Mount Israel is in the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve, a popular
hiking area. For two years the cache was located just outside of
the Elfin Forest Reserve Boundary, however a nature conservancy
group purchased the property east of the Recreational Reserve and
asked me to move the cache to prevent hikers from treading on
sensitive vegetation. At that time, the cache became virtual so
that you, too, can experience the thrill of standing atop San Diego
county with unending views in every direction.
By far the biggest reward of The Mt. Israel Cache is not a
trinket, but the views. Binoculars enhance the experience but are
not necessary. On clear days the 10,000 foot high San Bernardino
Mountain range north of Palm Springs can be seen just to the left
of the Palomar range. (Pure white snow-covered mountain tops loomed
on the northern horizon on 3-30-03). San Clemente and Santa
Catalina Islands, 70 miles offshore, are visible on Santa Anna days
when standing at 33 04.846 & 117 08.183. Tecate Peak on the
Mexican Border was naked-eye visible on 3-30-03. Mt Woodsen,
Cuyamaca Peak, Middle Peak, Iron Mountain, Lyons Peak all feel so
close that you could touch them. From the cache location the Mt.
Soledad radio antenna and cross in La Jolla are visible with
binoculars.
When posting your log, please don’t give away the “surprise” of
what you see on the other side of the mountain when you arrive at
the cache site. Instead, let future cachers experience the surprise
for themselves. For fun, post a photo of you or the view... or
both!
The best way to approach the cache is to begin at the parking
lot of the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve on Harmony Grove Road.
Gates open at 8AM every day of the year except Christmas. Gates
close at dusk. Take “The Way Up Trail.” Your GPS will do the rest.
Please stay on the trails. No need to go off the trails. I’ve seen
Southern Pacific and Diamondback Rattlers up here on three
different occasions. They won’t bother you if you stay on the
trail.
I highly recommend hiking the self guiding Botanical Trail (adds
an extra half mile to your trek and joins with “The Way Up Trail”
above) if you would like to learn to identify common Chaparral
plants like Scrub Oak, Poison Oak, Redberry, Lemonade Berry, Black
Sage, Bushrue, Mountain Mahogany, Chamise, Laurel Sumac, Sagewort,
Hollyleaf Cherry.
If you have a magnetic compass, take it with you. When you’re
resting in the warm sun (or cool shade) with a gentle breeze
blowing, it’s pure luxury, like you’re in the warm clouds of heaven
looking down on the earth. The magnetic bearings provided below
help you identify distant mountain peaks: All the bearings are
listed as Magnetic North (MN) so that they line up exactly with
your compass. (Magnetic North is 13 degrees “more” than True North
in this area of the United States.)
NORTH:
· Palomar Mountain MN 26 degrees, 25 miles.
EAST:
· Volcan Mt in Julian MN 65-70, 30 miles;
· North Peak MN 86 degrees, 32 miles;
· Middle Peak MN 90 degrees, 32 miles;
· Cuyamaca Peak MN 93 degrees, 32 miles;
· Woodsen Mountain (Poway) MN 105, 11 miles;
· Iron Mt MN 113 degrees, 134 miles.
SOUTHEAST:
· Lyons Peak MN 127 degrees, 34 miles;
· Tecate Mt (on Mexico border) MN 129, 43 miles;
· San Miguel Mt MN 143 degrees, 29 miles;
· Black Mt (Carmel Valley) MN 159, 7 miles.
Mount Whitney (our local Mt Whitney) is the peak with the radio
building on it at 313 degrees MN, just across the valley. Paint
Mountain (with a house and palm trees on top) is west at 236 MN.
I’ve heard a rumor that Arnold Schwarzenegger used to own that
house.
On a clear day, the San Bernardino range is visible more than 60
miles to the north at 2 degrees MN, and was snow covered today
(1-20-01).
Enjoy the sun, the views, the hike! Carpe Diem!
"Tuna"
http://www.SoCalBirding.com