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Grumpy Grandeur LbNA #18403 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Oct 7, 2005
Location:
City:Julian
County:San Diego
State:California
Boxes:5
Planted by:Grumpy Grinch
Found by: ClueSo (4)
Last found:Oct 22, 2013
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFar
Last edited:Oct 7, 2005
Box 2 has been reported missing twice. We have retired it.

The Grumpy Grandeur Series can be found in a beautiful Wilderness Preserve near the quaint "apple pie" town of Julian. The complete hike is about 6 miles roundtrip along gravel then dirt trails. There are numerous steep upgrades and loose dirt; it is not stroller friendly. No bicycles, horses, nor dogs allowed. You will want to bring lots of water, sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, a picnic and a good walking stick. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and be prepared for sudden changes in the weather.

The Preserve is open to the public for hiking 7 days a week, sunrise to sunset. There is no fee to enter. Two of these letterboxes are "3-season" boxes. The mid-summit gate is closed from December 1st to March 15th.

Directions:
From Highway 78 heading east, turn left onto Julian's Farmer Road (its main street). Travel about 2 miles then turn right onto Wynola Road, at the T intersection. Soon after, turn left onto Farmer's Road again. On the right side of the road you will see a sign for the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve. Park along the road behind the sign.

Box #1 Crimson Chirper

Walk up the stone path and past the sign for the Preserve. Continue straight ahead between the stone walls. As you approach the artistic gate, look down and read about the time capsule. Enter the gate and follow the main trail up, up, and up. Turn right and go up the stone steps to the Five Oaks Trail.

From the large brown trail sign, walk 40 steps through the gnarled manzanita-lined lane. You should be near the upright remains of a stump on the right side of the trail, with a half-buried boulder on the left. Look 3 steps beyond on the left at the base of another manzanita, under the red rock. The Crimson Chirper nests there in his own mantle of red.

Box #2 Grumpy Goose

The Five Oaks Trail is 1.5 miles long, with lots of upgrades, stone steps, twists, turns, and magnificent views. About half way up you will pass through a high meadow where the trail runs east-west past a magnificent, soaring grey oak skeleton, a popular site for acorn woodpeckers. Continue past this old beauty and keep climbing up the trail.

When you reach a stone bench looking out over the valley, have a seat, rest, and enjoy your picnic. After packing up all your trash, turn to your right. Just off the trail you will see a large rock. Standing behind it is a 3-trunk oak tree. The Grumpy Goose is at the base of the tree, overlooking the valley, under a rock cairn.

Box #3 Applied Aviation

Continue on the trail and you will soon meet the road. The summit is upward 1.2 miles to your right. The entrance gate is downward 1.9 miles to your left. Turn right and go up toward the summit. You will encounter the mid-summit gate after another three-tenths of a mile. Keep on the main trail up towards the summit. When faced with a trail intersection, stay to the right and go up. Pass the astronomer's chimney; please stay on the road.

As you approach the summit, take the road up to the right. Stop and read about the light beacons that helped early aviators pass safely through the mountains. From the sign take 8 steps along the fence to the right. Look under the rocks at the base of the bush on the right, beneath the lower point of a triangular grey rock.

Box #4 Grumpy Grinch

Continue counter-clockwise past the beacon tower and around the summit. When you reach the point where the trail intersects itself, note the two large oak trees to your right. Look in the crotch of the left tree, under leaves, twigs, and rocks. Grumpy Grinch resides there where he can see the towns and valleys below, plotting his holiday hijinks.

Box #5 Snow Slider

Now you get to walk down the road towards the entrance. Go through the mid-summit gate. Pass the trail marker to the Five Oaks Trail. Continue on the main road. Note the soaring grey oak skeleton on the left that you saw in the meadow on the way up. From the spot where a road turnoff begins near the tree, take 65 steps down the main road. You should be standing near a cluster of manzanita bushes on the left side of the road. Look below and behind the largest manzanita on the right edge of the cluster. You will find Max's favorite winter transport, when he's not pulling the Grinch's overloaded sleigh.

Continue down the main road and you will soon return to the entry gate.