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AdventureGraham Posts: 170
1/12/2015
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The fourth hike of my 52 Hike Challenge was to the Solstice Cave in Indian Valley and Torote Canyon . You can't find any specific directions to the cave online or in any guidebook. The lack of info helps protect this special archaeological site. Torote Canyon, a tributary of Indian Gorge, shelters dozens of rare elephant trees. For many years it was thought not to exist at all in the United States, until it's official discovery in 1937.
The only reference to the Solstice Cave I knew of was from a brief mention of it in the Sombrero Peak hike description in Jerry Schad's book, Afoot & Afield in San Diego County- "On a slope above this drainage, archaeologists have identified an Indian ceremonial site keyed to the rising position of the sun at summer solstice." I had also seen photos of the cave on a few online sites and forums, but with no specific directions to it. However, a friend who had recently found the cave after several exhausting searches was gracious enough to give me a few hints to its location, while stressing the importance of not sharing its whereabouts anywhere online. Its a special place that's been kept unspoiled. So on a rainy Sunday morning, while still fighting a cold, I set off with a few others to find the cave.
Full write up here: http://johnandautumnsadventures.blogspot.com/2015/01/indian-valleys-summer-solstice-cave.html
edited by BorregoWrangler on 1/12/2015
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ziphius Posts: 911
1/12/2015
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Quite the boulder overhang, impressive. Another 'Easter-egg-hunt' destination to add to the list. Nice report.
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2609
1/12/2015
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The other fire blackened cave is known as the "wallace" cave, nick named after W.J. Wallace. He also did archeo digs at Indian Hill and many other sites.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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hikerdmb Posts: 423
1/13/2015
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Awesome friend to share with you. I have been up Sombrero a handful of times but I have never taken any time to search. One of these days...
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AdventureGraham Posts: 170
1/13/2015
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dsefcik wrote:
The other fire blackened cave is known as the "wallace" cave, nick named after W.J. Wallace. He also did archeo digs at Indian Hill and many other sites.
Thanks. I didn't know that.
FYI: I tried to picked appropriate photos to post of this trip. I've seen other photos from this cave that show much better views of the surrounding landscapes in clear weather... something that I wanted to avoid. I was very careful in selecting the photos I posted and even double checked with others who wouldn't want too much info on the cave accessible to the public. The weather was very stormy and views out from the cave were limited.
Believe me, I would not want to disclose any information that would make it easy for others (who would not respect it) to find such a special place. So feel free to let me know if there are still any measures I could take in this regard. Thanks.
edited by BorregoWrangler on 1/13/2015
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anutami Posts: 491
1/13/2015
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Indian Valley is a special place, nice trip!
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2609
1/13/2015
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BorregoWrangler wrote:
FYI: I tried to picked appropriate photos to post of this trip. I've seen other photos from this cave that show much better views of the surrounding landscapes in clear weather... something that I wanted to avoid. I was very careful in selecting the photos I posted and even double checked with others who wouldn't want too much info on the cave accessible to the public. The weather was very stormy and views out from the cave were limited.
Believe me, I would not want to disclose any information that would make it easy for others (who would not respect it) to find such a special place. So feel free to let me know if there are still any measures I could take in this regard. Thanks.
I have PM'd you with my concerns, thank you BW..!
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1362
1/14/2015
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Thanks.
Like you our only clue was Schad's discrete entry in "Afoot and Afield".
If I recall correctly Daren and I were looking in the wrong place when we heard my wife yell "I found it!"
Not really an easy place to find, but still I mixed up the pictures and tried not to show too many landmarks.
Anyway thanks for being discreet about it's location.
Here is my post from 2010.
The search for the hidden Solstice Cave in Indian Valley
Best,
Bob
BorregoWrangler wrote:
....
FYI: I tried to picked appropriate photos to post of this trip. I've seen other photos from this cave that show much better views of the surrounding landscapes in clear weather... something that I wanted to avoid. I was very careful in selecting the photos I posted and even double checked with others who wouldn't want too much info on the cave accessible to the public. The weather was very stormy and views out from the cave were limited.
Believe me, I would not want to disclose any information that would make it easy for others (who would not respect it) to find such a special place. So feel free to let me know if there are still any measures I could take in this regard. Thanks.
edited by BorregoWrangler on 1/13/2015
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2609
1/17/2015
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So does this count as 2 hikes and you get a weekend off??
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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AdventureGraham Posts: 170
1/17/2015
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dsefcik wrote:
So does this count as 2 hikes and you get a weekend off??
Haha... No, I counted this outing as one hike, since we did them back-to-back and they were so close together. I do wanna head out to Torote again and get back into those valleys.
My next hike will either be Eagle Peak, between Descanso and Julian, or Sweetwater River Trail to Mother Miguel Mountain.
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2609
1/17/2015
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BorregoWrangler wrote:
My next hike will either be Eagle Peak, between Descanso and Julian, or Sweetwater River Trail to Mother Miguel Mountain.
A good but long one is Secret Canyon Trail http://www.sefcik.com/2010/09/secret-canyon-trail-pine-creek.html
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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ImpatientHiker Posts: 41
1/21/2015
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BorregoWrangler wrote:
dsefcik wrote:
So does this count as 2 hikes and you get a weekend off??
Haha... No, I counted this outing as one hike, since we did them back-to-back and they were so close together. I do wanna head out to Torote again and get back into those valleys.
My next hike will either be Eagle Peak, between Descanso and Julian, or Sweetwater River Trail to Mother Miguel Mountain.
So a buddy and I were running around the Cedar Creek/Three Sisters area last Saturday and when I opened the register on Eagle Pk and recognized your 52 hike project in action!  Eagle Pk register pic.jpg" border="0"> It took me until now to figure out how to post a picture, hence the delay on posting this (thanks for the advice Daren, my first forum pic's!!!!!!). I included a great view of Eagle from a peak to the east.  Eagle Pk from peak to east.jpg" /> Happy hiking, awesome TR's on here lately!
-Robert
edited by ImpatientHiker on 1/21/2015 I give up! Just imagine a picture of what you wrote in the Eagle Pk register...
edited by ImpatientHiker on 1/21/2015
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AdventureGraham Posts: 170
1/21/2015
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ImpatientHiker wrote:
BorregoWrangler wrote:
dsefcik wrote:
So does this count as 2 hikes and you get a weekend off??
Haha... No, I counted this outing as one hike, since we did them back-to-back and they were so close together. I do wanna head out to Torote again and get back into those valleys.
My next hike will either be Eagle Peak, between Descanso and Julian, or Sweetwater River Trail to Mother Miguel Mountain.
So a buddy and I were running around the Cedar Creek/Three Sisters area last Saturday and when I opened the register on Eagle Pk and recognized your 52 hike project in action! Eagle Pk register pic.jpg" /> It took me until now to figure out how to post a picture, hence the delay on posting this (thanks for the advice Daren, my first forum pic's!!!!!!). I included a great view of Eagle from a peak to the east. Eagle Pk from peak to east.jpg" /> Happy hiking, awesome TR's on here lately!
-Robert
edited by ImpatientHiker on 1/21/2015 I give up! Just imagine a picture of what you wrote in the Eagle Pk register...
edited by ImpatientHiker on 1/21/2015
That is too cool!
I host my photos on Photobucket then post the link here. You might try that too. (You'll have to edit and the update the post again for it to show up.)
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2609
1/21/2015
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BorregoWrangler wrote:
I host my photos on Photobucket then post the link here. You might try that too. (You'll have to edit and the update the post again for it to show up.)
BW, what I do is after I write mt Blogger post I just select all the text and photos with the mouse, copy and then paste into the forum post and it all shows up!
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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AdventureGraham Posts: 170
1/21/2015
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dsefcik wrote:
BorregoWrangler wrote:
I host my photos on Photobucket then post the link here. You might try that too. (You'll have to edit and the update the post again for it to show up.)
BW, what I do is after I write mt Blogger post I just select all the text and photos with the mouse, copy and then paste into the forum post and it all shows up!
Do you use the "direct" link from photobucket?
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2609
1/21/2015
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BorregoWrangler wrote:
dsefcik wrote:
BorregoWrangler wrote:
I host my photos on Photobucket then post the link here. You might try that too. (You'll have to edit and the update the post again for it to show up.)
BW, what I do is after I write mt Blogger post I just select all the text and photos with the mouse, copy and then paste into the forum post and it all shows up!
Do you use the "direct" link from photobucket?
I use SmugMug, I am not familiar with photobucket. I just write my Blogger post using the SmugMug URL's and then publish the post and just copy/paste the text and photos on the page as you see them, magic does the rest I guess.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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AdventureGraham Posts: 170
1/28/2015
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So here's my trip report from my Eagle Peak Hike:http://johnandautumnsadventures.blogspot.com/2015/01/eagle-peak-cleveland-national-forest.html?utm_source=BP_recent
edited by BorregoWrangler on 1/28/2015
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