W6/ND-169 Red Mountain

This was the final peak I was able to do on my 2023 desert trip. The trailhead is in the aptly named town of Red Mountain, along 395. Turn north onto Trona Road, then an immediate right onto the dirt road with the big pullout. Google calls this Steamwells Road. I was only able to drive about a quarter mile down the road in a sedan, but real OHVs could get much farther.

Summit on the right.

The roads in this area all had signs. I followed road 108. This winds its way to the base of the mountain, then goes up to a col north of the peak. The road was pretty rough in places; no problem for someone on foot, but could require some skill to drive. The climb to the col seemed easier than I expected. At the col there is another road that heads south up to the crest of the ridge.

Ridge near the summit.

After a very steep climb, the road levels out and ends at a dry pond. It seemed like an area that people camp at for fun. I found bits of a trail that lead higher, but nothing formal. The ridge crest is fairly rocky, but it was not hard to find a way up the next steep section. On top was a wide, gently sloped part of the ridge. It was easy walking, and I enjoyed the views. After going over a sub-peak, you drop a short distance down, then climb up a rocky area to the summit. From a distance it looks like there are some cliffs, but they are not bad to traverse.

Desert views.

There was a lot of debris at the summit. I put up my antenna and got busy making contacts. Cell service was good on top. The bands cooperated, and I had no problem getting my contacts. There was a rock with some graffiti scratched in. One was dated 1907. I wonder if it was real, or just some prankster.

Really from 1907?

I retraced my steps to get down. The creosote really hid the car, so I had to pay attention at the bottom to make sure I ended up back where I wanted to. But I did it, and headed back to town for lunch.

Trailhead: Pullout on Trona Road, or as far up 108 as you can drive.

Website: SOTA Site.

Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.

Route: Follow road 108 up to the col, then the spur road to the dry pond bed. Cross country up to the summit along the ridge.

Red Tape: None.

Video: Coming Soon!

W6/SD-472

Ridgecrest is a strangely named city. The name implies it is on top of a hill, but it is actually in a basin, near a dry lake bed. Nowhere near the crest of a ridge. This peak, however, is on the crest of the ridge south of town. I drove up 395 to the starting point for this unnamed peak. Boundry Road heads off to the east from the highway. I only had a sedan, so I was able to drive about half a mile up the sandy road. With a jeep or similar you could drive to the summit.

Decisions....

The hike is pretty straightforward. Just follow Boundary Road until you get to the summit. As simple as this sounds, however, I still managed to make some wrong turns. Some of the junctions are not signed, and didn't appear on the map I had. I did walk past some benches and art set up in the middle of the desert. Not sure if this is a rest area or a campground or something like that. I didn't stop. 

Some benches at a campsite?

The relief is fairly low in this area, and there are a lot of small hills that look like they could be the summit. You have to walk past a few, and over the sides of some. The highest point is pretty rocky, and there is a turn around area for vehicles. Like most places in the desert, there is plenty of space. I found a nice rock to sit on off to the side of the road, and put up my antenna. 

Summit area with Ridgecrest below.

I had a nice view of Ridgecrest as I operated, and very good cell service. The bands were decent, and I had no problems getting my contacts. Not sure if there are many hams in Ridgecrest, but it would be a good place to get them on 2m. Once I was done, I packed up and retraced my steps back to the car. This time, however, I did a better job following Boundary Road, and had a slightly shorter hike back. 

Watch out for the cholla.

Trailhead: As far along Boundary Road as you want to or can drive.

Website: SOTA Site.

Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.

Route: Walk along Boundary Road until you get to the summit. There are plenty of other OHV trails if you want to make a loop or get some variety.

Red Tape: None. If driving, follow the signs about where you can and can't drive.

Video: Coming Soon!

W6/SD-152 Bell Mountain

This was the third peak of the Victorville Threesome I hiked. After Catholic Hill and Little Bell Mountain was Bell Mountain. This was the hardest of the three peaks. The trailhead for this peak is south of the summit. From Dale Evans Parkway head west on a dirt road. Google calls it Falchion Road, but I can't find this name on other maps. At the intersection with what Google calls Vega Road turn right and head north as far as you can. In a sedan I could get about a quarter mile down this final road. There was a nice place to turn around and park out of the way, so I decided to not risk getting stuck.

Bell Mountain from the trailhead.

I then walked up the road a bit to a sheltered area. In the satellite view I was able to see a trail, but I couldn't find it on the ground, so I just started going up the hill. It was steep. When I got to the ridge, I crossed the trail. It was a good place to find it, since above me on the ridge were some cliffs and the trail nicely routed around them. With the trail, it was easy to find my way up to the summit. There is a flagpole with a flag, and, appropriately, a bell. I signed the register and got on the air.

Its a steep hike to the summit.

There was good cell service, but no chasers. I called for a while on 20m, but didn't get anyone. Maybe it was too late in the day to get east coast people. Down on 40m I called, and barely got four contacts. Not the best activation, but it was successful. And I didn't get blown away in the strong wind.
On the way down I followed the trail all the way to the base. There were some nice switchbacks lower down, and it was much more pleasant.

Looking back at the two other summits I did.

Back at the car I headed back to the pavement for the long drive to Ridgecrest. Along 395 there was an accident, with multiple campers in pieces on the side of the road with a crane lifting one onto something. Glad I missed the big jam I'm sure that caused. Be careful driving!

Trailhead: South of the summit, at the corner of Vega and Falchion Roads. Or as far up as you can drive.

Website: SOTA Site.

Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.

Route: Find the trail, and follow it to the summit. It is not obvious from the OHV roads where the trail is.

Red Tape: None.

Video: Coming Soon!

W6/SD-181, Little Bell Mountain

The middle peak of the Victorville Threesome, Little Bell Mountain. After hiking Catholic Hill I drove a few minutes down the road to the base of this one. There is an access point for some OHV trails along Corwin Road, just across from Waalew Road. Since I only had a sedan, I pulled into the wide area just off the road and parked. A jeep or similar could get much closer. 

The peak is in the middle of the frame.

From here, a sub-peak is closer, then the peak. I followed the OHV roads to the base of the col between the two peaks. From here it looked a bit better to go up the ridge on the right (north) to the main ridge, but going up the reentrant would probably have been fine.

Plenty of interesting desert plants out there.

It did not take me too long to climb up to the ridge. From here I just had to follow it along until I got to the high point. There was a small false summit on the way. This peak was much better for playing radio than Catholic Hill. Much more space on top, and no ants to attack. I was still pining after the KH1, but not as badly. There were also more chasers, or maybe I just wasn't so impatient. Cell service was excellent on top.

Looking down my route up and down the hill.

I took the same route back down. At the base I had to be careful, since there were so many paths to take and the car was hidden in the big creosote bushes. But my trusty GPS watch led me back without problems. Now I had done two summits, it was time to get number three, Bell Mountain.

Trailhead: Across from Waalew Road, as far as you're willing to drive.

Website: SOTA Site.

Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.

Route: Find your way to below the col, then head up to the main ridge. Turn right and follow it to the summit.

Red Tape: None.

Video: Coming Soon!

W6/SD-186, Catholic Hill

This peak is one of three that I call the Victorville Threesome, three peaks along the same ridge, more or less. Catholic Hill was the first I did this day, and the easiest. I parked near the corner of Sylvan and Roanoke Roads in Apple Valley. There is a paved and gated road that leads up to a big water tank on the side of the hill.

At the start of the hike.

I walked up the pavement to the tank, then along the fence. On the other side there was a break in the small cliff that I could scramble up. From here, I just followed the ridge up to the summit. The terrain is covered in big rocks, so a bit of care is needed to find a way through, but it wasn't difficult.

Almost at the top.

There is a large cross on top, along with some solar garden lights. I suppose they like to have it lit up at night. Either way, it was a convenient support for my antenna pole. The radio gods must've heard my prayers, since I quickly got five contacts. I did, however, pick a bad place to sit. One crawling with red ants. After the first bite I hurried up a bit. It was also the day after Pacificon, where the Elecraft KH1 was announced, so I was really sad I didn't have one. It would've been the perfect summit for it.

Views of Apple Valley

I mostly took the same way down, but I cut down to the road at one of the small cols, before I got back to the water tank. This saved a little distance, but was a bit steep. Probably wouldn't have been fun to go up. Back I the car I headed a minute down the road to the base of Little Bell Mountain, the second of the threesome.

Trailhead: Apple Valley, corner of Sylvan and Roanoke Roads.

Website: SOTA Site.

Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.

Route: Walk up the paved road to the water tank, then follow the ridge to the summit.

Red Tape: None. Don't block the gate.

Video: Coming Soon!

W6/CT-241 Pedley Hills

This is not the most interesting summit I've done. It is, however, a short and easy hike. Drive up to the end of Lakeside Drive, and find a place to park in the neighborhood. At the end of the pavement, the dirt starts and it is a quarter mile up to the summit.

The summit is visible from the trailhead.

You can see where you want to go, so just walk on up. The eroded jeep trails are an easy walk, but would require some serios OHV capability to drive. The top is rocky, but it wouldn't be too hard to set up an HF antenna. I was short on time, so I did VHF only. It took about 15 minutes to get four contacts, and I was worried I'd have to leave before I got number four. 

Views of the Jurupa Hills, and the San Gabriel Mountains.

Talking with locals later, it sounds like that area is just not very good for VHF. Too low and far away from the chasers in LA, and not that many hams in the inland empire. Oh well, next time I'll leave more time for HF.

Back at the car it was a short drive over to the airport for my flight home. 

Trailhead: End of Lakeside Dr.

Website: SOTA Site.

Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.

Route: Walk up to the summit. You can see it from the end of the road.

Red Tape: None that I'm aware of.

Video: Coming Soon!

W6/ND-232 El Paso Peaks

After driving up Government Peak, I headed north on 395 to get this peak. Motorcross road goes towards this summit. It heads west across from Searles Station Cutoff road. Motorcross Road is paved, I suppose. There is pavement, but there are also potholes big enough to swallow a small car. In the Jeep I had, it was easy enough to go around, but a sedan might have a bit of trouble navigating the poor road.

View of the peak from the parking spot.

The road doesn't really get rougher, but there is less asphalt as you get farther along. At the turnoff for Laurel Mountain there are lots of signs warning you not to get too close to the government stuff on top. Probably something to do with the base at China Lake just to the north, but I am curious what the golf ball is for. The rough road then climbs up to a sub-peak with a bunch of towers. This is where I parked, as the road gets significantly rougher past here. It was only three quarters of a mile or so to the summit from here.

El Paso Peaks

I walked along the road to the base of the peak. There is a relatively steep climb that looks like dirt bikes have driven up and down. Probably fun on one of those. Up on the summit ridge is was a quick walk over to the high point. The wind had died down a bit from earlier, so it was pleasant to sit on the summit and operate. The cell service was good. It was getting to be lunch time, so I didn't linger too long. Back at the car I drove down the hill to find some food in Ridgecrest.

Trailhead: Subpeak with all the towers.

Website: SOTA Site.

Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.

Route: From the towers, follow the road to below the summit, then follow the motorcycle trail to the summit ridge, then cross country to the top.

Red Tape: None.

Video: Coming Soon!

W6/ND-224 Government Peak

This desert peak south of Ridgecrest is either really easy or a long slog, depending on your vehicle. I had a Jeep, so it was really easy. Don't follow Google Maps, it tried to take me down closed roads, and didn't know about roads that were easy to drive on. Someone on peakbagger posted a GPS track of the route described here, https://peakbagger.com/climber/ascent.aspx?aid=1133044, if you like pictures more.

From the south end of the small town of Red Mountain, head west on Osdick Road. This curves to the south and becomes Butte Ave. A short distance down Butte, turn right onto Randsburg Mojave Road. All of these roads are dirt, but would be passable in a sedan. 

Next, turn right onto R20, which is also called R16. From here the roads get rougher, and sedans may not be able to make it. Finally, turn north onto R85 or R83, depending on the map or sign, and follow that to the col below the summit. I parked at the col to get some walking in, but you could drive all the way to the summit.

Looking over at Fremont Peak

It is less than half a mile to the summit. I set up just below the road, to get away from the towers a little. There was good cell service, and I quickly got plenty of HF contacts. The wind was blowing, but it was reasonably warm, so a light windbreaker was enough. I drove down the same way I went up. The tire tracks were fresh enough in the dirt I could follow those when I got to intersections. Back on the highway I drove a few miles down the road to get El Paso Peaks.

Trailhead: Col below the summit.

Website: SOTA Site.

Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.

Route: See post for driving description.

Red Tape: None.

Video: Coming Soon!