Sign Up  /  Login

First aidThe Spirit Rocks LbNA #8006

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Mar 30, 2004
Location:
City:Canebrake
County:Kern
State:California
Boxes:2
Planted by:PenGwen
Found by: CA Breakfast Burritos
Last found:Jan 17, 2023
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Mar 30, 2004


Placed 3-30-04, Replanted and renamed 11/21/2008 with an additional box.

This is a 4-season letterbox, but summer temperatures may exceed 100 degrees.
Short hike, probably ½ mile round trip.
Bring water and be careful of the cholla cactus.
Not doggie friendly due to the cholla.
Good dirt road, 4-season and 2 WD ok.

The Tubatulabal lived in this area, and many still do. The box was originally called “Tubatulabal” but since that can be googled we felt that the new name might be better. They (Tubatulabal) are linguistically related to the Shoshone and Piute. There is evidence of their habitation around the north fork and south fork of the Kern River. The locations of these two pictograph sites may have been used to determine winter solstice as the sunrise on winter solstice comes up over the nearby Owens peak. The second site, which is better preserved, has an image with a circular design with internal spokes and a horizontal line with “ticks” along it. The “tick” marks are believed to represent either the number of spirit helpers or the number of days spent on a vision quest. The faint elongated stick-figure humans on the left side of the panel may represent the “feeling” of stretching up to the gods.

Please respect these sites as you would a church. We planted both of the letterboxes away from the sites and wish no disrespect in their placement.

Note: When going off trail for both boxes please try to wipe away your footprints. Footprints in this area will remain for along time and will cause the curious to look in those areas.

Clues: If you are coming to the area from highway 14, drive west on highway 178 for about 17 miles and turn north on Chimney Peak road. If you pass Cane Break Café on 178 turn around.

If you are heading east from Lake Isabella, turn north on Chimney Peak road 2.3 miles past the Cane Break Café.

Once on the Chimney Peak road drive 2 miles and you should pass by a rock outcropping close to the left side of the road. The road will start heading north and about 1/3rd of a mile past the rock outcropping you will see a VERY large boulder on your left. There is no turnout, but park your car as far off the road as you can.

#1.Spirit Food.

There is a grouping of 4 boulders on the left (west) side of the road, and right next to the road. Look to the west slightly uphill past the VERY large boulder and find the largest boulder on the other side of a deep arroyo. This arroyo is about 30 yards in front of the site #1. Head toward this boulder and you should see a faint trail crossing the arroyo and heading up to this boulder. The pictographs face the road, but you will not see them until you get closer. Once at site#1 go to the rear of the boulder and head uphill for 44 steps at 240 degrees from the corner of the flat slab boulder to the first Digger Pine tree. From this tree head South 14 steps to a 1-foot high rounded boulder. The letterbox is at the uphill side of this rounded boulder covered by one rock. A reddish brown inkpad would be best.

#2. Spirit Rocks.

After stamping in, head back down to the rear of site#1 near the corner of the flat slab. Site #2 is located at approximately 330 degrees as the crow flies, but since you are no bird, head generally north and in about 30 or 40 yards you will find a faint trail that will take you to site #2. You will cross one small drainage and in about 300 yards from site #1 just before a second drainage you will find Site #2 in a grouping of boulders. There is a small tree covering the front of the panel and you should find a “cultural resources” sign at each site. If you look around you can spot some grind holes on the rear of the area in surrounding boulders, The Tubatulabal were grinders of pine seeds and acorns, but since this is so close to sacred sites I think the grind holes may have been used to grind up mushrooms rather than food.
Once at site #2 face the two grind holes and look back towards the way you came and spot the large rock you passed by 40 steps back.
Go to the sharp corner on the uphill side where the rock slopes down. The Letterbox is under a thin piece of rock and some debris.

When researching our clues please be aware that when previous searchers list “ATTEMPTED” on the clue sheets it may reflect more on their abilities as finders than indicate whether the box is viable or not. We do monitor our clues and boxes pretty well and appreciate the notes written to us by those that find or attempt our letterboxes.