This peak is deep in the Clear Creek Management Area, a large section of BLM land. Access is fairly restricted due to naturally occurring asbestos in the serpentine rock in the area. It had been a few years since my last visit with Rex, KE6MT, and I managed to talk him into taking me for another trip. This time we decided to spend two days, and camp down there.
Looking back at Laguna Mountain from the fee station as we aired down the tires.
At the wide area at the fee station we aired down the tires for a smoother ride then started the real driving. Clear Creek road was in decent shape, but as soon as we turned onto R5 it got much rougher. Rex did an excellent job getting up the road.
Time for some car surgery.
About half way up we stopped to check the car and make sure it was still ok. After a quick walk around, it was discovered that a plastic panel on the bottom had started coming off. We had to pull it off the rest of the way so it wouldn't drag. This done, the rest of the drive up to the Picachos High Point was uneventful.
On the way up to the summit.
The road goes through the activation zone, and we parked at a wide spot by a clearing below the summit. It was a very short distance to the actual high point, so we both bushwhacked up to it to take a few pictures and sign the log. There were not many entries in it.
On the summit.
We then returned to the road side clearing and set up the linked dipole and got on the air. Despite the contest going on we were able to find clear spots on 40 and 20 to make some contacts. It was easy getting them, since we were running 100w.
Antenna on the summit.
Once we had worked our pileups we packed up and continued across the ridge to San Benito Mountain for a quick activation as the sun set. I was able to get New Zealand and two Japanese stations. With the last bit of light we packed up and drove down the road to get out of the Serpentine ACEC zone to camp for the night.
Camping near Wright Mountain.
It was a clear night with a full moon, and we watched the stars and moon while cooking dinner and before going to bed.
Trailhead: R5, just below the summit.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Bushwhack up to the summit.
Red Tape: Each person needs a day use permit to enter the ACEC zone, and each vehicle needs a separate permit to drive into the trail system (and get the gate code).
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