W6/CT-044 -Onyx Peak

Posted on October 24, 2024 by revmook

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)

Time	Callsign	Band	Mode	Notes
17:27	KD7DTS	144MHz	FM	S59 R59
17:28	K6ARK	144MHz	FM	S55 R55
17:28	N6ARA	144MHz	FM	S59 R59
17:29	K6STR	144MHz	FM	S59 R59
17:29	W6LOR	144MHz	FM	S59 R59
17:31	NT6E	144MHz	FM	S55 R53
17:40	WB5USB	14MHz	CW	S55N R55N
17:44	KR7RK	7MHz	CW	S58N R54N
17:46	K6TUY	7MHz	CW	S58N R56N
17:49	K7MK	7MHz	CW	S33N R22N
17:49	WB6POT	7MHz	CW	S53N R55N
17:50	K7UOU	7MHz	CW	S57N R599
17:51	WB7ULD	7MHz	CW	S42N R51N
17:52	KN6OMN	7MHz	CW	S52N R55N
18:03	K6HPX	10MHz	CW	S57N R54N
18:04	K6KMH	10MHz	CW	S55N R54N
18:06	K7AMJ	10MHz	CW	S56N R55N
18:07	N6KM	10MHz	CW	S58N R53N
18:22	W0CP	14MHz	CW	S55N R55N
18:23	W0JSL	14MHz	CW	S55N R53N
18:24	WW7D	14MHz	CW	S51N R53N
18:27	AK5SD	14MHz	CW	S44N R41N

Arctic Point – W6/CT-051

Posted on October 23, 2024 by revmook

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)

Time	Callsign	Band	Mode	Notes
17:26	N6JNY	144MHz	FM	S59 R59
17:27	KI6SLA	144MHz	FM	S55 R55
17:28	NT6E	144MHz	FM	S47 R57
17:39	N4LAG	21MHz	CW	S55N R42N
17:47	WU7H	21MHz	CW	S52N R31N
17:52	KX0R	21MHz	CW	S2S W0C/FR-155 S55N R55N
18:09	K6HPX	7MHz	CW	S58N R52N
18:10	KD7DTS	7MHz	CW	S559 R33N
18:12	WB6POT	7MHz	CW	S2S W6/NS-204 S52N R55N
18:13	KN6OMN	7MHz	CW	S56N R55N
18:14	KN6RDC	7MHz	CW	S52N R5NN

W6/CT-053 – Gold Mountain 🏔️

Posted on October 23, 2024 by revmook

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)

Time	Callsign	Band	Mode	Notes
22:40	WU7H	18MHz	CW	S559 R52N
22:41	W4GO	18MHz	CW	S56N R54N
22:42	K6KWV	18MHz	CW	S53N R23N
22:44	WW7D	18MHz	CW	S58N R53N
22:45	K9WO	18MHz	CW	S58N R55N
22:50	W4JKC	18MHz	CW	S57N R55N
23:01	K5FNQ	14MHz	CW	S55N R57N
23:04	W7GB	14MHz	CW	S57N R55N
23:05	N4DH	14MHz	CW	S56N R22N
23:08	KI6PXV	14MHz	CW	S55N R57N

W6/SC-378 – Black Hill

Posted on October 21, 2024 by revmook

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)

Time	Callsign	Band	Mode	Notes
17:22	WW7D	18MHz	CW	S58N R57N
17:23	NU7A	18MHz	CW	S56N R55N
17:25	KT0A	18MHz	CW	S2S W0D/BB-030 S52N R55N
17:34	N7KOM	14MHz	CW	S57N R55N
17:35	VA7JCF	14MHz	CW	S52N R22N
17:37	WU7H	14MHz	CW	S55N R52N
17:42	N1CLC	14MHz	CW	S2S W7A/AE-016 S52N R52N

W6/SC-377 – Valley View Benchmark

Posted on October 21, 2024 by revmook

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.