| Placed: | December 28, 2002 |
|---|---|
| Created by: | Ryan Carpenter ([email protected]) |
| Clue Difficulty: | Easy |
| Terrain Difficulty: | Easy (About 3 miles roundtrip, about 1,000' elevation gain) |
| Last Checked: | February 15, 2003 |
| Status: | alive and well |
Who put the M in Madonna Mountain? Why does Madonna Mountain not show up on any maps? This hike won't answer those questions, but the M actually stands for Mission, as in the school near the base that put it up there. And Madonna Mountain is officially named Cerro San Luis, which is what it'll be labeled as on any map you have. But you'll look like a dumb tourist if you dare to call it by its official name. Everyone calls this mountain Madonna Mountain--mostly because a man named Alex Madonna owns most of the land that makes it up and the trailhead is near Madonna Inn, which Alex Madonna built and runs.
Speaking of Madonna Inn, if you've never visted this fine establishment, it's definitely worth checking out. And be sure not to miss one of the world's most famous restrooms with the waterfall urinal. It ranked #7 or something like that on the world's most famous bathrooms. I kid you not. Ladies, be sure to have a man scout it out and make sure the coast is clear before barging in. (This is very normal, though, so don't feel embarrassed checking it out. There's probably been as many women in there checking it out as men!) But, I digress, this hike gives probably the single best view you'll ever get of San Luis Obispo, and anyone who's anyone has hiked to the top.
Getting to the trailhead is a bit tricky, though. If you're traveling southbound on Highway 101, take the Marsh Street exit. Before the exit even ends, swerve quickly across incoming traffic to the trailhead located on your left.
If you're traveling northbound on Highway 101, you'll have to get off the freeway (at the Marsh Street exit) and find the onramp for Highway 101 southbound from there. You must take the southbound onramp, but just before getting on the actual freeway, swerve into the parking lot for the trailhead which will be on your right.
Then, when you're ready to look for the letterbox, whip out your compass and take a gander at 260 degrees. It looks kind of like there's a second, smaller top on Madonna Mountain over there, don't you think? Really rocky? Just beyond the stage?
That's what I thought, but rarely does anyone ever go up there because--like--why? It's not the top of Madonna Mountain. More like a psuedo-summit. Which is exactly why I figured the letterbox would be better placed on that top, where it would be less likely to be discovered by wanderers tramping to the very top like you just did. Aren't I a genious? =)
So get out and hike to the very top of the psuedo-summit. Be careful, because it's a scramble to the top, and poison oak is common. Have you reached the tippy-top of the psuedo-summit? Great. Now take another five to ten steps at 210 degrees. There's a small cluster of rocks, and the letterbox is hidden in a crack between two of them, covered (a bit) with loose stones I found about.
Found the box yet? Great! What are you waiting for? Stamp in! =)
NOTE: Always take adequate precautions (such as prodding with a stick and/or wearing gloves) before reaching into dark crevasses and holes in the wild. Before you set out read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.
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