I checked on my favorite cache, the one that Matt helped me find. Or rather, HE found, and I took credit for it. It's missing! I made a not to let the cache owner know about it.
I made a turn at the trail up the hill, crossed the little bridge, and headed up. Near the top I found the cache, so I guess I solved the puzzle correctly! Yay!
Took a picture looking down to valley, towards Santee. Sorry for the big pic, it's 300k, but you can zoom in to see the black bird on that bush down there. Barely...
Now, when I was a boy, there was a mine we called "Crystal Cave" on this hill that one could go into. Not that I ever went in very far! But, I've been wondering where the heck the entrance was. "They" blocked the entrance, and everything is so overgrown in the 45 years since then. Well, when I got home I tried doing a little research, and actually found a PICTURE of the entrance on some guys flickr (link opens in new window) page. And I spotted, on Google maps, just where it is and how to get there. So I shall have to visit the spot.
I hiked back to the vehicle, checked for that reluctant geocache again. Still no find. Ha!
So there was another puzzle cache. Which I totally have not figured out. But, I deduced from the logs where it might be. And I've looked there once before, with no luck. I drove over there again. There was a fellow with a motorized bicycle resting there. Right next to where I was gonna look. I explained what I was doing. He didn't sound too impressed with the whole thing, especially since I still didn't find anything. I looked in a couple more likely places, and he finally left. As he motored off I suddenly thought he must be the guy I've observed running stop signs I've seen, near where I work. I shoulda said something!
I drove across the parking lot to another, less-likely, spot, and spotted the cache before I even got out of the vehicle. So I signed the log. Which was very damp and moldy. Then I went home and emailed the cache owner for a hint so I could solve the puzzle. Gotta make it right!
2 comments:
Hey,
I noticed you linked my pic to the abandoned Santee mine in your blog. That's cool, and I can email you the pic so you can put it up if you want, no problem.
I've been researching and documenting the geology, among other things, of the Santee area. I'd like to find out more about that mine.
I uploaded the gov't geological information about CA to my google earth, but the abandoned mine is not recorded. The several guys I've talked to who'd been to the area only visited for social purposes and never observed the geological features before the filling of the mine.
Do you know anything about the history of the mine? I noticed that a considerable portion of that hillside is composed of old mine dross featuring lots of schorl, or black tourmaline. I take the kids there sometimes to fart around at the mine etc, sit on the tourmaline boulder and play at the waterfall.
Additionally, immediately behind Big Rock Park I can see the traces of an abandoned structure, and what appears to be possibly some more mining dross. One guy told me an old story of a dog falling down a shaft there, and the mine being subsequently filled, but ...
If you have any info on the mineral or other history of the area I'd greatly appreciate it. Like I said, if you want the pic for your blog you can have it. Additionally, while scouting around up north west of Pine Valley I came across what was possibly a geo cache in a mayonnaise jar, and if you want I can remember where on earth I put it (in my thomas guide?), and scan it and send it to you.
I appreciate your time, and your blog is interesting.
What a nice comment you got dad! Very interesting, I didn't know there was an old mine there. You never told ME! :)
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