W6/WH-003 – Piute Mountain 🏔️

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Kel and I made a quick weekend trip through the White Mountains, camping at Grandview the night before and hiking a few of the lower summits. I’ve had pretty bad altitude sickness in the past so I was prepared to turn around at any point on the trip up. Luckily, by the time we got to the end of White Mountain Road, both Kel and I felt great. I attribute this to camping at Grandview and hiking Clem Nelson before gaining additional altitude. We do live at sea level so…..

The hike to Piute Mountain was pretty straight forward; about 3 miles round trip and 1k feet of gain. You can pretty much see the summit from the parking area, just walk straight up to it. We picked a good day to be there. A slight breeze with a temperature in the low 70’s. It was perfect. Worked 40M, 20M CW, even got a 2M FM contact up there.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/WH-003

Total distance: 3.12 mi
Max elevation: 12498 ft
Total climbing: 1176 ft
Total time: 03:02:57
Download file: PiuteMountain.gpx

Date:11/07/2024 |  Summit:W6/WH-003 (Piute Mountain) 

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
18:16N1EFK144MHzFMS59 R59
18:20K6YK7MHzCWS57N R57N
18:21KB7HH7MHzCWS57N R53N
18:23NT6E7MHzCWS56N R53N
18:23K6STR7MHzCWS57N R57N
18:23W6LOR7MHzCWS57N R57N
18:26KH2TJ7MHzCWS55N R53N
18:27K6TUY7MHzCWS55N R55N
18:40W5ODS14MHzCWS53N R44N
18:41WW7D14MHzCWS52N R51N
18:42VE7HI14MHzCWS55N R33N
18:43WOMRH14MHzCWS32N R53N
18:45KX0R14MHzCWS2S W0C/SP-071 S55N R56N
18:47N2ESE14MHzCWS31N R52N

W6/CT-281 – 1236

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My pal organized a camping trip at Little Harbor on Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles. To get there, we took the ferry from San Pedro to Two Harbors, then hiked the Trans Catalina Trail to our reserved campground. The hike was a little over 6 miles one way, with the summit somewhere roughly in the middle. At the top, a single pavilion with a picnic table stands. I setup my KH1 here with an EFHW and worked 15, 17, and 20M CW. Bands felt kinda dead but ended up with 11 contacts. Made an 2 FM QSOs – one back to the mainland, and another to a guy on his boat on the east side of the island. I kinda assumed 2M would work better here? Once the activation was done I continued on to Little Harbor for the weekend. I never really liked Catalina because I’ve only ever been to Avalon, but this trip changed my views. I’m now looking forward to activation more summits on the island.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/CT-281

Total distance: 6.31 mi
Max elevation: 826 ft
Total climbing: 892 ft
Total time: 02:20:52
Download file: CT281.gpx

Date:26/07/2024 |  Summit:W6/CT-281 (1236) 

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
19:56AB4PP21MHzCWS51N R22N
20:05WOMNA18MHzCWS58N R57N
20:06W0ERI18MHzCWS58N R57N
20:06KF6HI18MHzCWS559 R559
20:07K6TUY18MHzCWS8N R57N
20:20NT6E144MHzFMS57 R55
20:24KQ6NP144MHzFMS59 R59
20:37KF9FD14MHzCWS57N R32N
20:39W4VIG14MHzCWS57N R22N
20:47WB7BWZ14MHzCWS57N R55N
20:48W4IFI14MHzCWS42N R55N

W6/CT-044 -Onyx Peak

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I’m not sure why I didn’t activate Onyx Peak earlier. I’ve driven by it several times, and even activated W6/CT-041just to the west. This would be an easy summit to mountain bike. It’s a bit under 6 miles round trip, but less than 1000′ of elevation gain on a maintained fire road. Kel and I parked at the locked gate off CA 38 and hiked up Pipes Canyon Road to the summit, which hosts several large communication installations – including a few amateur repeaters. Once there I was able to check into the Coffee Talk net on a 2M repeater in Yucca Valley while setting up my MTR4B with an EFHW antenna. I then heard several other SOTA ops hiking up to San Gorgonio. No S2S with them though. Worked 40m, 30m, and 20m CW. Talked to another hiker who was interested in amateur radio and explained the SOTA program. We hiked down the way we came, but considered a cross-country route down to make it a loop. Overall, easy summit, easy hike.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/CT-044

Total distance: 5.87 mi
Max elevation: 9067 ft
Total climbing: 852 ft
Total time: 04:02:25
Download file: Onyx.gpx

Date:24/08/2024 |  Summit:W6/CT-044 (Onyx Peak) 

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
17:27KD7DTS144MHzFMS59 R59
17:28K6ARK144MHzFMS55 R55
17:28N6ARA144MHzFMS59 R59
17:29K6STR144MHzFMS59 R59
17:29W6LOR144MHzFMS59 R59
17:31NT6E144MHzFMS55 R53
17:40WB5USB14MHzCWS55N R55N
17:44KR7RK7MHzCWS58N R54N
17:46K6TUY7MHzCWS58N R56N
17:49K7MK7MHzCWS33N R22N
17:49WB6POT7MHzCWS53N R55N
17:50K7UOU7MHzCWS57N R599
17:51WB7ULD7MHzCWS42N R51N
17:52KN6OMN7MHzCWS52N R55N
18:03K6HPX10MHzCWS57N R54N
18:04K6KMH10MHzCWS55N R54N
18:06K7AMJ10MHzCWS56N R55N
18:07N6KM10MHzCWS58N R53N
18:22W0CP14MHzCWS55N R55N
18:23W0JSL14MHzCWS55N R53N
18:24WW7D14MHzCWS51N R53N
18:27AK5SD14MHzCWS44N R41N

Arctic Point – W6/CT-051

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Arctic Point is near Big Bear, CA on the north side of the Holcomb Valley. I took the truck as far as I could on Hepburn Mine Road until I got to 3N10, John Bull trail, which is listed as a black diamond, most difficult. Once you see it you will know why. From there I hiked 1.5ish miles to the top, including some cross country. The summit is rock which requires a short scramble to the the benchmark. I used a EFHW antenna stretched across the rock to my KH1 for the activation. Worked several bands until the KH1 started overheating and stopped transmitting. I was getting pretty warm myself so I packed up and headed back to the truck.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/CT-051

Total distance: 2.89 mi
Max elevation: 8329 ft
Total climbing: 698 ft
Total time: 02:40:19
Download file: ArticPoint.gpx

Date:31/05/2024 |  Summit:W6/CT-051 (Arctic Point) 

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
17:26N6JNY144MHzFMS59 R59
17:27KI6SLA144MHzFMS55 R55
17:28NT6E144MHzFMS47 R57
17:39N4LAG21MHzCWS55N R42N
17:47WU7H21MHzCWS52N R31N
17:52KX0R21MHzCWS2S W0C/FR-155 S55N R55N
18:09K6HPX7MHzCWS58N R52N
18:10KD7DTS7MHzCWS559 R33N
18:12WB6POT7MHzCWS2S W6/NS-204 S52N R55N
18:13KN6OMN7MHzCWS56N R55N
18:14KN6RDC7MHzCWS52N R5NN

W6/CT-053 – Gold Mountain 🏔️

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I started my trip up Gold Mountain from 3N16/ Holcomb Valley Road and parked the truck near Gold Mountain Road and hiked 1.5 miles to a large clearing. From there, a short cross country hike gets you to the actual summit. The top is small and rocky, so I used the KH1 internal whip over a full size antenna. Worked 10 stations across 15, 17, and 20M, then headed back down the way I came.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/CT-053

Total distance: 3.16 mi
Max elevation: 8213 ft
Total climbing: 892 ft
Total time: 02:31:09
Download file: GoldMountain.gpx

Date:30/05/2024 |  Summit:W6/CT-053 (Gold Mountain) 

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
22:40WU7H18MHzCWS559 R52N
22:41W4GO18MHzCWS56N R54N
22:42K6KWV18MHzCWS53N R23N
22:44WW7D18MHzCWS58N R53N
22:45K9WO18MHzCWS58N R55N
22:50W4JKC18MHzCWS57N R55N
23:01K5FNQ14MHzCWS55N R57N
23:04W7GB14MHzCWS57N R55N
23:05N4DH14MHzCWS56N R22N
23:08KI6PXV14MHzCWS55N R57N

W6/SC-378 – Black Hill

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Black Hill is a easy 1 point summit in Morro Bay with beautiful views of the ocean. You can drive most of the way to the top, free parking at the trailhead. After that it’s an easy walk to the summit on a well traveled dirt path. I brought along a KH1 and used the internal whip antenna. There is room for a full sized antenna, but the area is kinda small and a popular place to visit, so I didn’t want wires everywhere. Worked 15M, 17M and 20M and quickly logged 7 stations, including two S2S.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/SC-378

Total distance: 0.56 mi
Max elevation: 647 ft
Total climbing: 175 ft
Total time: 00:58:59
Download file: BlackHill_AG6N.gpx

Date:06/09/2024 |  Summit:W6/SC-378 (Black Hill) 

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
17:22WW7D18MHzCWS58N R57N
17:23NU7A18MHzCWS56N R55N
17:25KT0A18MHzCWS2S W0D/BB-030 S52N R55N
17:34N7KOM14MHzCWS57N R55N
17:35VA7JCF14MHzCWS52N R22N
17:37WU7H14MHzCWS55N R52N
17:42N1CLC14MHzCWS2S W7A/AE-016 S52N R52N

W6/SC-377 – Valley View Benchmark

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Kel and I hiked up to this summit on the way up to Morro Bay. Down by the trailhead the temperature was a nice, cool 75F with a calm ocean breeze. This abruptly changed as we ascended. Inland temperatures around 100F were blowing over the ridge the trail follows. There is little shade and I was uncomfortably hot. Quite a bit of poison oak along the trail. A communications site is at the top with a few trees offering much appreciated shade and a view of the ocean. I used the KH1 and worked 15m, 17m, and 20m on the internal whip. Didn’t get a ton of QSOs but enough for a valid activation.

Total distance: 1.94 mi
Max elevation: 718 ft
Total climbing: 627 ft
Total time: 01:48:17
Download file: ValleyView.gpx

Date:05/09/2024 |  Summit:W6/SC-377 (Valley View Benchmark) 

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
21:49AJ0BM21MHzCWS56N R44N
22:01W5ODS18MHzCWS44N R32N
22:02WW7D18MHzCWS57N R51N
22:05WU7H18MHzCWS57N R33N
22:08K5SJC14MHzCWS58N R53N

W6/SD-046 – Whale Peak

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Sorry for the sideways video…..

Whale Peak is in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, so this counts as POTA in addition to a SOTA activation if that’s your thing. You should probably be in a high clearance vehicle to get to the trailhead. Once there, the actual trail wasn’t obvious. You need to scramble up some granite boulders, at which point a well defined trail becomes visible. If I recall, there are two places where the trail kinda disappears, so bring a GPS with a map loaded.

The summit is beautiful, with Pinion Pines, Cholla, Creosote, and other desert plants. Once at the top I worked 20m and 40m CW. Attempted to use my new KH1, but ended up using a MTR 4b. Cold wind was starting to pickup, so I headed back down the hill and drove to a secret camping spot for the night. If you’re in the area, don’t skip this one.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/SD-046

Total distance: 4.48 mi
Max elevation: 5250 ft
Total climbing: 1668 ft
Total time: 04:02:25
Download file: Whale_Peak.gpx

Date:08/03/2024 |  Summit:W6/SD-046 (Whale Peak)

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
22:31WB7ULD14MHzCWS559 R539
22:34NB7O14MHzCWS53N R52N
22:46NT6E7MHzCWS58N R57N
22:48WU7H7MHzCWS51N R53N S2S W7W/CW-047
22:50WW7D7MHzCWS51N R41N S2S W7W/CW-047
22:50K6HPX7MHzCWS52N R57N
22:51K6CPR7MHzCWS57N R55N
22:52KX6I7MHzCWS31N R55N
22:53NK6A7MHzCWS57N R599
22:54W7GA7MHzCWS56N R55N
22:55N0MI7MHzCWS55N R55N
23:04AC6M14MHzCWS55N R55N
23:05NU7A14MHzCWS53N R33N
23:06KF8IV14MHzCWS53N R55N
23:07W5ODS14MHzCWS57N R57N
23:08N7EDK14MHzCWS55N R55N
23:09N7BYD14MHzCWS51N R55N
23:10AF9W14MHzCWS51N R52N
23:11KN6OMN14MHzCWS57N R55N
23:12W0JSL14MHzCWS57N R53N
23:13NE7ET14MHzCWS599 R599
23:15WN4AT14MHzCWSS7N R44N
23:16KA5VZE14MHzCWS31N R57N
23:17W6TDX14MHzCWS56N R55N
23:18WB7BHN14MHzCWS53N R51N

W6/SD-432 – East Butte

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This is a pretty straight forward hike up to East Butte, about 1.5 miles and 750 feet of elevation gain. The summit is located in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, so this activation counts as POTA too if that’s your thing. I completed this summit in early March, which felt like a perfect time to be out in the desert. Lots of Ocotillo, Creosote, and even some Desert Lily. There is a register placed at the top.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/SD-432

Total distance: 1.51 mi
Max elevation: 1245 ft
Total climbing: 798 ft
Total time: 02:30:09
Download file: W6_SD_432_East_Butte.gpx

Date:09/03/2024 |  Summit:W6/SD-432 (East Butte) 

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
19:31NT6E7MHzCWS58N R55N
19:32KB7HH7MHzCWS57N R56N
19:33K6EL7MHzCWS51N R52N S2S W6/NC-423
19:35W0JO7MHzCWS57N R57N S2S W6/SD-033
19:36W6LEN7MHzCWS56N R55N
19:37K6HPX7MHzCWS58N R56N
19:37W6DT7MHzCWS55N R55N
19:38WB6POT7MHzCWS56N R57N
19:39KX6I7MHzCWS31N R55N
19:41NI7W7MHzCWS55N R55N
19:43K6CPR7MHzCWS56N R54N
19:45N6PKT7MHzCWS57N R57N
19:47W4IFI7MHzCWS55N R44N
19:48AI6XG7MHzCWS53N R44N
19:55NN7O10MHzCWS55N R55N
19:56KF6HI10MHzCWS55N R55N
20:00N6OQ10MHzCWS41N R599
20:01N0OI10MHzCWS56N R599
20:15NT6K14MHzCWS57N R55N
20:16K3GX14MHzCWS44N R55N
20:17N0RZ14MHzCWS56N R57N
20:18N7BYD14MHzCWS51N R55N
20:19WW7D14MHzCWS53N R41N
20:20K9WO14MHzCWS52N R33N
20:21KN6OMN14MHzCWS55N R57N
20:28WO6JO144MHzFMS59 R59 S2S W6/SD-033

W6/SD-396 – Mine Benchmark

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This was the third and last SOTA activation over a weekend trip to Anza-Borrego. It was later in the day and I needed to pick up my bike-packing pals in a few hours not too far from this summit so I had to make it a quick one. I parked the Jeep off the main road to the mine ruins, just before an area where the road was washed out, then hiked. I followed an old service road that went to the top of the mine ruins, then a sketchy scramble up a steep embankment to continue on. I’m glad I had some tracks to follow, as there are several ridges one could follow that dead-end; one could get somewhat lost up there. After a spirited walk to the top, I signed the register and waited for 00:00 UTC to start my activation. I stretched out my EFHW antenna and connected it to an MTR4B, first working 40M, then 20M. I got a text from the bike packing group with an ETA for their pickup so I packed up and headed down the hill the same way I came. The sketchy part was worse coming down, but overall it was a pretty easy hike, and perhaps my favorite of the weekend. After picking up the bike packing group, we went to Agua Caliente County Park for a dip in their excellent hot spring pool.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/SD-396

Total distance: 2.58 mi
Max elevation: 1869 ft
Total climbing: 877 ft
Total time: 02:12:24
Download file: W6_SD_396_Mine_Benchmark.gpx

Date:10/03/2024 |  Summit:W6/SD-396 (Mine Benchmark) 

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
00:05K6CPR7MHzCWS55N R52N
00:11N9OSW14MHzCWS33N R55N
00:15N6MTB14MHzCWS21N R33N S2S W6/SC-454
00:17KJ7DT14MHzCWS55N R55N
00:18WB7BWZ14MHzCWS57N R57N
00:19WW7D14MHzCWS57N R54N
00:22WB7HMA14MHzCWS55N R44N
00:23AK4JA14MHzCWS54N R55N