Sign Up  /  Login

Mankind's best friend over Palm Desert LbNA #47909

Owner:Dr. Net
Plant date:May 25, 2009
Location:
City:Palm Desert
County:Riverside
State:California
Boxes:1
Found by: Kelsung
Last found:Mar 10, 2024
Status:FFF
Last edited:May 25, 2009
In 2008 I started regularly visiting Palm Desert and settled into a house near the southern edge, along route 74 which takes the adventure-seeker into the rugged mountains and eventually to San Diego if so motivated. It wasn’t along until I, the observant-challenged, noticed the brightly lighted cross above southern Palm Desert. Soon afterwards, my roommate suggested if I was up for a hike to take her dog to the nearby park, just west of route 74 behind St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church. That park, it turns out, is a dog’s heaven, and it’s also the starting point for a trail that leads up up up to the cross above Palm Desert.

I was interested in the story of the cross and found the story online at http://www.stmargarets.org/brochures/The%20Cross%203-fold.pdf . It’s been there 20 years and brightly shines like a light on a hill, reminding people of Jesus Christ’s love of all people, who died on a cross 2000 years ago. Being a Christian myself, and walking man’s best friend along the trail, I noticed the similarity between what is commonly called man’s best friend, the dog, and what I consider mankind’s best friend, the Teacher and self-proclaimed Son of God.

So, when it came time to hide a letterbox, this was my choice, a doggy heaven above an earthly mankind heaven (Palm Springs)!

To find the letterbox, turn off a west-facing road near the two churches along Highway 74 and cross a bridge, turning right and driving ¼ mile to the dog park. If you’ve got a dog, he/she will enjoy the time as you proceed to the letterbox. My roommate’s dog typically finds a tennis ball and I throw it wildly trying to tire her out. We’ve left the ball each time for your dog and you, if you do find it.

There are a couple trails that head up the mountain, so choose the “Homestead Trail” and start ascending (at the bottom is a doggy bag dispenser for pooch poo). About 6-8 minutes up you’ll reach a flat area where your dog can get some water from a cute dog drinking fountain (there’s one for you too…). Then proceed up the hill through the switchbacks, til it becomes rather flat. About 10 minutes later the path splits again, one trail going steeply down the left. Continue straight. Later still, the path splits again – take the high road. Finally, it splits once again, this time take the easier path.

Now start counting bends in the trail. Just before the 2nd significant turn, you’ll have a nice view of the surrounding views on your left and you can rest on some large boulders to the right of the trail. Go to the one that looks like it could be the Throne for God Himself (it’s not the topmost boulder but one that looks like it has arm rests. Sit on it and look toward your left, about 20 feet to a flat table-like stone. ½ way from this “throne” to the table is a SPOR where I’ve hidden this “bone”.

Enjoy the box, replace it safely and covertly, and enjoy the rest of the hike up the hill, to the cross, if you like.