Monthly Archives: September 2024

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