W6/CT-259 Bald Mountain

This peak is an easy drive up. From route 138, turn onto Ridge Route Road. Just after you pass the sign for the national forest, turn right onto the access road. The bottom part is paved and easy driving. After you pass what looks like a gate, it becomes much rougher. The sedan I had had no trouble getting up, but I did have to drive around some very large potholes.

Looking up at the summit.

It looked like there was stuff going on at the top, so I stayed near the bottom of the activation zone. After I got my four contacts, I packed up and got out.

Splashes of color across the Antelope Valley on the Tehachapi Mountains.

Trailhead: Drive to the summit.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Drive up.
Red Tape: None.

W6/SC-161 Townsend Peak

I was back in southern California for work, so I decided to get some SOTA peaks while I was down here. First up was Townsend Peak. This mountain is easy to get to. From I-5, get off at the Templin Highway, then cross over to the Golden State Highway. Turn left, and you'll quickly come to the end of the road. Park here, and the trail continues past the end.

Looking back at the trailhead.

The trail is an old jeep trail. It is not too steep as it winds its way up to the top. There are a few junctions, but it is easy to tell which way to go. There is a gate partway up to stop the vehicles. It is a noisy hike, with the interstate just below you, but once it gets to the other side of the ridge the noise drops significantly.

The rugged Transverse Range.

The road does not go over the summit. but it is easy to bushwhack up to the high point. Take the road past the summit, to where the embankment is only waist high. Scramble up, then walk back to the high point.

The highest point was atop of this clearly defined knob.

I got my antenna set up, then checked to see if there were any good summit-to-summit opportunities. KX0R was on, so I got him on 17. I then went down to the usual bands and worked the regular chasers. As the proximity to the highway would lead you to expect, there was excellent cell coverage the entire hike.

Some interesting rocks at the top.

It was quite toasty in the sun, especially having just come from the Bay Area, so I packed up and headed down to the air conditioned car. Overall, this is a fairly easy hike, with great views at the top.

Trailhead: South end of Golden State Highway.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Follow the jeep trail from the end of the road up to the top.
Red Tape: None.

The Bay Area mountains are not quite so dramatic.

W6/SC-389 Peak 4820

This was the second peak of the day I climbed with Joe N0MAP, immediately after Peak 4092. After we had bushwhacked back to the trail, we returned the way we had come. It is a long, slow climb back up the North Coast Ridge Trail. We stopped at a spring to refill, but it was not running very fast. We had passed a stream on the way in, so we decided to just wait to refill to there.

The Mystery Tree. We couldn't find the stump of this tree that was lying in the middle of the trail. We decided aliens was the cause.

The sun had come out which burned off most of the fog still hanging over the ocean, so the views out that way got much nicer. At the Rodeo Flats junction, we kept on the trail and started the final climb up to the summit. There is an old firebreak that goes up to the summit, and it is very overgrown in some places.

North Coast Ridge Trail.

We managed to push our way up to the summit ridge. There is a bit of a traverse to get to the highest point, but it is all open on top. There is a mystery antenna below the summit too. We got set up, and both had decent service on this peak. Joe got the first contact, and got the first activation of the peak. I had some trouble on 30 and 40, but managed to squeak out my four contacts.

Clouds rolling over some of the peaks to the north.

It was getting late, and we were both getting tired, so we didn't linger. We retraced our steps back to the trail junction, then took the trail back down.

This would be a great place to watch the sunset.

The trail down seemed much steeper than it did on the way up, and we ran a few of the steep sections. It was a relief to get back to the flatter section. Back at the stream crossings, Joe just waded across while I managed to get across the same logs again. Back at the car we put on some clean shirts and watched the campers with their fires.

Junipero Serra Peak.

Overall it had taken just over 12 hours for us to cover 22mi and 6400'. There was still some light as we drove back through the fort, stopping to take pictures of all the blooming flowers and sunset. After stopping for some burritos, we made it back to the bay area.

Trailhead: Santa Lucia Memorial Park. The large dirt lot is on the right where the pavement ends.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map. GPX from my watch downloadable from the map.
Route: Arroyo Seco Trail, Rodeo Flats Trail, North Coast Ridge Trail. Where the trail begins contouring around the summit, take the old fire break up to the summit. An approach from the end of Cone Peak Road is also reasonable, but the road was closed when we went. For the most up to date trail conditions and accurate gpx of the trails, check out http://bigsurtrailmap.net/
Red Tape: None. The road to the TH does go through Fort Hunter Liggett, but it seems like there are no longer any gates.

Looking back up the canyon. Peak is on the right.

W6/SC-079 Peak 4092

Joe, N0MAP was in town for a conference and had a day off, so we decided to go for a long hike down in Big Sur. Our goal for the day was two peaks along the North Coast Ridge Trail, 4092 and 4820. We got an early start, leaving the Bay Area at 3:30 and getting to the trailhead by 6:30. The fords on Del Venturi Road were still closed, so we had to take the longer route around them.

Sunrise in the parking lot.

From the large dirt lot, we walked up the road a short distance to a driveway, which we took. The Arroyo Seco trailhead is at the end, near a private hunting club building. A few feet past the trailhead we entered the Ventana Wilderness. The trail initially follows a stream, crossing it after about a quarter mile. We missed the crossing, but quickly realized our mistake. Thankfully we found some logs that we could use to get across while keeping our feet dry.

Stream near the start.

The trail climbs slowly until it reaches a small meadow with a trail junction, then begins to climb out of the canyon. We took the right fork onto the Rodeo Flats Trail. We stopped to turn around and take pictures a lot during this section, as the views got better and better.

Looking back across the valley to Junipero Serra Peak.

It was a long climb, but nothing too difficult. There were some interesting rock formations. Near the ridge the trail got rougher and much more overgrown, but not a bushwhack. Coming up to the crest of the ridge we got our first view of the ocean, and our destination a few miles away.

Peak 4092.

Here we joined the North Coast Ridge Trail for a few miles. This trail was wide and clear. The views into the northern part of the wilderness were excellent, and it was a very nice walk. After a few miles we reached the place where the turnoff for the Bee Camp should be, but were unable to find it. Recent trip reports said there was a cairn marking the trail, but we didn't see it.

Joe looking back at the section we just bushwhacked.

From the same spot, looking at the rest of the bushwhack.

This is also where we stepped of the trail for the bushwhack to the summit. The first part is an old firebreak, and was easy to follow. At the top we had to pick our way down to a clearing with a stream that we could see. The brush was dense, but not as bad as I feared it could be.

Bushwhacking!

On the other side of the small stream, which was still flowing, we found some clearings which made for easy going. At the top we had to fight through more brush until we got to the shoulder, where ther were a number of small openings we could string together to minimize the bushwhacking. We passed some bright rocks that we had seen from the ridge trail, then found ourselves on the clear summit.

Joe working the pileup with Peak 4820, our next destination, in the background.

We both got set up and on the air. There was some very marginal cell service for both our Verizon phones, so I relied on RBNHole for spotting, and Joe used his satellite messenger. We both managed to get our contacts, and then packed up.

Working the pileup with the ocean behind me.

We followed our digital breadcrumbs to get back to the trail. Its a good thing we did, because we found one of Joe's poles that had been snagged out of his pack on the way up. Scratched up, but no worse for the wear, we got back on the trail for the long climb up to Peak 4820.

Trailhead: Santa Lucia Memorial Park. The large dirt lot is on the right where the pavement ends.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map. GPX from my watch downloadable from the map.
Route: Arroyo Seco Trail, Rodeo Flats Trail, North Coast Ridge Trail. At the turn off for Upper Bee Camp, bushwhack up to the summit. An approach from the end of Cone Peak Road is also reasonable, but the road was closed when we went. For the most up to date trail conditions and accurate gpx of the trails, check out http://bigsurtrailmap.net/
Red Tape: None. The road to the TH does go through Fort Hunter Liggett, but it seems like there are no longer any gates.

One of the bright white rock outcroppings visible from the trail.

W6/SC-224 Peak 2577

After climbing Junipero Serra Peak I came over to get this one. This peak is on BLM land (probably part of Williams Hill) between the towns of Lockwood and San Lucas. The trailhead is on the aptly named Lockwood San Lucas Road, shortly before the height of land, if you are heading north. There is the road and a small marker "W15". I nearly drove by it.

Trailhead.

If you have some clearance and 4WD, you could easily drive to the top. I don't, so I parked in the large pullout across the street and walked. Maps show the road goes straight up the ridge, but there are actually a few big switchbacks, easy to see in the satellite view of the area. Since it is graded for vehicles, I made good time up.

Getting close to the ridge.

It is about 1.8 miles to the top. After the climb up to the ridge, the road levels out and climbs gently for the second half up to the summit. There were some deer on the way up, enjoying the late afternoon grazing.

All the poppies in bloom.

There is a fence running parallel to the road at the top, which I used to hold up my antenna. There was great cell service, and nice views of the Salinas Valley and Fort Hunter Liggett area.

North and South Chalone in Pinnacles NP.

I had no trouble getting my contacts on HF. I called for a few minutes on VHF, but no one answered. The sun was starting to set, so I didn't stay as long as I could have. The hike back was quick, and I was soon on my way back up the Salinas Valley.

The south end of Fort Hunter Liggett.

Trailhead: Road W15 off of Lockwood San Lucas Road.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Take the Road up to the top.
Red Tape: None.

My parking spot.

W6/SC-025 Junipero Serra Peak

Junipero Serra Peak is the highest point in the Santa Lucia Mountains and Monterey County, and was the goal of todays hike. I left home at 6 to beat the traffic, and got to the trailhead shortly before 9. I had called the day before, and found the gates on Del Venturi Road were closed, so I took the longer dirt option around. The road was in great shape, no trouble for my little sedan. As others have reported, the Del Venturi-Milpital road junction is very poorly signed, and I missed it and nearly drove onto the base.

Gate at the trailhead.

It was a beautiful day, and great weather for hiking. The first part of the trail was very wet. The nice open meadows were waterlogged, and I mostly kept my feet dry. As the trail begins ascending the canyon, there were a few stream crossings, some of which took some balance to get across.

Some of the rocks near the start.

The trail was in good condition, if wet. The brush was trimmed back, and there were no major blow downs blocking the trail. I passed the abandoned tractor, and started climbing. As the trail started climbing it got much drier. After a set of switchbacks I reached the junction with the Santa Lucia Peak Trail. This is where the adventure began.

Trail sign defaced with some warnings from previous hikers.

Above the junction the trail was more overgrown, but nothing to impede my progress. I did get my first view of the summit with the tower too.

JSP summit.

Looking north at the rest of the Santa Lucia Mountains.

The trail was in decent condition until it crossed to the north side of the ridge. Here it got extremely overgrown. There were sections I just pushed through, barely able to see the ground. Somehow I managed to stay on the trail. There were some small patches of snow still on the ground too.

Snow along the trail.

By the time I got to the final climb up to the summit, around 5600 feet, I completely lost the trail. I was close enough that I decided to just bushwhack to the top. After some terrible fighting with the brush, I got to the tower. I climbed up for a look around, but since there is no floor, I didn't stay.

It would be so nice if there was a floor.

The high point is on the other know, so I headed over. There is a small ruin at the top, and a marker in the rock. I had some lunch, then got setup. I had some service on top, so I was able to spot myself. I was in no hurry to leave, knowing I had a bad bushwhack back to the trail.

Cone Peak on the left.

The walk back to the trail was worse than the way up. The bushwhacking was made even harder with the snow on the ground, never knowing if my foot would slip. Scratched up, but no worse for the wear I made it back to the nice trail on the south side of the ridge.

This is the highest point in Monterey County.

The hike down was uneventful. I made good time, and when I got back to the car I was surprised to see so many other cars in the lot. This must be a popular area this time of year.

Pinyon Peak to the north east. I'd like to go there, but from the reports I've read it is an impossible bushwhack.

There were still a few hours of daylight left, and I didn't want to get back to the Bay Area at commute time, so I headed over to Peak 2577 instead.

Trailhead: Just before Santa Lucia Memorial Park is the turnoff for the TH. The park has pit toilets if you need them. The dirt road was very rough, but with some careful driving I made it.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Take the Santa Lucia Trail up to the Santa Lucia Peak Trail. Near the summit the trail becomes very overgrown, then disappears. For the most up to date trail conditions and accurate gpx of the trails, check out http://bigsurtrailmap.net/
Red Tape: None. The road to the TH does go through Fort Hunter Liggett, but it seems like there are no longer any gates.

On the way up.