GCKE15 Cupeno Trail of Tears (Traditional Cache) in California, United States created by Team Gecko

This cache has been archived.

Team Gecko: With the ongoing reports of DNFs, it seems time to retire this circa 2004 cache. A big thanks to all who visited and commented on the cache and historical account of a very sad time in our local history.
-Gecko Dad

GCKE15 ▼

A cache by Team Gecko Message this owner

Hidden : 8/29/2004

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

This microcache commemorates a little known early 20th Century San Diego County tragedy referred to as the Cupeno Trail of Tears. It is placed a short distance from the unlocked entrance to an early
cemetery of the Cupeno Band of “Mission Indians”.

Update of 10 October 2005: Due to the newly placed "No Trespassing" sign, the cache has been moved outside the Pala Indian property. The original film cannister is still serving as the container. Logsheets were also replaced. Hint has been updated.

Original Posting: The area around Warner Springs at the headwaters of the San Luis Rey River was the traditional home of the Cupeno Indians, or people of Cupa/Kupa. In response to demands of local landowners, the California Supreme Court issued a notice for their removal in 1901. President Theodore Roosevelt intervened in an attempt to purchase this land for the Cupenos but the landowners rejected the offer. On May 12, 1903, the Indian Bureau agent and 44 armed teamsters arrived to oversee their eviction. At the end of a three day, 40-mile trek to Pala, they co-located with the much larger band of Luiseno people. For more detailed background on the history of the people of Cupa and their Trail of Tears, please refer to Phil Brigandi's excellent essay.

The cache location features an interpretive commemorative plaque and the modest cemetery grounds. The log only container is a film canister that includes a log sheet but no pencil so please bring your own writing implement. I added a red & black striped lizard for FTF. I also included a small wristwatch body that I found on the ground immediately next to the cache site. The watch is likely of sentimental value to the unknown person who left it here so we request that it be left in the container and not removed from the site. After your visit to the cemetery, you may enjoy a stop at the nearby Chapel of Saint Francis that you passed on the way in to the cache. These grounds were considered an outpost of Mission San Luis Rey, founded in 1798. The J.J. Warner Ranch was established in 1844 following receipt of a land grant from Mexico. This district was previously known as Aqua Caliente. A seasonal creek just to the north of the chapel is still known as Agua Caliente Creek. The area was primarily used for raising sheep for the mission. Around 1830, a storehouse was constructed just below Warner Hot Springs on the hill where the Chapel of Saint Francis is now located. The chapel itself was constructed in the mid-1890s. Enjoy your visit.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Guerr fgbarf ng onfr bs ohfu orgjrra guerr fcnprq ncneg pnpghf cynagf.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)