I’ve wanted to visit Mazourka Peak since I started SOTA, 5 years ago. The summit is a drive up from Independence on Hwy 395, take Mazourka Canyon Road from the south end of town all the way to the top. Took about 2 hours one way to drive the 22 miles up on the gravel road. At the top are some small radio shelters, and an amateur repeater. It was obnoxiously windy and cold, so my visit was short. I setup a Yaesu 817 with an EFHW antenna and worked 20M CW. One FM QSO to a ham in Bishop, CA. On the drive down I stopped several time to explore old mining ruins, and to scout another summit. I’ll be back up there again soon!

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/CD-005

Date:17/04/2025 |  Summit:W6/CD-005 (Mazourka Peak)

Time	Callsign	Band	Mode	Notes
22:58	K6MWK	144MHz	FM	S59 R59
23:11	VA7SGY	14MHz	CW	S58N R55N POTA
23:17	NE7ET	14MHz	CW	S56N R55N
23:18	K7SO	14MHz	CW	S57N R53N
23:20	AB0BM	14MHz	CW	S58N R33N
23:23	VA6DM	14MHz	CW	S55N R55N
23:23	K7WFM	14MHz	CW	S56N R56N
23:31	WW7D	14MHz	CW	S2S W7W/PL-070 S22N R33N
23:34	WU7H	14MHz	CW	S2S W7W/PL-070 S22N R33N

If you have ever driven up to Mammoth Lakes from Los Angeles, you probably drove right past Red Hill. The hill is an ancient volcano, which is covered in small marble sized volcanic rock called cinders. The surrounding area features fields of basalt, with Fossil Falls just to the south of the summit. I parked my truck on the side of Red Hill, in an area where it appeared to be mined for it’s cinder. From there I started up. You can make out a use trail most of the way. The small, loose cinders made the trek up slow, as it felt like walking on a beach, except worse. Take a step, slide back a bit. Once at the top I used the KH1 with the whip. Worked 6 stations across two bands – two S2S. While packing up I found the summit register hidden in some rocks. I signed it and started heading down. Loose rocks make the decent quick, and I was back on the highway heading north quickly.

https://sotl.as//W6/ND-283

Download file: RedHill-AG6N.gpx

Date:17/04/2025 |  Summit:W6/ND-283 (Red Hill) 

Time	Callsign	Band	Mode	Notes
19:32	WB8BHN	21MHz	CW	S44N R41N
19:33	KF9D	21MHz	CW	S56N R53N
19:47	WU7H	14MHz	CW	S2S W7W/PL-063 S55N R51N
19:49	WW7D	14MHz	CW	S2S W7W/PL-063 S55N R51N
19:50	N7UN	14MHz	CW	S56N R33N
19:52	KT5X	14MHz	CW	S599 R56N