Mount Soledad 1132773 223992915 2008-07-06T21:22:06Z Andrew Maiman 86851 clean up using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] [[Image:Mount Soledad Cross WF.jpg|right|thumb|Mount Soledad Easter Cross]] '''Mount Soledad''' is a prominent [[landmark]] in the city of [[San Diego, California|San Diego]], [[California]], [[United States]]. The mountaintop is the site of the '''"Mount Soledad cross"''', the subject of a continuing controversy over the involvement of religion in government. ''See [[Mount Soledad cross controversy]]''. == Geography == The 822-foot-(251-meter)-tall hill lies between [[Interstate 5]] to the east and the [[Pacific Ocean]] to the west. It is mostly within the community of [[La Jolla, San Diego, California|La Jolla]] where the northern and eastern slopes form a sharp [[escarpment]] along the Rose Canyon [[Geologic fault|fault]]. The community of [[Pacific Beach, San Diego, California|Pacific Beach]] is on the gentler southern slope. There are several [[radio]] and [[television]] transmitters located on the summit including television channels [[KFMB-TV|8]] and [[KGTV|10]], the [[CBS]] and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliates respectively. Commercial aircraft approaching San Diego from the direction of [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] often use Mt. Soledad as their point to start the downwind leg of their approach to [[San Diego International Airport]]. [[Image:IMG 1143.JPG|left|thumb|View of downtown San Diego from the top of Mount Soledad.]] == Land events == On [[October 3]], [[2007]], one home on Soledad Mountain Road, one of the main roads up the mountain, was destroyed by a major [[landslide]]. Five houses were damaged, and over 20 others were evacuated. The city of San Diego had noticed water and gas main leaks since July, and cracks in the pavement since August.[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/03/state/n145815D44.DTL] == Legend of Munchkin land == A common [[urban legend]], has stated that: {{quote|back in the 1930s a group of little people who had made a lot of money in Hollywood appearing in movies such as [[The Wizard of Oz]] supposedly came down to San Diego and built a collection of miniature houses on Mt. Soledad where they could live in comfort together. But of course, nobody seems to know exactly where on Mt. Soledad this group of small houses [exists].[http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/weblog/permalink/the_legend_of_midgetville/]}} Despite these rumors, the [[Munchkin]] land does not exist. It was discovered that they were most probably "a group of four cottages on Hillside Drive in La Jolla built by famed architect [[Cliff May]]. [http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/weblog/permalink/the_legend_of_midgetville/] [http://media.www.thedailyaztec.com/media/storage/paper741/news/2003/05/12/Tempo/A.Big.Man.Looks.For.The.Land.Of.The.Littlepeople-757722.shtml?page=1] == Last home of Dr. Seuss == Mount Soledad also holds the last home lived in by [[Dr. Seuss]]. His widow, Audrey Geisel still resides atop Mt. Soledad in an abandoned observation tower what is referred to as the ''Seuss house'' by the locals.[http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080308/news_1m8bell.html][http://alumni.ucsd.edu/magazine/vol1no2/features/seuss.htm] ==Cycling== Because of the variety of long steady climbs, light traffic on most routes, and great views, Mount Soledad is a popular [[cycling]] destination and area. There are numerous routes ranging from the relatively gradual 3 1/2 mile climb up Soledad Mountain Road on the southern slopes to the very steep and short (1 1/2 miles) Hidden Valley Road to Via Capri route on the north side. ===Mount Soledad Cycling Routes=== The routes up to the top of '''Mount Soledad''' going clockwise starting in Pacific Beach, are (note: the footnotes are links to Google maps showing the routes): # '''Pacifica - '''Pico Street at Garnet Ave, Pico Street, Pacifica Drive<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=garnet+ave+and+pico+street,+san+diego,+ca,+to+pacifica+drive+and+amity+street,+san+diego&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=14&ll=32.820677,-117.232533&spn=0.042556,0.078363 Route from Pico Street at Garnet Ave up Pacifica Drive to Amity Street]</ref>, Amity Street, Middleton Road, Middleton Way, Soledad Rancho Road, Soledad Mountain Road, La Jolla Scenic Drive South<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=pacific+drive+and+amity+street,+san+diego+to+Soledad+Road,+92037&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=14&ll=32.820893,-117.232704&spn=0.042556,0.078363 Route from Amity Street at Pacifica Drive to the top]</ref>. # '''Soledad Mountain Road - '''From Garnet Ave up Soledad Mountain Road to La Jolla Scenic Drive South<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&ie=UTF8&saddr=Soledad+Mountain+Rd+%26+Garnet+Ave,+San+Diego,+CA+92109&daddr=Soledad+Road,+92037&z=14&ll=32.821831,-117.236481&spn=0.042556,0.078363&om=1 Route up Soledad Mountain Road from Garnet Ave to the top]</ref>. # '''Soledad Road - '''Lamont Street, which becomes Soledad Road, to Soledad Mountain Road and La Jolla Scenic Drive South <ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=lamont+street+at+beryl+street,+san+diego,+ca+to+Soledad+Road,+92037&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=14 Route from Lamont at Beryl to the top]</ref>. #*''Variation (Alta La Jolla Drive) - ''While going up Soledad Road, turn left at Alta La Jolla Drive, then right on Cardeno Drive and up to the top via La Jolla Scenic Drive<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Soledad+Road+at+Alta+La+Jolla+Drive,+san+diego,+ca+to+Alta+La+Jolla+Drive+at+Cardeno+Drive,+92037&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=32.823237,-117.244849&spn=0.021278,0.039182&om=1 Route across Alta La Jolla Drive from Soledad Road to Cardeno Drive]</ref>. # '''Cardeno Drive - '''Fanuel Street, which becomes Cardeno Drive, to La Jolla Scenic Drive South<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=fanuel+street+at+turquoise+street,+san+diego,+ca+to+Soledad+Road,+92037&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1 Route From Fanuel St at Turquoise St to the top via Cardeno Drive]</ref>. # '''Rutgers - '''From Candlelight Dr at Van Nuys, Vista Claridad, Rutgers Rd, to La Jolla Scenic Drive South <ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=candlelight+drive+at+Van+Nuys+Street,+92109+to+Soledad+Rd,+La+Jolla,+CA+92037&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1 Route up Candlelight Drive and Rutgers Rd to the top]</ref>. # '''La Jolla Mesa - ''' Mission Boulevard, which becomes La Jolla Mesa Drive, to La Jolla Scenic Drive South<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&ie=UTF8&lr=lang_en&saddr=Mission+Blvd+%26+La+Jolla+Blvd,+San+Diego,+CA+92109&daddr=Soledad+Road,+92037&z=14&om=1 Route from Mission Blvd at La Jolla Blvd to the top]</ref>. # '''La Jolla Rancho - ''' Forward Street, Linda Rosa Ave, La Jolla Corona Drive, La Jolla Rancho Road<ref name=rancho>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=La+Jolla+Blvd+at+Forward+Street,+San+Diego,+CA+92109&daddr=La+Jolla+Rancho+Rd+and+Rodeo+Drive,+92037&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=32.821759,-117.258883&spn=0.019222,0.037293&om=1 Route from Forward Street to La Jolla Rancho] [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=La+Jolla+Rancho+Rd+and+Rodeo+Drive,+92037&daddr=Soledad+Rd,+La+Jolla,+CA+92037&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1 Route from La Jolla Rancho up to the top]</ref>, La Jolla Scenic Drive<ref name=rancho/>. # '''Muirlands Vista - '''Nautilus Street, Muirlands Vista Way<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Nautilus+St+%26+La+Jolla+Blvd,+La+Jolla,+CA+92037&daddr=Muirlands+Drive+%26+Solymar+Dr,+La+Jolla,+CA+92037&ie=UTF8&lr=lang_en&z=16&om=1 Route from Nautilus to Muirlands Drive along Muirlands Vista Way]</ref>, Muirlands Drive, La Cumbre Drive, El Camino Teatro, La Jolla Scenic Drive South<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Muirlands+Drive+%26+Solymar+Dr,+La+Jolla,+CA+92037&daddr=Soledad+Rd,+La+Jolla,+CA+92037&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1 Route from Muirlands Drive to the top]</ref>. # '''Muirlands - '''Nautilus Street, Muirlands Drive, El Camino Teatro<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Fay+Ave+%26+W+Muirlands+Drive,+La+Jolla,+CA+92037&daddr=El+Camino+Teatro+at+La+Jolla+Scenic+Dr,+92037&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=32.831676,-117.265663&spn=0.010638,0.019591&om=1 Route along Muirlands Drive and El Camino Teatro]</ref>, La Jolla Scenic Drive South<ref name=FromTeatro>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=El+Camino+Teatro+at+La+Jolla+Scenic+Dr,+92037&daddr=Soledad+Road,92037&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=32.833587,-117.253368&spn=0.010638,0.019591&om=1 Route from El Camino Teatro to the top]</ref>. # '''Nautilus - '''Nautilus Street at Neptune Place to La Jolla Scenic Drive South<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Nautilus+St+%26+Neptune+Pl,+La+Jolla,+CA+92037&daddr=Soledad+Road,+92037&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=32.834705,-117.262316&spn=0.021275,0.039182&om=1 Route up Nautilus Street to the top]</ref>. # '''Valverde - '''Nautilus Street, Via Valverde, Caminito Valverde<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Nautilus+St+%26+La+Jolla+Blvd,+La+Jolla,+CA+92037&daddr=Caminito+Valverde+%26+Caminito+Marzella,+La+Jolla,+CA+92037&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1 Route up Nautilus Street to Caminito Valverde]</ref>, Caminito Bassano West, Upper Hillside Drive, Via Casa Alta, La Jolla Scenic Drive South<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Caminito+Valverde+%26+Caminito+Velasco,+La+Jolla,+CA+92037&daddr=Soledad+Road,92037&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1 Route from Caminito Valverde to Via Casa Alta to the top]</ref>. # '''Upper Hillside - '''Exchange Place, Country Club Drive, Romero Drive, Brodieaa Way, Encilia Drive, Upper Hillside Drive<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=exchange+place+and+torrey+pines+road,+92037&daddr=1750+Upper+Hillside+Dr,+92037&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1 Route from Exchange Place at Torrey Pines Drive to Upper Hillside Drive]</ref> (requires walk through side pedestrian gates to get around a short section of private road with locked gates across the road at each end), Via Casa Alta, La Jolla Scenic Drive South<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=1750+Upper+Hillside+Dr,+La+Jolla,+CA+92037&daddr=Soledad+Road,+92037&ie=UTF8&lr=lang_en&z=14&ll=32.839717,-117.251683&spn=0.006067,0.009323&om=1 Route from Upper Hillside Drive to the top]</ref>. # '''Hillside - '''Hillside Drive at Torrey Pines Road to Via Siena and up Via Capri<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Hillside+Drive+and+Torrey+Pines+road,+92037&daddr=Soledad+Road,+92037&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1 Route from Hillside Drive at Torrey Pines Road to the top]</ref>. #*''Variation (paved path): '' Where Hillside becomes Via Siena, turn right to continue along the remaining short dead-end section of Hillside, where it becomes a paved path. At the end of the path it is easy to connect to Via Capri near the top<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Hillside+Drive+and+Torrey+Pines+road,+92037&daddr=Soledad+Road,+92037&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=17&ll=32.841736,-117.252145&spn=0.005318,0.009795&t=h Aerial photo] that shows the paved path from Hillside Drive that parallels and converges with Via Capri</ref>. #* ''Variation (Soledad Ave) - ''Exchange Place, Soledad Ave, to Hillside Drive... <ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Exchange+Pl+%26+Torrey+Pines+Rd,+La+Jolla,+CA+92037&daddr=Soledad+Road,+92037&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1 Route from Exchange Place and Torrey Pines Road to the top via Soledad Ave and Hillside Drive]</ref>. #*''Variation (historic bridge detour) - ''Exchange Place, Soledad Ave, Al Bahr Drive, Crespo Street, Castellana Road to Hillside Drive...<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Al+Bahr+Drive+at+Soledad+Ave,+La+Jolla,+CA+92037&daddr=Puente+Drive+%26+Castellana+Road,+92037&ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=32.845964,-117.263077&spn=0.004804,0.009323&om=1 Al Bahr historic bridge detour]</ref> # '''Via Capri - '''Hidden Valley Road to Via Capri<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Hidden+Valley+Road+at+La+Jolla+Parkway,+92037&daddr=Soledad+Road,92037&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1 Route up Hidden Valley Road and Via Capri to the top]</ref>. ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== *[http://www.VirtualLaJolla.com/mt_soledad.htm Mount Soledad in HDVT (High Definition Virtual Tour)] *[http://www.ruthmillsteam.com/lajollamap.html Map - Areas of La Jolla] {{CoorHeader|32|50|23|N|117|14|41|W|type:landmark}} [[Category:Mountain monuments and memorials]] [[Category:Mountains of California|Soledad, Mount]] [[Category:United States military memorials and cemeteries]] [[Category:Visitor attractions in San Diego]] [[Category:Parks in San Diego, California]]