Kumeyaay - Kilsh Ki'e (Pine Tree)
Corta Madera Mt., or Hilsh Ki'e (Pine Tree), as they call it, was once part of the Cuyamacas, and dwelt in what is now the lower end of green valley. They tell a story of a great upheaval of nature which took place in prehistor8ic times, after which Hilsh Ki'e (Pine Tree) was discovered far removed from his brother peaks.
Many many ages ago, far beyond recalling, the mighty peaks of Ah-ha' Kwe-ah-mac' (Water Beyond) numbered more than now. In those days another peak occupied all the lower part of what is now fertile valley. Together they raised their shaggy heads in proud triumph o'er the mountains round about them. For the Ah-ha' Kwe-ah-mac' (Water Beyond) wore beautiful long hair of sweet-smelling pine and cedar trees, and they gazed with disdain upon the others whose heads were covered with short hair of the lilac, elm, and such scrub brush.
A sign of servitude then was short hair. And the long-haired mountains clung close together, never mingling with their inferiors.
There came a time when they quarreled among themselves. No one knew just how it began. Some said it was because the lovely spring Ah-ha' Wi=ah-ha' (water colder water) betrothed herself to Ah-ha' Coo-mulk' (Water Sweet), who wished to carry her far below among the short-Haired mountains.
The trouble grew. At length they came to blows, and for many days the conflict raged. The great rugged peak Hilsh Ki'e (Pine Tree) down through whose arms glided the sparkling river Ah-ha' Coo-mulk' (Water Sweet, persisted in shielding it. He said that since the little stream was born, had he guarded and cherished it, and the refused to part with it.
Infuriated beyond measure, the other peaks besieged him. They belched out huge rocks upon his head. They lashed his up-turned face with whips of fire from out the sky. And unseen hands snatched up his long strands of hair by the roots.
Sturdily he returned blow for blow, but made no impression on the north peak, nor the middle one, who proved to be exceedingly strong and tough. He managed, however, to twist the head of the south peak and leave a crook in his neck forever. Valiantly, he strove against them, but it was an unequal struggle. Finally, in desperation, he gave a mighty wrench, freed himself from their fierce embrace and fled.
Out in the deepest darkness of the night, he plunged. The crashing thunder and the shrieking wind covered his flight. On and on he sped, never stopping and never heeding that many of his long locks of hair were falling by the way. Through the whole night and all the following day he ran and ran away from his home.
Exhausted at last, he fell in the midst of the low-browed mountains with short-cropped hair. And that is where you find him today-grand old Hilsh Kie'e (Pine Tree) with pine topped crest and a ragged, jagged, rough hewn scar where he broke off sharp from Ah-ha' Kwe-ah-mac' (Water Beyond), -- there among aliens far, far from his people.