N 32 55.242, W 117 05.572 but you can hop on at any arm west of this waypoint as all are touched by these trails. I use them frequently when running or biking here although the biking becomes slightly technical on a couple of the hills.
Update: replaced nibbled Rubbermaid container with standard NATO-style ammo box on 8/21/2002