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Nextdoor wars: Claws out at Cowles Mountain
Tesla targeted by terrier
Sure, it looks peaceful when seen from a distance...
San Diego has always been a city of hidden stories — murmured in the spaces between sun-bleached bungalows, whispered over backyard fences, and now, increasingly, shouted into the digital void of neighborhood apps. And nowhere are these narratives more brutally and hilariously exposed than on Nextdoor, the social media platform that has become the city's most unfiltered confessional.
Welcome to Cowles Mountain, the most hiked peak in Mission Trails Regional Park, offering a steep 1.5-mile climb to the summit and panoramic views that make the effort worthwhile. Cowles Mountain — pronounced “Coals,” by the way, though I have never heard anyone say it that way — has been a local favorite for decades, gaining popularity in the 1980s, when urban sprawl brought residents closer to its trailheads. Everybody hikes Cowles: spry 80-year-olds who outpace most thirtysomethings, ambitious runners sprinting uphill, moms negotiating with tantrum-throwing toddlers who insist they are too tired to take another step, millennials on first dates assessing whether or not their partner is sufficiently hardcore, and overweight individuals on inspiring weight-loss journeys.
But when folks of different stripes bump up against one another, someone — or something — is liable to get, well, bumped. Or scratched. Just ask anyone whose Tesla has suffered in the wake of the anti-Musk backlash. What follows is a tale of unleashed chaos — literally.
The Original Post
“This morning, Saturday, at 9:29, at the Cowles Mountain Barker Way Trailhead, this blonde-haired woman with her black long-haired dog (with a white tip on its tail) let her unleashed dog run loose and jump up on the side of my car. The dog scratched up the entire side of my car as it slid down. She didn’t even look at the car to assess the damage, show any responsibility or remorse, or leave a number. She owes me a paint touch-up. I have a Tesla. It recorded this when I was hiking. I got back, saw the scratches and found the video. I would have stopped her if I was there.”
Comments/Observations
1. “I’m not saying she was wrong or get in between this, but unless the dog really was trying to dig into the side of the car you can buff it out. Or even easier with a white magic eraser the marks should come right off. Just an FYI.”
This person's faith in the power of Magic Erasers is touching.
2. “If you care about your car that much, garage it.”
This is classic San Diego logic: if you can’t keep your car pristine in the wild, maybe it shouldn’t leave the driveway.
3. “No one takes responsibility for anything! On the same par as hit-and-run drivers. Run and maybe I’ll get caught, or maybe not! It’s a MAJOR problem with our woke society! I was raised to take responsibility for my actions. I wish more people were!!! It’s the cause of many of our societal problems! I’ll get off my soapbox now.”
No Tesla drama wouldn’t be complete without someone tying it to the downfall of modern society. Who would have thunk that driving an environmentally friendly car would become one of those "tell me you’re a Trump Supporter without telling me you’re a Trump supporter" signals?
4. “I would absolutely lose it if I returned from my hike and found that my new car had been mauled! I agree, the damage can be remedied, but the fact that the pet owner let it happen is insane to me. I park on the Barker side of Cowles as it’s less busy than the main route and I thought somewhat safer. I’m so sorry your hike ended on such a sour note. Let me know if you ever want to join up with some fellow hiking enthusiasts for some ventures that are a little less congested, although I too love the convenience of Mission Trails.”
This is the online equivalent of offering a mug of tea and deep condolences. Maybe someone needs to start a hiking support group?
Final Thoughts
So, what’s the takeaway? Maybe it’s that dogs should be leashed? Or that people should leave notes on windshields like in the old days? Or perhaps it’s this: even in the great outdoors, neighborhood drama finds a way.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Nextdoor wars: Claws out at Cowles Mountain
Tesla targeted by terrier
Nextdoor wars: Claws out at Cowles Mountain
Tesla targeted by terrier
Sure, it looks peaceful when seen from a distance...
San Diego has always been a city of hidden stories — murmured in the spaces between sun-bleached bungalows, whispered over backyard fences, and now, increasingly, shouted into the digital void of neighborhood apps. And nowhere are these narratives more brutally and hilariously exposed than on Nextdoor, the social media platform that has become the city's most unfiltered confessional.
Welcome to Cowles Mountain, the most hiked peak in Mission Trails Regional Park, offering a steep 1.5-mile climb to the summit and panoramic views that make the effort worthwhile. Cowles Mountain — pronounced “Coals,” by the way, though I have never heard anyone say it that way — has been a local favorite for decades, gaining popularity in the 1980s, when urban sprawl brought residents closer to its trailheads. Everybody hikes Cowles: spry 80-year-olds who outpace most thirtysomethings, ambitious runners sprinting uphill, moms negotiating with tantrum-throwing toddlers who insist they are too tired to take another step, millennials on first dates assessing whether or not their partner is sufficiently hardcore, and overweight individuals on inspiring weight-loss journeys.
But when folks of different stripes bump up against one another, someone — or something — is liable to get, well, bumped. Or scratched. Just ask anyone whose Tesla has suffered in the wake of the anti-Musk backlash. What follows is a tale of unleashed chaos — literally.
The Original Post
“This morning, Saturday, at 9:29, at the Cowles Mountain Barker Way Trailhead, this blonde-haired woman with her black long-haired dog (with a white tip on its tail) let her unleashed dog run loose and jump up on the side of my car. The dog scratched up the entire side of my car as it slid down. She didn’t even look at the car to assess the damage, show any responsibility or remorse, or leave a number. She owes me a paint touch-up. I have a Tesla. It recorded this when I was hiking. I got back, saw the scratches and found the video. I would have stopped her if I was there.”
Comments/Observations
1. “I’m not saying she was wrong or get in between this, but unless the dog really was trying to dig into the side of the car you can buff it out. Or even easier with a white magic eraser the marks should come right off. Just an FYI.”
This person's faith in the power of Magic Erasers is touching.
2. “If you care about your car that much, garage it.”
This is classic San Diego logic: if you can’t keep your car pristine in the wild, maybe it shouldn’t leave the driveway.
3. “No one takes responsibility for anything! On the same par as hit-and-run drivers. Run and maybe I’ll get caught, or maybe not! It’s a MAJOR problem with our woke society! I was raised to take responsibility for my actions. I wish more people were!!! It’s the cause of many of our societal problems! I’ll get off my soapbox now.”
No Tesla drama wouldn’t be complete without someone tying it to the downfall of modern society. Who would have thunk that driving an environmentally friendly car would become one of those "tell me you’re a Trump Supporter without telling me you’re a Trump supporter" signals?
4. “I would absolutely lose it if I returned from my hike and found that my new car had been mauled! I agree, the damage can be remedied, but the fact that the pet owner let it happen is insane to me. I park on the Barker side of Cowles as it’s less busy than the main route and I thought somewhat safer. I’m so sorry your hike ended on such a sour note. Let me know if you ever want to join up with some fellow hiking enthusiasts for some ventures that are a little less congested, although I too love the convenience of Mission Trails.”
This is the online equivalent of offering a mug of tea and deep condolences. Maybe someone needs to start a hiking support group?
Final Thoughts
So, what’s the takeaway? Maybe it’s that dogs should be leashed? Or that people should leave notes on windshields like in the old days? Or perhaps it’s this: even in the great outdoors, neighborhood drama finds a way.
Comments