W6/SC-366 Dictionary Hill

Along with Mount Helix, Dictionary Hill is one of the easy peaks in San Diego. On the advice of Adam K6ARK I started at the trailhead at the end of Ivy St, on the north side of the hill. There was plenty of street parking on the hill. The trail starts behind two locked gates, but there were ways around them.

The trail was rather eroded.

It is about 0.4 miles to the summit from this trailhead. It was a quick hike, but quite hot. There are no trees or shade on the hill. The views from the top were decent, but it was pretty hazy. I used a small bush to hold my pole and got on the air.

Large fire ring at the summit. Looking south.

The bands didn't seem to be in very good condition, but I made plenty of contacts anyways. I was getting pretty hot, so I didn't spend too long on top.

More views.

Trailhead: End of Ivy Street.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Go around the gates, then follow the trail uphill to the summit.
Red Tape: None.

W6/SC-352 Mount Helix

Mount Helix is an easy drive up peak in San Diego. I stopped by on my way to the airport to kill some time before heading home. Your GPS can get you to the top, where there is a small lot with room for less than a dozen cars.

Looking over at Dictionary Hill

There is a paved path to the top on one side, and an amphitheater on the other. I walked around to the shady side, and found a small clearing to set up in. Adam K6ARK was on his way over, and arrived shortly after I started operating. He had made a tiny single lever paddle, so I had to try it out.

A joint activation.

The paddle was great to use, and I made lots of contacts. Adam didn't want to operate, so once I was done I packed up and we headed out.

Summit amphitheater.

Trailhead: Drive up.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: There is only 1 trail to the summit.
Red Tape: None.

W6/CC-026 Corte Madera Mountain

I had been in the area the previous week on Los Pinos Mountain, and decided I needed a break from the oppressive heat of Yuma. Corte Madera looked like a good choice, with cool temperatures at the trailhead and not too much vertical for my knee.

Up the trail.

 The mid-60's felt heavenly compared to the 90's in the desert as I started up the trail. There wasn't much space left in the pullout at the trailhead, but I managed to fit in. The first section of this trail is up a dirt driveway. Where it makes a sharp turn to the right, the trail becomes single track and starts up the hill.

Part way up, and finally had a view of the summit.

The trail is narrow, with plenty of poison oak in the shady areas, but is well traveled and easy to follow. In the pass between Corte Madera and Los Pinos it turns right and follows a dirt road for a short distance, before turning off and continuing as single track.

Los Pinos Mountain.

The views got better as I got higher. There were a few interesting rock formations, but mostly just chaparral. The trail ends at a view point above the cliffs. There was a group there when I arrived, so I just signed the log then backtracked a short distance to a large rock. I put up the antenna, and had excellent views sitting on the rock while operating.

Sitting rock, looking west.

I had good service on top, and had no trouble getting contacts. After working everyone on HF I decided to give VHF a try. On 2m I could hear N6AN up in the Verdugo Mountains, but he wasn't able to hear me. We had already worked each other on HF, so I wasn't too bummed I missed the summit-to-summit.

This was my favorite rock formation.

The run down was fast and fun. At the trailhead there was another group just about to start their hike. Even after the 7 miles, I was feeling very refreshed from the cool temperatures.

Trailhead: Corte Madera Trailhead. On Morena Stokes Valley Road Just after the sharp bend where it starts climbing steeply. If you have OHV abilities, you can drive over Los Pinos to the col and start there.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: There is only 1 trail to the summit.
Red Tape: None.

Great views.

W7A/YU-148 Telegraph Ridge

It was the day of the Arizona 10pt summit-to-summit event. There were no 10 point summits near me, so I decided to just do a nearby Arizona peak. The best option appeared to be this peak, Telegraph Ridge. There are a lot of towers on top and a very nice access road.

The peak is visible from the trailhead.

The trailhead is at the end of the frontage road on the north side of the interstate. Google has a marker there. There is a large dirt lot with lots of parking. It was pretty warm already, but I was confident I had enough water to make it up and back safely.

Desert scene.

There are a number of trail and roads at the base, so be careful to take the one you want. I didn't, and had to bushwhack a little bit over to the proper trail. At the base of the climb there is a gate to keep the cars out, and the road turns to pavement. It is quite steep.

Looking back down the switchbacks.

By the time I got to the top I looked like I had just been in a rainstorm I was sweating so much. The ridge is quite narrow, but I found a spot between some towers that I could set up my antenna. I started on 40, hoping to get in on the summit-to-summit action. I quickly got a large pileup, including about half a dozen s2s contacts.

Top of the ridge, looking south.

The higher bands weren't as fruitful, but I still made some contacts. By this point I had drank most of my water, and decided to pack up and head back. I finished the water as I neared the car, then drank a bunch more from the bottle I had left there. Back at the hotel I turned up the air conditioning and cooled off.

I'm not sure what these plants are, but they were fun to look at.

Trailhead: Telegraph Pass Trailhead. End of the frontage road on the north side of the interstate.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Follow the vehicle access road to the summit.
Red Tape: None.

W6/SD-435 Pilot Knob

The summer is not the best time for desert hiking, but I was tired of sitting around inside. I decided to wait until the evening for a hike, in the hopes that it would be cooler. I left the hotel and drove over to a BLM parking lot and camping area at the base of the peak.

Sunset from the parking lot.

The desert is rather flat around the peak, and I tried to decide the best route up as I walked over to the base of the hill. I picked a ridge that seemed to have a worn use trail going up, and started up. The ridge got steeper as I went, becoming class 2 in places.

Up the ridge.

Since the sun was setting, I was concerned that I'd have to come down it in the dark. I kept a lookout for other potential routes down. I got to the top of the ridge just before sunset, and accidentally went to the wrong peak. The ridge top was an easy traverse, so I got to the high point pretty quickly.

So beautiful.

 There is a cross and some other equipment on the summit. There was a pole that I put my antenna pole in. I got on the air and started calling CQ. I was in a bit of a rush, since I didn't want to be up there in the dark. I got 2 contacts on 40, then 1 on 30 before I decided I had to go. Climbing down small cliffs in the dark didn't sound fun.

Moments before the end of sunset.

I had spied a decent looking descent route on the way up, and lucky for me it turned out to be a good one. There was a wide, fire road type path with lots of switchbacks coming down, and I took it. It was just about too dark to see by the time I made it back to the car.

Looking towards Yuma.

Trailhead: BLM Pilot Knob Long Term Visitor Area. Just south of the freeway off of exit 164
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Pick one of the use trails and take it up to the top. The face north of the summit has a decent road/trail.
Red Tape: None.

New colors after the sun set.

W6/SC-048 Los Pinos Mountain

I was headed to Yuma for a work trip. Since it is hard to fly into the Yuma airport, I decided to just go to San Diego and drive. Since I wasn't in a rush, I found a peak to bag on the way over. I had some IBTS from my run the previous day, so the drive up Los Pinos looked like a good peak.

The majestic Corte Madera, with Cuyamaca behind it.

Getting to the peak is easy. Google will lead you right there, and any sedan can make it to the top. The road is narrow and rough, so take it slow. As I parked at the top, the guy in the lookout came out and invited me up. This was the highlight of the peak. He showed me how all his fire lookout gear worked, and how the FS monitors everything.

Lookout from my operating position.

Once the fire stuff had run out, he started showing me pictures of all the critters he had captured on his trail cam. There were also swarms of humming birds around the tower, and other raptors soaring around in the wind. He gave me some tips for good places to set up and operate, and I walked down to the shade of some trees and set up.

Great views from the summit.

Conditions were decent, and I made plenty of contacts. Once I was done, I packed up and headed back down the hill for the rest of the drive to Yuma.

Trailhead: Drive up. The gate below the summit is closed at night.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Drive up.
Red Tape: None.

W7I/SR-167 Kodiak Peak

I had a bit of time to kill on my way back to the airport, so I decided to run up this peak. Time was tight, but I thought I'd be able to get up and activate it in time. I parked in a large pullout on the side of route 21. From here I dropped down to the small creek and found a crossing point. I was able to jump across without getting my feet wet.

Looking up towards the summit.

The best way seemed to be to climb over a small ridge, then climb up to the summit. I was a bit short on time, so I just hiked up as fast as I could. The breeze was nice up on the ridge, but I was still pretty hot by the time I got to the summit. I took a few moments to catch my breath, took some photos, then got set up.

Fluffy storm clouds in the distance.

On the air I didn't have good luck. I only made two contacts before I had to pack up. I probably could have stayed a few extra minutes to try more, but I started hearing some lightning on 40 and decided it wasn't worth it. The run down was fast, and a few minutes after I got to the car there was a very loud thunderclap. I was very glad I made the decision to leave!

It was a very scenic area.

This is a great little peak, and I wouldn't mind heading up it again sometime in the future.

Trailhead: Large pullout on the side of route 21. There are a few to choose from.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Cross the stream, then head up the shoulder. Cross the next drainage and then continue up to the high point. Easy travel through the open terrain.
Red Tape: None.

Note the large supply of gummy bears.

W7I/CI-089 Deadline Ridge

I needed a long run, and Deadline Ridge looked like a good destination for that. I had done Deadline Ridge North a few years ago. This trip was much warmer and more pleasant than that frigid morning. I took the same route up to the ridge, but drove south a bit more. I wanted a 15mi run, so I parked far north of the summit, where Road 256 meets 541, the main road on the ridge. Depending on your car, you can drive much closer. A 4x4 or dirt bike could drive all the way to the summit.

It is a beautiful, open ridge.

A few cars passed me on the road, but after I passed the "not maintained" sign I didn't see anyone else. The road is in good shape a distance past that sign, and a sedan could likely be driven down it. It was pleasantly warm, like the end of summer usually is. There was a nice breeze to keep me cool as well.

One of the false summits on the way.

There were a number of false summits along the way, and some of them had me convinced I was almost there. There were one or two steep climbs, but nothing difficult to do on foot. At the base of the actual summit I could see there was a fence just past it. I went there first to do radio, then tagged the summit on the way back.

Finally, the real summit.

I used the fence to hold the pole and was on the air. I had good cell service, and had no trouble getting contacts. I didn't spend too long on top since I had a long way back, and had to be back in town to work in the evening.

Heading back.

I took the same route back, and saw even fewer cars than on the way out. I wasn't surprised, it was getting late on a Sunday afternoon. At the car I drove back down the hill and into Twin Falls for a shower and some dinner. I realized later that evening that I should have put some sunscreen on my legs. They got a bit burnt.

Trailhead: As far along Road 541 as you can drive.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Follow Road 541 south. Despite what the USFS map says, the road goes all the way to the summit.
Red Tape: None.

So beautiful.

W7I/BC-070 Mores Mountain

After coming down from Shafer Butte I continued across the parking lot to the nature trails that lead up to the top of Mores Mountain. I didn't have a map and the USFS maps don't show any trails, so I was pleasantly surprised to find some trails on the mountain.

The sun had come out, and the trail was excellent.

Since I didn't have a map, I was guessing the best way to go at each intersection. Luckily my forest sense is good enough that I made it to the top without having to backtrack. The trails were in excellent shape, lined with logs in most places. It was great having them, since the forest seemed a bit dense for easy bushwhacking.

Rocky areas on the west side, on the way up to the peak.

I was a bit worried I had chosen a bad trail since it seemed to be avoiding the summit. but eventually it turned up and went right to it. I signed the log, then set up my antenna.

Open meadow just below the summit.

I had good service and good views as I operated. This area of Idaho is beautiful, and I could have spent days exploring the mountains, but I had to get to Twin Falls for work. So I packed up and headed back. The trail seemed to be a loop, so I continued around on it.

Looking back at Shafer Butte.

After a little while I recognized a meadow I had passed on the way up, so took a trail across it then back down to the car. The drive down the mountain was nice, then the long drive on the freeway to Twin Falls.

Trailhead: Shafer Butte Campground and Picnic Area
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map. USFS map
Route: Take the nature trail.
Red Tape: None.

That point might be higher, but both are in the AZ.

W7I/BC-064 Shafer Butte

I was in Idaho for work for a week, and decided to take advantage of some down time to get some peaks. First up was Shafer Butte and Mores Mountain. After arriving at the airport I got my car and drove up into the hills. The road is paved until you get to the ski area, where it is a good dirt road. Since I wanted to get both peaks I started at the Shafer Butte Campground and Picnic Area. Google was able to get me there with no issues.

First view on the way up.

After paying the $5 fee and changing into my running clothes I headed up the road to Shafer. The trails appear to be ski trails in the winter, or access roads, so they are wide and easy to follow. There is also a large network of them on the side of the mountain, but going up was always a safe bet.

There was some forest on the peak, but lots of vistas.

I was feeling good, and made good time up to the summit. It wasn't high enough for me to notice any altitude effects. There were some construction working near the summit, so I stayed out of their way. After tagging the high point, I went down a bit to some trees where I set up. I had good service on top and was soon on the air.

Closed fire lookout on top.

There was no trouble getting contacts despite the mid-week activation. It was a bit chilly, but the long-sleeved shirt and windbreaker were enough to keep me warm. After I worked everyone I packed up and headed down. It was a quick run back to the start. I took nearly the same path, but missed a turn and did one long switchback instead of a few short ones.

Mores Mountain, my next destination.

Instead of stopping at the bottom, I continued immediately up the trail to Mores Mountain.

Trailhead: Shafer Butter Campground and Picnic Area. There are lots of trails on the mountain, and lots of other possible trailheads.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Go through the group area, then follow the trails to the summit. None were marked with names/signs, so a map is necessary.
Red Tape: None.

Mountain Goat Peak!

After my long weekend in the Sierra, I was at 999 points, one away from Mountain Goat. I had talked with Rex, KE6MT, and he said he'd let me use his high power setup for my MG summit. He had some family events that weekend, but I was able to go over to borrow the gear. From his backyard we were able to work a little DX before packing it up.

A fair bit of color still.

I chose Maguire Peaks for my summit. This is one of my favorites, in the Sunol Regional Wilderness. I got there a few minutes after the gate opened, and got my pass for Welch Creek Road. There was no one at the trailhead yet. It was overcast, which was sad, but at the same time meant the temperature would be a lot more pleasant.

Peak on the left.

I took the same route I did every other time I visited, slowed by the enormous amount of radio stuff I was carrying. On the summit I set up the full sized 20-40 linked dipole and Rex's 891 and got on the air. I soon had a decent pileup, and worked everyone. Having power was fun. I did high power CW and SSB on 20 and 40. Next I put up my end fed and 2m EDZ, and worked the VHF and other HF bands.

So much stuff on the summit.

The sun never came out, so I never got too hot. It was perfect for sitting and operating. The solar panel was dead weight though. After I had worked everyone I packed up and headed back. The backpack was still heavy but I was in a good mood so I didn't mind. Back at the car I headed home, happy to finally be a mountain goat.