W6/SD-220 – Spy Mountain 🏔️

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Spy Mountain is right next to Giant Rock – the largest freestanding boulder in North America and, perhaps, the largest free standing boulder in the world. Or, at least it was before a big chunk broke off in 2000. It was a sacred place for Native Americans back in the day and has some interesting history which is more recent that revolves around aviation, UFOs and other conspiracy theories.

I parked the truck in a super sandy area by a rocky ravine that leads to the top, maybe an eighth of the way around Spy. You probably want 4wd here or park out by the trail before hitting the sand. Heading up to Spy was slow, as it was boulder hopping all the way up. Recent rains created puddles between rocks some areas, and I was surprised to find some rather large desert sage bushes and various blooming plants along the way. At the very top it was pretty windy. I found the summit register, signed it, then setup my antennas and tucked behind some rocks to operate 7m, 10m, and 20m. On the way down I tried a different line to make it some kinda loop, but you can loop so much in a ravine.

https://sotl.as/summits/W6/SD-220

Total distance: 1.14 mi
Max elevation: 3464 ft
Total climbing: 826 ft
Total time: 02:54:08
Download file: Spy_Mountain.gpx

Date:26/01/2024 |  Summit:W6/SD-220 (Spy Mountain)

TimeCallsignBandModeNotes
17:40AC1Z7MHzCWS599 R57N S2S W7A/AE-041
17:40K6HPX7MHzCWS58N R57N
17:41K6EL7MHzCWS52B R51N
17:42NT6E7MHzCWS58N R57N
17:43WB6POT7MHzCWS58N R57N
17:44NW7E7MHzCWS57N R55N
17:45K6YK7MHzCWS58N R57N
17:46K6TUY7MHzCWS58N R57N
17:46KN6OMN7MHzCWS57N R57N
17:47W6LEN7MHzCWS56N R5NN
17:48K9PM7MHzCWS57N R55N
17:51W6TDX7MHzCWS51N R55N
18:06N7EDK10MHzCWS51N R53N
18:07KT5X10MHzCWS51N R52N
18:08KI6DS10MHzCWS44N R55N
18:08KT0A10MHzCWS52N R55N
18:09K7SO10MHzCWS52N R55N
18:11W5ODS10MHzCWS51N R33N
18:20W0MNA14MHzCWS57N R57N
18:20F4WBN14MHzCWS44N R5NN
18:21W0ERI14MHzCWS57N R57N
18:22VE7HI14MHzCWS53N R33N
18:24VA7SGY14MHzCWS52N R52N
18:25KK7A14MHzCWS57N R53N
18:26N0IPA14MHzCWS44N R42N
18:28AD0WB14MHzCWS51N R22N
I parked in this sand pit, next to the canyon I took to the top.

Summit register
I think that’s W6/SD-233 out there.
Looking at Goat Mountain from the south. A recent rainstorm flooded this ancient dry lake in the desert.
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