W6/CT-158 Fernando 2 Benchmark

It was time to head home again, but I had some time before my flight. So I found an easy drive up summit to do on my way back to Burbank. To get there, take your favorite route to Bear Divide, then turn up road 3N17.8. This narrow, windy road will take you up to an LA County Fire station.

Summit from the helipad.

You can drive all the way up to the summit, but I wanted to walk a little, so I parked at the fire station. It is a quick walk up the paved road to the summit. There is a large flat area on top, likely flattened from when there was a Nike Missile site up here.

Looking back at the fire station.

I setup next to a tree on the north west side of the summit, and got on the air. There was excellent cell service, and I soon had a pileup on 20. As the pileup was winding down, a car pulled up to the top. The guy got out and started walking up to where I was sitting. I finished my contact then turned to see what they wanted. Much to my surprise, it was Jordan, WC6J! He had driven down to do some of the peaks in the area, and we had both decided this was the place to be.

Steep and dramatic canyon below the helipad.

After chatting for a few minutes, he went back to his car to get his stuff while I went down to 40. After working the remaining chasers I packed up and let Jordan get set up. The drive back down the hill was scenic, and I was soon back at the airport.

Trailhead: LACD Fire Camp 9.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Drive up to the top, or park at the station and walk up.
Red Tape: None. Don't block the roads.

I sat under that tree to operate.

W6/ND-308 Saddleback Butte

I had the morning off, so I decided to get one of the buttes near Palmdale. Saddleback Butte was an obvious choice since it's in a state park. I drove over, and parked at the campground. I paid my fee and was on the trail.

Start of the trail.

The trail leaves right from the day use parking at the campground. The first mile and a quarter is on loose sand, and requires more effort that you'd expect. It was mid-week, so I had the place to myself. I passed two people who were coming down from the top and they told me about all the lizards they had seen.

Climbing up.

Once the trail reaches the base of the butte it hardens up and the footing is better. It is steep in sections, but there are plenty of switchbacks. The trail is well marked and worn, no trouble following it.

The view back towards Palmdale.

At the saddle, follow the trail to the left to the higher northern peak. The summit is rocky and narrow, but just below it to the north is a large flat area. I walked down here and used a bush to hold up my pole. The bands were not it the greatest shape, but I got 8 contacts anyway. Great cell service the entire hike.

It was hazy, but I could see Baden Powell.

It wasn't too hot, but I was getting bored so I packed up and retraced my steps back to the car. Back in town I got some lunch and got ready for work that evening.

Trailhead: Saddleback Butte SP campground. Also a trail from the day use area.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Take the trail up to the summit. Very well marked.
Red Tape: None.

A big joshua tree.

W6/CT-168

This is another easy peak in the Palmdale area. After getting Peak 3819 I drove over to this one. I started at 6808 Escondido Canyon Road, as described by N6JZT and NA6MG. I missed the sign and had to turn around before I found it. The lot appears to be for sale, if you want your own SOTA peak.

Trailhead.

I walked down the driveway, then started up the hill. There are a number of other roads and paths on the hill, but I just took the ones that looked like they went where I wanted to go. This worked out well, and I made it to the summit without getting lost of having to bushwhack. There were lots of signs of horses on the trail, and I saw some nearby stables.

Not particularly scenic with the freeway just below you.

I found the pile of rocks at the high point, and jammed my pole in. I tried to string out the antenna so that it would guy the pole a bit, but I seem to have stuck it in the rocks well. Unsurprisingly, there was excellent cell coverage the entire hike.

The crest of the San Gabriel Mountains.

Again, I had no problem getting my contacts. I took the same route back to the car, where I returned to Palmdale to get some dinner. It had been a great afternoon of SOTA.

Trailhead: 6808 Escondido Canyon Road.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Follow the roads and trails up to the summit. Open terrain, bushwhacking would be a viable option here too.
Red Tape: None.

Some peaks across the freeway, near the trailhead.

W6/CT-265

This is an easy peak on the north side of the San Gabriel Mountains, near Palmdale. I hiked up from 4N32, which I think is the shortest route. From Aliso Canyon Road, turn right onto the dirt 4N32 and drive. I parked in a pullout at the first electrical pylon. Across the road I saw a use trail, which I took.

Use trail leading most of the way to the summit.

There is a short flat section, then it climbs steeply up. There were some eroded sections, but I had good footing both up and down. About a hundred feet below the summit the trail ends, so I bushwhacked the last few yards to the top. There is a large flat area on top.

View from the top.

I used a large yucca to hold my pole and got set up. There was good service at the top, and I had no trouble getting chasers. It was warm in the sun, but with the wind it was quite pleasant.

Looking west.

The hike up was quick, and the return was even quicker. There were about 25 minutes of hiking, round trip. Back at the car I headed over to Peak 3784 for another easy activation.

Parked at the pylon.

Trailhead: 4N32, at the first pylon.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Across the road, take the use trail up to the summit.
Red Tape: None. Watch out for trucks on 4N32.

Glad to be out in the sun again.

W6/CT-118 Mt McDill

This peak is a few miles west of Palmdale, and a pleasant hike if you have a few hours. I started at Lincoln Crest, the high point of Bouquet Canyon Road. This is the same place as when I did Granite Benchmark a few years ago. The pullout is still there. The start is the power line access road. There is a gate, but it wasn't locked or signed. I simply opened it enough to get around and was on my way.

Sign on the gate.

There are a number of roads at the start, and no signs. I managed to take the wrong one, and didn't realize it until I had climbed about 150'. I decided to just bushwhack over to the road I wanted rather than go down and up again. There were a few gnarly sections, but not as bad as some I've done. Back on the correct road I started cruising up the hill.

On the bushwhack. Oops!

I almost missed the turn where the trail becomes single track instead of a road, but I caught my mistake before I had gone too far. This section was easy to follow, with no junctions until I got to the road on the other end. It was overcast, and got windier as I got higher. Water was condensing on the bushes, so I got a bit wet from that.

An interesting tree on the way up.

At the road at the other end, I turned right and took it up to the ridge. There is a dirt road running along the crest. There were decent views, and luckily for me, the bottom of the clouds were just above the ridge.

It appears the super bloom is still happening up high.

Turn left at the ridge, and follow the road up to the summit. I found the marker, then retreated to behind some rocks and bushes. The broke the wind enough that I could stay warm enough for an activation. I put up the antenna and was on the air. Once I started getting cold, I packed up and headed back down.

My new 9:1 UnUn, from QRPGuys.

I had no problem finding my way down, and was able to avoid bushwhacking. Back at the car I warmed up out of the wind, and headed back to town so I could shower before going to work.

Trailhead: Lincoln Crest, Bouquet Canyon Road.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Carefully take the power line access road. Take the unmarked single track trail up to the next road, then left along the ridge to the summit. None of the roads appear to have numbers.
Red Tape: None. Just make sure not to damage the power line pylons.

W6/CT-269 Verdugo Mountains High Point

I had a few hours to kill between checking out of my hotel and my flight leaving, so of course I decided to do some SOTA. This peak is pretty close to the airport, so I decided to do it. I parked at the small lot where La Tuna Canyon Road crosses the freeway.

Is this the least scenic trailhead in the world? Its possible.

The first park is up the closed, paved road. The pavement ends and the trail becomes a fire road, called the Hostetter Fire Road on my map. There are some trails that go straight up the ridges. I took one on the way up, and quickly regretted my decision. These use paths are steep class 2, and I would not recommend, especially since there is the fire road.

Summit on the left.

This is another noisy hike until you get a distance above the freeway. There were still some flowers blooming, which made the hike more pretty. However it was very smoggy in the basin. No good views today.

Looks like there's a fire burning somewhere.

I found the road that went right up to the summit, and walked around the fenced enclosure. On one side I found a small bench and decided to set up there. I used the fence to hold up the pole, and got on the air. A lizard watched me until I got too close, when it scampered off.

The lizard helping call CQ on 40.

Since I had to get back to the airport in time, I didn't spend too much time on top. It was also hot with no shade, so I didn't mind. I took the fire road all the way down. It is very nicely graded, and I saw a number of biker on their way up. There is a giant gully in the trail near the bottom. Hopefully the riders know about it when they're going down!

Some serious maintenance is needed before a vehicle could drive up.

Back at the car I changed into some clean clothes and headed over to catch my flight home.

Trailhead: Where La Tuna Canyon Road crosses the freeway.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Take the Hostetter Fire Road up. There appear to be many other trailheads and routes possible.
Red Tape: None.

The mountain dominates the skyline from the Burbank airport.