This was my 4th summit for 2025 So.Cal Winter SOTA Fest.
Summit 1->
Summit 2->
Summit 3->
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
Max elevation: 3483 ft
Total climbing: 634 ft
Total time: 01:46:06
Date:18/01/2025 | Summit:W6/SD-218 (Watkins Benchmark)
| Time | Callsign | Band | Mode | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:40 | KI6SLA | 144MHz | FM | S59 R59 |
| 16:53 | F4WBN | 28MHz | CW | S57N R599 |
| 16:54 | WN4AT | 28MHz | CW | S55N R55N |
| 16:55 | KF6HI | 28MHz | CW | S57N R55N |
| 16:56 | WB9HFK | 28MHz | CW | S55N R52N |
| 16:58 | K9WO | 28MHz | CW | S57N R57N |
| 17:01 | K6TW | 144MHz | FM | S59 R59 |
| 17:01 | W6LOR | 144MHz | FM | S59 R59 |
| 17:02 | KN6FNY | 144MHz | FM | S59 R59 |
| 17:02 | K6STR | 144MHz | FM | S59 R59 |
| 17:03 | KG6TGR | 144MHz | FM | S59 R59 |
| 17:04 | KB9ENS | 144MHz | FM | S45 R59 |
| 17:09 | N0IPA | 14MHz | CW | S58N R55N |
| 17:10 | AA7OY | 14MHz | CW | S2S W7A/AP-010 S599 R599 |
| 17:11 | WW7D | 14MHz | CW | S599 R57N |
| 17:11 | WU7H | 14MHz | CW | S58N R56N |
| 17:12 | W0MNA | 14MHz | CW | S58N R57N |
| 17:13 | W6TDX | 14MHz | CW | S599 R56N |
| 17:14 | W0ERI | 14MHz | CW | S58N R57N |
| 17:15 | AE0Z | 14MHz | CW | S57N R599 |
| 17:15 | KT5X | 14MHz | CW | S57N R57N |
| 17:16 | AK5SD | 14MHz | CW | S55N R42N |
| 17:19 | N7EDK | 14MHz | CW | S31N R33N |
