This was my 2nd summit for 2025 So.Cal Winter SOTA Fest. I wasn’t planning to climb this one, but it was close to me after a failed attempt at Fry Benchmark. I got as close to the summit as I could on a wide gravel road, then hiked a short distance up the steep hillside, where I was surprised to see a two track truck trail. I followed this all the way to the actual summit where strong wind had me hiding behind a rock pile. I used a KH1 with the whip on 20M, and 15M, and ended my quickly activation quickly after only 15 minutes or so at the top. The way down was more technical then the ascent, traveling through dry waterfalls and a short ravine. Over all, pretty fun, short hike. You could probably drive up there with a jeep or dual sport bike but hiking is pretty easy too.

Summit 1->
Summit 2-> https://blog.benmook.com/w6-sd-145-3938/
Summit 3-> https://blog.benmook.com/w6-sd-018-rodman-mountains-hp/
Summit 4-> https://blog.benmook.com/w6-sd-218-watkins-benchmark/
Summit 5-> https://blog.benmook.com/w6-sd-040-west-ord-mountain/

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/SD-145

Date:17/01/2025 |  Summit:W6/SD-145 (3938)

This was my 3th summit for 2025 So.Cal Winter SOTA Fest.

Summit 1->
Summit 2-> https://blog.benmook.com/w6-sd-145-3938/
Summit 3-> https://blog.benmook.com/w6-sd-018-rodman-mountains-hp/
Summit 4-> https://blog.benmook.com/w6-sd-218-watkins-benchmark/
Summit 5-> https://blog.benmook.com/w6-sd-040-west-ord-mountain/

After activating Cougar Buttes and 3938 earlier in the day, I felt like I had enough daylight for one more activation before heading back to camp. Rodman Mountain is a drive up, and pretty far from pavement. Since I was already half way there from 3938, that’s where I headed. I jumped on Camp Rock Road which is mostly wide and smooth. Eventually you need to turn off on Pipkin Cindercone Road, then, to a narrow, somewhat steep and twisty road that terminates at a large communications site. I parked at the top where it was extremely windy and cold. Not wanting to leave the comfort of the cab, but with the summit in sight I layered up and headed to the top, which isn’t very far at all. Once there I was able to tuck behind some rocks which made the rest of the activation quite enjoyable. Worked 15M and 20M on the KH1 whip. Barely made one 2M contact with Mike who was heading to Sawtooth Campground. Someone out there was running a repeater or something on 146.580 because I kept hearing a tone every time I released my PTT. Someone then came on frequency and said I should move. They wouldn’t give me their call, perhaps they didn’t have one.

I headed down the way I came up. It was almost dark when I arrived at Pipkin Cindercone road, where I stopped and attached some cheap Amazon ditch lights to the truck I bought months prior. I had never bolted these on before, so it took some time to adjust them where I wanted extra light to shine. I continued on to the intersection of Camp Rock Road, but instead of going back the way I came, I left at the intersection because it looked like it would be faster on the map. This was not the case. The road was extremely slow going, rocky and narrow in some places. At one point I saw a large critter run across my path into the desert. Because the ditch lights I could clearly see a bobcat! This was the highlight of my day. It took an hour and a half to get back to Sawtooth Campground to meet other SOTA activators. When I had enough of the cold, I headed to Barstow for the night.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/SD-018

Date:18/01/2025 |  Summit:W6/SD-018 (Rodman Mountains (HP)) 

This was my 4th summit for 2025 So.Cal Winter SOTA Fest.

Summit 1->
Summit 2-> https://blog.benmook.com/w6-sd-145-3938/
Summit 3-> https://blog.benmook.com/w6-sd-018-rodman-mountains-hp/
Summit 4-> https://blog.benmook.com/w6-sd-218-watkins-benchmark/
Summit 5-> https://blog.benmook.com/w6-sd-040-west-ord-mountain/

The predicted temperature at Sawtooth campground was lower than I would be comfortable camping in, so I booked a warm room in nearby Barstow. The hotel has a really good Mexican restaurant and a bar attached, so I had a good dinner and some beers before going to sleep. My alarm was set for 7AM. I got up, got some coffee, and headed to Watkins Benchmark south of Barstow. Getting there was pretty easy, from Barstow Road, turn onto Stoddard Wells Road and follow it up to the first set of hills. I eventually found a very sand road, which was more like a wash, and followed it right to the bottom of the summit. Don’t try this in a passenger car. My truck was bottoming out in some areas, and it was extremely soft and sandy. You could easily get stuck back there.

The hike up was peaceful with cool, calm air. At the top is the remains of an old survey tower and a summit register. I setup a Yaesu 817 and worked 10M, and 20M, in addition to a few 2M stations who were participating in the weekend event. I wanted to do a bigger, longer hike, so my time at the top was short. After packing up and heading down to the truck, it took awhile to find the best way out of the sandy wash, as I didn’t want to go back the way I came. Once on pavement, I turned the truck south and headed to my next climb.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/SD-218

Date:18/01/2025 |  Summit:W6/SD-218 (Watkins Benchmark)

This summit is in Death Valley National Park, and as the name suggests, on the border of Nevada and California. I parked at a large gravel area off Daylight Pass Road, crossed the pavement and began my hike to the summit, weaving around various obstacles on the way. There is no use trail, but several rock cairns along the way helped guide my path. The landscape is ‘lumpy’, and I wasn’t sure exactly where the summit was; a topo map on my phone was heavily used to ensure I was chasing the right mountain. Once at the top I found a register and three benchmarks. I signed the log and setup a Yaesu 817 with a 10M EFHW antenna. Worked several stations, packed up my kit, then headed back the way I came.

https://sotl.as/summits/W7N/NS-196

Date:09/11/2024 |  Summit:W7N/NS-196 (CA/NV Boundary Monument 93) 

I camped at Stovepipe Wells for the night after driving in the dark from an earlier activation in Darwin, CA. I don’t recommend camping here. It’s a large RV lot near a gas station. There was LTE internet which was nice since I didn’t really plan my trip all that well. Had I known the vibe at Stovepipe, I would have much preferred to camp elsewhere, but it was too dark and the landscape is too vast to change plans. Anyways, at the first light of morning, I left camp and headed out to Skidoo to summit 6140. The trek out there is far and washboard dirt roads will fatigue you. From Skidoo road, I turned at 36.43317,-117.13375 and headed up a two track road to the summit, stopping at a large clearing right below the peak. I made some hot tea and walked the remainder of the elevation. I should have camped here! Maybe next time. Worked 10M and 15M CW with some good DX. After a successful activation I headed down to look for the old stamp mill and mine I saw in photographs, but never found it. You could spend all day out here looking around, but I hoped to activate another peak before the short November day was over.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/ND-114

Date:08/11/2024 |  Summit:W6/ND-114 (6140)

This is a pretty easy summit to bag, I’m kinda surprised nobody activated it before. From daylight pass road, turn off onto a dirt road at 36.75049,-116.9366. You could probably start the hike from here. I went a bit down the road and found an area to park that was out of the way, and started my hike from there. I didn’t find a register or any benchmarks at the top. Worked 10m, and 17m CW. On the way down I wasn’t paying attention and didn’t follow the track I took on the way up. This lead me to hike the ridge line almost all the way back to the paved road, and from there backtracked to the truck. It made a nice loop which I enjoyed.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/ND-250

Date:09/11/2024 |  Summit:W6/ND-250 (4403) 

This peak is north east of Beatty, NV. I left Death Valley National Park after a day of driving around and headed to the ghost town of Rhyolite. Not much there as the name suggests. After checking out the ruins I went to buy gas in town and look up nearby SOTA opportunities. Burton Mountain was close and previously activated so, I knew it was accessible. I got as close to the summit as I could and parked where the two track road disappeared in the desert. From there I hustled up to the top. This was going to be a quick activation as I was running out of daylight. I don’t have a light and I don’t like hiking down hills in the dark. At the top there is a rock cairn and summit register. I quickly setup a Yaesu 817 with 10M EFHW and got to work. Made 8 QSOs in around 10 minutes, half of those being Japan DX. I relaxed for about 5 minutes and watched the sun disappear below the western mountain range, then started my descent. I got back to the truck just before it got dark and returned to Beatty, where I booked a cheap hotel room that advertised a hot tub. After checking in and navigating to the pool area, I found the hot tub was broken. Bummer.

https://sotl.as/summits/W7N/NS-217

Date:09/11/2024 |  Summit:W7N/NS-217 (Burton Mountain) 

I made a trip out to Death Valley to activate some peaks in November. One the way there wanted to swing through the town of Darwin and look around as I’ve been curious about this place since watching a short documentary years ago. Near the town is Darwin Benchmark. Turn off Olancha Dawrin Road on a two track trail and follow it as far as you feel comfortable. The hike to the summit was pretty short, kinda steep, maybe half a mile. At the top was a rock cairn and summit register. I setup the antenna for 10M and got to work, having about 10 minutes before UTC. This only got me two contacts before 00:00. I then setup on 15M which got me another 5 QSOs after UTC. With the summit activated twice I started heading down. It was getting dark and I wanted to get off the mountain and two track trail before it got completely dark. Once on the paved road, it was completely dark, and I wasn’t sure where I was spending the night. Instead of heading to Darwin to look around, I went to the national park to find a place to camp. I’ll need to visit Darwin another day.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/ND-126

Date:07/11/2024 |  Summit:W6/ND-126 (Darwin Benchmark)

Date:08/11/2024 |  Summit:W6/ND-126 (Darwin Benchmark)

This was the first summit climbed on a trip out to Tonopah, NV with Kel. I was planning on climbing more hills in the immediate area but things don’t always go as planned. This was a a 1st activation of the summit in addition to being my 300th total, so kinda special for me. There is no trail. We parked the car off a decent 2-track desert road and started hiking up. The photos lie, it was pretty steep in some parts. At the top was a rock cairn which I used as a mast support. A register was hidden within. Worked 20, 30, and 40M CW. On the way down I met a rattle snake who I apparently got too close to. Even though I could clearly hear the snake, I never actually saw it even though I looked for a good minute.

https://sotl.as/summits/W7N/EM-112

Date:04/10/2024 |  Summit:W7N/EM-112 (Douglas Benchmark)