W6/ND-272 – 4097

Kel and I woke up later than expected at our camp down on the dry lake bed. We quickly jumped in the truck and navigated several dirt roads to 4097. I used tracks from Bob Burd as a starting point, although, looking at the topo maps, coming from the south might have been a bit easier but longer. The way we took was mostly class 2, with a few class 3 sketchy parts.

We started north of the watershed, but if you do this, you need to be on the south side. Kel found a snail shell here (see photo below). I assumed this was an ancient fossil from the various dry lakes in the area, but it turns out there are a few species that live out there, specifically in drainage basins/ watersheds on the sides of mountains – just like the area we hiked through. I’m assuming the example she found is a Victorville shoulderband, not the endangered Mojave shoulderband. Pretty neat!

Near the top I started walking towards what I thought was the high point; This ended up being Spear which is 5M below the actual summit of 4097. At the top of the real summit, Kel and I found and signed the register. Not too many people come up here. The wind was cool and breezy. I tried to get some friends on 2M back at camp, but instead got a station from Phelan which was unexpected. I stretched out a 40M EFHW and started working CW, then switched to 20M. No S2S on this one.

I started this hike with low batteries on my GPS watch, so unfortunately I don’t have a track of the whole trip. The way down was basically the same as the way up, except we didn’t hike back down through the watershed. I’d probably go up this way if I visit again; it’s a bit sketcher but shorter.

By the way, if you’re out here It’s worth checking out petrogliphs here –> 35.13493379323206, -117.09191126180501. This is very close to where we parked and started hiking. There are more of these in the area – if you know where to look. 🙂

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/ND-272

Total distance: 1.39 mi
Total climbing: 1135 ft
Download file: 4097.gpx

Date:11/10/2025 |  Summit:W6/ND-272 (4097) 

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
17:25KG6USS144MHzFMS59 R59
17:46NT6E7MHzCWS599 R55N
17:48K1LB7MHzCWS57N R57N
17:49W6LOR7MHzCWS57N R55N
17:50N7AMA7MHzCWS55N R55N
17:51K6STR7MHzCWS57N R57N
17:52WA7JTM7MHzCWS55N R53N
17:53K6TUY7MHzCWS56N R57N
17:54K7XU7MHzCWS57N R55N
17:59WW7D14MHzCWS57N R57N
18:00K7SO14MHzCWS57N R55N
18:01NU7A14MHzCWS52N R55N
18:03NX7K14MHzCWS44N R57N
18:04KE7F14MHzCWS55N R55N
18:05K7ULM14MHzCWS55N R57N
18:06KE7ICU14MHzCWS55N R55N
18:07N6PKT14MHzCWS57N R55N
18:08K6HPX14MHzCWS57N R54N
18:10KF6HI14MHzCWS42N R42N
18:10AC7P14MHzCWS52N R44N

W6/SD-497 – Lead Mountain

Lead mountain is a bit east of Barstow, CA. I first became aware of this mine form the Mineralogical society of Southern California when they hosted a field trip to the area. I didn’t make the trip, but I’ve been curious about visiting since. Additionally, I worked two SOTA stations from the summit above the mines for So.Cal Winter Field Day, so activating this would make it a complete. Getting there was pretty easy. I found a few interesting rocks while hiking up which appeared to host interesting minerals, but honestly I didn’t know what I was looking for. At the top I setup a 40M EFHW antenna and connected it to my MTR3bv2 and worked several stations on 40M and 20M. No DX or S2S unfortunately. Overall, this is an easy one to activate but it’s a bit far off road. I wouldn’t drive a sedan there. The total hike was less than a mile and 400′ of elevation gain.

“The Lead Mountain mine area is known for excellent baryte crystals and beautiful hemimorphite sprays. Micromineral enthusiast can find coronadite, plattnerite, and other lead and manganese minerals.”

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/SD-497

Total distance: 0.65 mi
Total climbing: 374 ft
Download file: Lead.gpx

Date:10/10/2025 |  Summit:W6/SD-497 (Lead Mountain) 

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
20:55W6LOR7MHzCWS58N R56N
20:58W6DT7MHzCWS57N R58N
20:58K6STR7MHzCWS58N R56N
20:59WB6POT7MHzCWS58N R57N
21:00K6KMH7MHzCWS58N R57N
21:00K1CT7MHzCWS52N R55N
21:02K6HPX7MHzCWS53N R53N
21:03N6JZT7MHzCWS56N R55N
21:04KE7F7MHzCWS44N R53N
21:09K7SO14MHzCWS57N R56N
21:10WW7D14MHzCWS55N R55N
21:11NU7A14MHzCWS44N R599
21:12N7BYD14MHzCWS57N R55N
21:12KI7QCF14MHzCWS599 R599
21:13N7BBQ14MHzCWS33N R54N
21:14AC7P14MHzCWS44N R44N
21:16N7QD14MHzCWS55N R57N
21:17W2WC14MHzCWS44N R55N
21:17WB7ULD14MHzCWS57N R52N
21:19NU6E14MHzCWS52N R55N

W6/SC-353 – Valencia Peak

Kel and I spent the weekend in Morro Bay for her birthday where we enjoyed visiting various restaurants and bars, their downtown farmers market, a few beaches, and some fancy coffee spots. We made several return trips to the Grassy Bar Oyster Company, which raise and sell oysters right from Morro Bay. It’s a low brow kinda place and you can BYOB. I like it. There are a few SOTA summits in the area, we did two; First Valencia Peak, then Black Hill the following day, which is very easy and shouldn’t be missed if you’re in the area.

From Morro Bay, we drove north up to Los Osos, found our way to Pecho Valley Road, and eventually the trailhead for Valencia; a nice drive mostly along the coast. It was somewhat early in the morning so heavy fog was in the area. The trailhead was well marked, and the trail was very easy to follow. The hike is a bit over 2 miles one way with 1,200′ of elevation gain. At the top is picnic table with good views to the east. The west was covered in fog still.

There were several people on the summit enjoying their time, so I didn’t stretch out a long antenna, but instead used the KH1 with internal whip. Conditions felt poor but I managed to get 6 QSOs on 20M, one S2S out in W0C. We were above the fog layer and it was starting to get hot, so after activating, we headed back down to the car and headed to Los Osos for coffee and breakfast.

I forgot to take a video at the summit, but here is a short 10 second clip on the way down.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/SC-353

Total distance: 4.74 mi
Total climbing: 1262 ft
Download file: valencia.gpx

Date:09/08/2025 |  Summit:W6/SC-353 (Valencia Peak) 

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
17:54W7DZ14MHzCWS57N R56N
17:56KXOR14MHzCWS2S W0C/SR-053 S33N R33N
17:57KF7PXT14MHzCWS57N R55N
17:59NO2D14MHzCWS55N R55N
18:00K7WA14MHzCWS58N R55N
18:02WB7VTY14MHzCWS57N R43N

W6/IN-049 – Red Mountain

I woke up early in the morning at Tinemaha Creek campground, made some hot water, dumped in a tablespoon of instant coffee, gave it a stir, and drove the truck straight to Red Mountain. The air was cold and brisk with a slight breeze. It took longer to get to Red Mountain than I anticipated. There are several dirt roads which one could take but many were washed out or simply dead ended. I’m assuming there is a “main” road to bypass my adventure but I didn’t find it. Eventually I landed on a spot that looked like a promising location to start.

After slathering on sunscreen and chugging the remainder of my coffee, I started hiking up. Red Mountain is really a cinder cone and part of the Big Pines Volcanic Field. I’ve read it sits right above an active fault line. Loose, red basalt makes up most of the ground. There is no trail and vegetation is thick in some places, but easy to navigate around. At the top, the wind was really blowing. Luckily I was able to find shelter in a small hole at the top, perhaps left from a prospector? Worked 20 CW and hiked down. While hiking around the rim of the cone I noticed a group of mule deer chillin’ in the center. Overall, fun hike if you’re in the area.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/IN-049

Total distance: 1.78 mi
Total climbing: 764 ft
Download file: RedMountain.gpx

Date:18/04/2025 |  Summit:W6/IN-049 (Red Mountain)

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
15:39W6RT144MHzFMS59 R59
15:54JG0AWE14MHzCWS44N R44N
15:55W0MNA14MHzCWS52N R33N
15:55WW7D14MHzCWS55N R53N
15:57W0ERI14MHzCWS52N R33N
15:59W5BOS14MHzCWS57N R53N
16:00WU0A14MHzCWS58N R57N
16:01N7WPO14MHzCWS58N R55N
16:03WB7BWZ14MHzCWS55N R52N
16:04WA7BEN14MHzCWS55N R55N
16:05NO2D14MHzCWS52N R55N
16:06KA5PVB14MHzCWS52N R52N
16:07W7TMD14MHzCWS57N R5NN
16:08KK7FIM14MHzCWS57N R55N
16:09WU7H14MHzCWS58N R55N
16:11AG7UW14MHzCWS52N R55N

W6/ND-270 – Shadow Mountains (HP)

This wasn’t a planned summit for me. While driving north on US 395 to camp and hike other various summits, I noticed some hills in the distance. I pulled over and checked the SOTA maps and found I was looking at W6/SD-463 and W6/ND-270. They didn’t seem to be too far off the highway and the day was still early and cool. I made the detour and headed down Shadow Mountain Road – A slow dirt washboard road. Navigation was easy, and W6/ND-270 seemed the easiest of the two summits, so I headed to the base of the mountain. There are two hills – One I believe is an FAA radar site, and the other is the Shadow Mountains. I parked at a clearing at the bottom and hiked up. At the top was an empty radio shelter with some pretty decent artwork. I heard some radio chatter on 2M simplex and made a QSO there before setting up on 20M CW. There was little breeze and the sun was intense. After working chasers I packed up and headed back to the truck, then continued my way north on US 395.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/ND-270

Total distance: 1.47 mi
Total climbing: 456 ft
Download file: shadow.gpx

Date:02/05/2025 |  Summit:W6/ND-270 (Shadow Mountains (HP))

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
22:10KC6ARY144MHzFMS57 R55
22:32K6STR14MHzCWS2S W6/SD-496 S53N R55N
22:33WU7H14MHzCWS55N R52N
22:34W6LOR14MHzCWS2S W6/SD-496 S599 R55N
22:35WW7D14MHzCWS51N R41N
22:36ND0C14MHzCWS42N R53N
22:37N4GO14MHzCWS42N R33N
22:46K6DV144MHzFMS59 R58

W6/ND-231 – Fremont Peak

From US-395, I drove east on Fremont Peak Road. Some sections were smooth and fast, other parts were washboard slow. Somewhere around 35.19629419590779, -117.52994646089353 the road splits. Going left will take you to the dry lake beds. You want to go straight. From here, the summit should be obvious. I parked above the mine ruins and started my hike up. There is a gnarly 4×4 trail I followed until I picked up a light use trail. The very end was steep and loose. At the top was some sort of repeater installed in a pelican case, along with solar panels and an antenna. No markings on the case to indicate it’s operating frequency. Ham? GMRS? Does it even work anymore? I setup my station and worked 40M. As the sun was going down, so was I. Back at the truck I drank a beer watching the sunset, then headed to the dry lakes to camp for the night.

A good write up of the geology is here.

https://sotl.as/summits/Wmsty6/ND-231

Total distance: 1.49 mi
Total climbing: 877 ft
Download file: Fremont.gpx

Date:03/05/2025 |  Summit:W6/ND-231 (Fremont Peak) 

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
01:53WU7H7MHzCWS57N R53N
01:54WW7D7MHzCWS57N R41N
01:55KD7DTS7MHzCWS58N R33N
01:56NT6E7MHzCWS57N R55N
01:57KX0Y7MHzCWS57N R33N
01:58K9PM7MHzCWS55N R57N
02:01N0IPA7MHzCWS55N R41N

W6/IN-042 – Crater Mountain

Crater Mountain is just to the west of Big Pine, CA. It’s easily accessible by a dirt road on the west side of the summit. I drove up to the high point on the road, parked on the side, and cross country hiked across the lava fields. There were grazing cattle everywhere. About half way up I picked up a use trail to the summit. At the top is a register and a pole to attach a mast to. On the day of my assent, the wind was brutal. My mast snapped in half, I couldn’t sign the register without the whole thing blowing away. You could do that thing where you lean far into the wind but not fall over. I found a a bit of shelter from the wind on the lee side of the summit. Used a KH1 with the whip antenna to make QSOs on 20M, and 17M, then headed down. The route back was close to my ascent, zing-zagging around the cows. Looking at a map later, I found that use trail I picked up leads to some lava tubes. Next time I’m out there I need to check those out.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/IN-042

Total distance: 3.02 mi
Total climbing: 757 ft
Download file: Crater-AG6N.gpx

Date:18/04/2025 |  Summit:W6/IN-042 (Crater Mountain) 

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
18:51AA7OY14MHzCWS2S W5N/AP-029 S57N R56N
18:58WU7H14MHzCWS58N R42N
19:00N1CLC14MHzCWS2S W5N/AP-029 S58N R57N
19:01WW7D14MHzCWS58N R41N
19:12AC7P18MHzCWS56N R53N
19:13KF9D18MHzCWS53N R53N
19:14WB8BHN18MHzCWS44N R33N

W6/CD-005 – Mazourka Peak

I’ve wanted to visit Mazourka Peak since I started SOTA, 5 years ago. The summit is a drive up from Independence on Hwy 395, take Mazourka Canyon Road from the south end of town all the way to the top. Took about 2 hours one way to drive the 22 miles up on the gravel road. At the top are some small radio shelters, and an amateur repeater. It was obnoxiously windy and cold, so my visit was short. I setup a Yaesu 817 with an EFHW antenna and worked 20M CW. One FM QSO to a ham in Bishop, CA. On the drive down I stopped several time to explore old mining ruins, and to scout another summit. I’ll be back up there again soon!

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/CD-005

Date:17/04/2025 |  Summit:W6/CD-005 (Mazourka Peak)

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
22:58K6MWK144MHzFMS59 R59
23:11VA7SGY14MHzCWS58N R55N POTA
23:17NE7ET14MHzCWS56N R55N
23:18K7SO14MHzCWS57N R53N
23:20AB0BM14MHzCWS58N R33N
23:23VA6DM14MHzCWS55N R55N
23:23K7WFM14MHzCWS56N R56N
23:31WW7D14MHzCWS2S W7W/PL-070 S22N R33N
23:34WU7H14MHzCWS2S W7W/PL-070 S22N R33N

W6/ND-283 – Red Hill

If you have ever driven up to Mammoth Lakes from Los Angeles, you probably drove right past Red Hill. The hill is an ancient volcano, which is covered in small marble sized volcanic rock called cinders. The surrounding area features fields of basalt, with Fossil Falls just to the south of the summit. I parked my truck on the side of Red Hill, in an area where it appeared to be mined for it’s cinder. From there I started up. You can make out a use trail most of the way. The small, loose cinders made the trek up slow, as it felt like walking on a beach, except worse. Take a step, slide back a bit. Once at the top I used the KH1 with the whip. Worked 6 stations across two bands – two S2S. While packing up I found the summit register hidden in some rocks. I signed it and started heading down. Loose rocks make the decent quick, and I was back on the highway heading north quickly.

https://sotl.as//W6/ND-283

Total distance: 0.92 mi
Total climbing: 558 ft
Download file: RedHill-AG6N.gpx

Date:17/04/2025 |  Summit:W6/ND-283 (Red Hill) 

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
19:32WB8BHN21MHzCWS44N R41N
19:33KF9D21MHzCWS56N R53N
19:47WU7H14MHzCWS2S W7W/PL-063 S55N R51N
19:49WW7D14MHzCWS2S W7W/PL-063 S55N R51N
19:50N7UN14MHzCWS56N R33N
19:52KT5X14MHzCWS599 R56N

W6/CT-271 – Burn Benchmark

I’ve overlooked this summit for years because it was rarely activated and only worth two points. I got skunked twice on two earlier SOTA attempts due to closed roads. Frustrated, I pulled over to the side of the road and found the closest summit to me. That was Burn Benchmark. After some quick research, I headed into the OHV area, parked where other vehicles were parked and headed down the well used trail. I did not see any no trespassing signs anywhere along my route. The hike was mostly enjoyable, however it was very windy. About 2/3rds of the way there you see a very steep mountain; a small makeshift sign read “Hell Hill”. I’m assuming a dirt biker put it there as, there was evidence of dirt bikes in the area. As a guy who rides, I have no idea how you could wrangle a bike up something like this. Perhaps they went down? Their efforts left permanent scars on the hillside. Bummer.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/CT-271

Total distance: 3.62 mi
Total climbing: 1048 ft
Download file: BurnBenchmark.gpx

Date:04/04/2025 |  Summit:W6/CT-271 (Burn Benchmark)

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
20:14KT5X14MHzCWS58N R22N
20:17AJ6KZ14MHzCWS2S W6/CT-116 S599 R53N
20:19WW7D14MHzCWS2S W7W/KG-137 S33N R41N
20:20K6HPX14MHzCWS58N R53N
20:21W0KDM14MHzCWS56N R33N
20:22N0RZ14MHzCWS44N R55N
20:23N6ET14MHzCWS55N R53N
At the gate, park here.
Old road
First good view of Burn Benchmark
Gets steep here
“Hell Hill” lower sign.
At the top
Benchmark
Upper “Hell Hill” sign