Cowles Mountain
Encyclopedia
Cowles Mountain is a prominent mountain within the city limits of San Diego
, California
and also within Mission Trails Regional Park
, in a neighborhood known as San Carlos, San Diego. The mountain is named after George A. Cowles
, an early ranching pioneer in San Diego County. Its 1593 feet (485.5 m) summit is the highest point in the city of San Diego. The main trail to the summit is a popular hiking destination taking hundreds of people per day to a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of San Diego County. The hike to the top is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and an elevation change of about 950 feet (289.6 m). This trail is on the corner of Golfcrest Drive and Navajo Road. A much-less-used but maintained trail begins near the intersection of Boulder Lake Avenue and Barker way. This trail meets the main trail near the summit.
painted a 400 feet (121.9 m) letter "S" on the side of the mountain, after which it took on its popular name.
In April 1942, during World War II
, the local military ordered the S covered up for the sake of national security
. After the war the painting tradition was resurrected. In the 1970s, the annual repainting tradition was discarded due to complaints from environmentalists but enjoyed a brief resurgence in the late 1980s.(see discussion page)
In 1991 the "S" was the basis of a prank by Seniors from nearby Patrick Henry High School. Overnight, the "S" was closed into a "9" and a crude "1" was added next to it. SDSU students eventually restored the "S" one last time.
The mountain, except for marked trails, is now a protected area, and the "S" has not been repainted for nearly two decades.
and Tertiary
sedimentary overburden. Small plateaus on the south and east slopes are the remnants of an extensive terrestrial, near sea level erosional surface called the Poway Terrace that are now about 1200 feet (365.8 m) in elevation. A prominent former seacliff on the west side rises above a now-dry wave-cut terrace, now mostly covered with suburban developments, at about 600 feet (182.9 m) in elevation.
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and also within Mission Trails Regional Park
Mission Trails Regional Park
Mission Trails Regional Park is a 5,800 acre open space preserve within the city of San Diego, California, established in 1974. It is the sixth largest municipally-owned park in the United States, and the largest in California.-Description:...
, in a neighborhood known as San Carlos, San Diego. The mountain is named after George A. Cowles
George A. Cowles
George A. Cowles was one of San Diego's early prominent ranching pioneers. George Cowles settled in the El Cajon valley in 1877, having first visited San Diego in 1873, then selecting this area over others he had considered in the relatively new state of California.-Early life:Born April 5, 1836...
, an early ranching pioneer in San Diego County. Its 1593 feet (485.5 m) summit is the highest point in the city of San Diego. The main trail to the summit is a popular hiking destination taking hundreds of people per day to a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of San Diego County. The hike to the top is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and an elevation change of about 950 feet (289.6 m). This trail is on the corner of Golfcrest Drive and Navajo Road. A much-less-used but maintained trail begins near the intersection of Boulder Lake Avenue and Barker way. This trail meets the main trail near the summit.
San Diego State University
For many years Cowles Mountain was locally known as "S" Mountain. In 1931, 500 students from San Diego State University (SDSU)San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
painted a 400 feet (121.9 m) letter "S" on the side of the mountain, after which it took on its popular name.
In April 1942, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the local military ordered the S covered up for the sake of national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
. After the war the painting tradition was resurrected. In the 1970s, the annual repainting tradition was discarded due to complaints from environmentalists but enjoyed a brief resurgence in the late 1980s.(see discussion page)
In 1991 the "S" was the basis of a prank by Seniors from nearby Patrick Henry High School. Overnight, the "S" was closed into a "9" and a crude "1" was added next to it. SDSU students eventually restored the "S" one last time.
The mountain, except for marked trails, is now a protected area, and the "S" has not been repainted for nearly two decades.
Pronunciation
The old moniker has faded and the mountain is now usually called Cowles Mountain by locals. The pronunciation of the name should be like "coals" as this is how George Cowles' family was known. However, most locals pronounce it "COW-les."Geology
Cowles Mountain consists of Jurassic and early Cretaceous metavolcanic and shallow intrusive igneous rocks that are resistant to erosion, and never covered by later CretaceousCretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
and Tertiary
Tertiary
The Tertiary is a deprecated term for a geologic period 65 million to 2.6 million years ago. The Tertiary covered the time span between the superseded Secondary period and the Quaternary...
sedimentary overburden. Small plateaus on the south and east slopes are the remnants of an extensive terrestrial, near sea level erosional surface called the Poway Terrace that are now about 1200 feet (365.8 m) in elevation. A prominent former seacliff on the west side rises above a now-dry wave-cut terrace, now mostly covered with suburban developments, at about 600 feet (182.9 m) in elevation.