W6/SC-387 Condon Peak

Condon Peak is one of the high peaks in the BLM's Clear Creek area in southern San Benito County. I drove down on one of my off Fridays to hike up to the summit. On the way down, a bobcat ran across the road in front of my car. Very cool. At the Condon Peak Campground, I paid my entry fee and drove up the hill to the day use lot at the top. There is enough space here for a few cars. Walking through the gate across the road I started my hike.

Looking back at the parking area and gate.

The first half mile or so are on a wide dirt road that looks like it may be open to cars and OHVs. I left the road where there was a steep trail heading off to the left, and the road began to head downhill. There is a post here forbidding motorized travel, with some indications that it is an official trail, but I don't think it has been maintained recently.

Onto the steep section.

This trail climbs up the ridge, following a barbed wire fence that marks the border between San Benito and Fresno Counties. It is a steep climb in places, with loose dirt making the footing even more difficult. After gaining around 1000 feet, the trail peters out. This middle section was the most difficult. Initially I found good routes around the dense brush staying on the Fresno side of the fence, but eventually I had to start crossing back and forth.

Taking a breather on the way up.

Maybe someone will bring a pair of wire cutters and make the hike easier for everyone. Eventually I made it to the ridge and the going got better. After climbing over a small bump, the trail descends to another dirt road that runs along the ridge top. There were great views from here to San Benito Mountain and Santa Rita Peak, as well as to the Santa Lucia range to the west. I could see Junipero Serra Peak as well as the Sierra.

The first view of Condon Peak.

 The road doesn't go over the summit, but from the high point there is a use trail that climbs the last few feet. I found the register and added my name. It was quite windy, and chilly in the wind, so I descended a few feet to setup in some bushes on the east side of the peak.

San Benito Mountain on the left, Santa Rita is the pointy one on the right.

I was surprised to have good cell service on the summit. I sent out a spot and quickly worked a half dozen people on 30. Twenty meters got a few more contacts. I tried VHF, since I had line of sight to the southern part of the central valley, but only got one response on 70cm.

Lots of these types of formations along the crest of the ridge.

Having successfully activated the peak I packed up and retraced my steps. I was able to avoid all the dense areas again on the way down without having to backtrack much. It was great finding the trail again, even if it was very steep to descend. Back on the main road I quickly got back to the car. Since it was still early, I decided to stop and activate Black Mountain on my way home.

Trailhead: Condon Peak Campground.
Website: SOTA Site. Clear Creek Management Area
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Follow ridge (San Benito-Fresno County line) to the summit.
Red Tape: None. The hike is outside of the asbestos area, so no extra permit needed.

A mine below the summit. 

W6/NC-379 Taylor Mountain

Taylor Mountain is a low mountain that overlooks the city of Santa Rosa. The north face of the mountain is in the Taylor Mountain Regional Park which has trails that run to the summit. This was the second summit of the day, after Hood Mountain. I started at the Kawana Terrace entrance and took the East Trail, more or less, to the summit. There are trail markers, but there are also a lot of paths the cows and other people make, so following the official trail was difficult in places.

Some picturesque cows.

The eastern route is not particularly hard, with only one steep section about halfway up. It was a lovely day to be walking through the open fields with the flowers and cows. There were a lot of other people in the park enjoying themselves. Below the summit the trail goes through a wooded area before coming out into the open at the top. The actual summit is on private property and well fenced and signed. The area outside the fence, though, was very nice for operating.

Sitting amongst the poppies.

I used the fence to support my pole, and got on the air, careful not to break the antenna wires at the ends. I sent out a spot for 30, and slowly got four contacts. I tried 20 for a while, but the band was even more dead than before. Forty meters got two more contacts. As I was watching other spots, I got a summit to summit with N7LP in Arizona. I tried VHF, but only got a contact with AA0BV, who probably could have shouted from his back yard to make the contact.

Looking towards the ocean, covered in fog.

Having worked everyone, I packed up and retraced my steps back down to the car. Showering at home I discovered a tick on my knee which had started to bite. Remember to check yourself after hiking!

Trailhead: Kawana Terrace entrance.
Website: SOTA Site. Taylor Mountain Park
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Eastern Route.
Red Tape: None.

Antenna setup. I think that's Bald Mountain in the background.

W6/NC-165 Hood Mountain

Hood Mountain is the highest point on the Napa-Sonoma border. Part of this area burned during the North Bay fires last year, but the park is partially open again. The only open trailhead was at the end of Los Alamos Road, at the north end of the park. This is a narrow, windy road, with some steep sections (15% grade!) I made it to the parking lot at the end and paid my $7 fee, and set off down the trail.

Looking back up at the parking lot at the start of the trail.

The trail initially drops a few hundred feet down to a crossing of the Santa Rosa Creek. There had been a fair amout of rain in the days and weeks before I came, so there was no easy way across the creek. I ended up just walking across and hiking with wet feet the rest of the day. On the other hand, the grass is green and the flowers were blooming, so it was a very pretty hike.

Santa Rosa Creek, full of water.

On the other side of the creek the trail climbs up a number of switchbacks. They were well graded and not difficult to hike up. I walked by an outhouse unexpectedly. It turns out there are some campsites in the area that can be reserved. Walking up the fire road was pleasant, so I decided to stay on it rather than take the summit trail. The one exception was at the junction below the summit. The road dropped down some, so I took the trail to avoid extra elevation gain.

Mt St Helena dominated the view to the north.

Climbing higher it was easy to tell when I entered the section that had been burned in the fires last fall. However, there was already a lot of green, so in a few years it will be hard to tell the area ever burned. After about 90 minutes of hiking I reached the summit. There is an open area, and thanks to the fire, views to the south. I could easily see Mt Tam and Mt Diablo, and could even see Loma Prieta down south of San Jose. When I checked the view after operating it was too hazy to see south of SF.

Mt Tam on the right. Diablo out of the frame on the left.

I used a burned manzanita to support my pole, and got on the air. I discovered that my antenna is falling apart, and needs some TLC before another expedition. There was good 4G service, and I was able to spot myself. Thirty meters brought in the usual suspects. Twenty was dead, though I did manage one contact. Fourty was about as good as 30. On VHF I made a contact with KD6SOK on 220 down near the Apple campus, and a few more on 2 meters.

St Helena is the closest. The peaks to the left are in Lake County.

There was no shade on top, so I was getting quite warm. I packed up and headed down. There were a bunch of groups coming up that I passed. Seems like it is a popular area for a hike. Back at the car I drove down the hill again and over to Taylor Mountain, my second peak of the day.

Trailhead: End of Los Alamos Road.
Website: SOTA Site. Hood Mountain Park
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: I took the Hood Mountain Trail to the summit. There are a number of options, though.
Red Tape: None.

Steep climb just before the summit.

W6/NC-054 Discovery Peak

Discovery Peak is almost the high point of Alameda County, and fairly remote for a Bay Area peak. Access is from Del Valle Regional Park, in Livermore. The weather for the Saturday I had chosen to hike in was for scattered showers, getting better as the day went on. When I got to the park, the weather was overcast, but dry. I parked at the end of the lot at the trailhead, and started up the hill.

Parking lot and the start of the trail.

Almost immediately the trail starts climbing up to the top of Rocky Ridge. This first section is wide fire road type trail. About a mile from the trailhead is a board with a sign-in sheet. If you don't have a permit for the Ohlone Wilderness Trail you are not allowed past this point. I signed in and continued my trek up. The trail climbs up past a spring and backcountry camp, very steeply in places. I was making good time, but the sky was getting more overcast as I ascended. The trail is very well marked, and the permit is printed on a map. They make it hard to get lost.

On the way up, looking towards Livermore.

There is a short flat section on the top of Rocky Ridge, then the trail descends very steeply down to Williams Gulch. This was a very pretty section, especially with the stream flowing and everything bright green.

Beautiful Williams Gulch.

After managing to cross the stream without getting my feet wet I began the climb up the other side. After a few hundred vertical feet it started to sprinkle on me. This was expected, so I continued up. After a few minutes the rain got harder, so I stopped to put on my rain coat, and grab and energy bar. As I climbed, the rain stayed steady and the wind got faster, making it a cold hike.

One cold and wet hiker.

I have not been out hiking in the rain since last winter, and I discovered that my rain coat wet out almost immediately, and didn't keep all of the water out. I was hiking fast enough I was able to stay warm, but my hands got cold. At the top of the hill the trail levels out and follows the tops of ridges. I stayed on the Ohlone Wilderness Trail to junction 32. Here I turned off onto a spur that led to the summit.

Just below the summit of Discovery Peak.

This was also the point where the rain turned to snow. This was very cold. At the summit I stood on the highest rock for a few seconds, not enjoying my time as the highest person in Alameda County, then quickly hiked down to somewhere more sheltered to set up. There are some old containers at Rose Flat, just below the summit, and I stepped into one to put on all the clothes and jackets I had.

Shelter!

Before stepping out again, a quick check of the map showed that they were on the edge of the activation zone, so I decided to strap my pole to the door and sit inside for the activation. My fingers were very cold, and I had some trouble with fine motor skills, but I got up the antenna and got on the air. Since I had stopped moving, I started cooling down even more, so I didn't waste any time and jumped onto 30 meters.

Some rocks on the way down.

I had decided to let RBNHole spot me, so I don't know if there is any cell service on top. (2025 update: Verizon did not have any service in the summit area) After a few CQs a pileup developed, and I quickly worked everyone. I had trouble writing, but my CW sending was fine. Different muscle groups. I was still very cold, so I packed up and started back without trying any other bands. The rain had started to let up at this point, and after a mile or so I began to warm up.

Rainbow, very low in the sky.

I passed a number of other hikers and groups heading up the hill to some of the backcountry camps that are scattered around the area. By the time I got the the descent back to Williams Gulch I had warmed up enough to take off some layers. The climb back up to Rocky Ridge was very steep, and to make it worse it started raining as I got to the top. Luckily it was a short shower, and I continued my descent to the parking lot.

There was a lot of poison oak on the side of the trail.

The rain had made the trail very slippery in some sections, but I managed not to fall. Back at the car I got as much mud as I could out of my boots, then headed back home for a warm shower. (2025 update: The area is quite nice when its warm and sunny!)

Trailhead: Del Valle Regional Park. Park in the lot near the Rocky Ridge Visitor Center and Sailor Camp Trail.
Website: SOTA Site. Ohlone Trail. Del Valle Park
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Take the Ohlone Wilderness Trail to junction 32. Turn left here and follow the road to the summit.
Red Tape: Permit required for Ohlone Wilderness Trail. I was able to buy it at the kiosk when I entered Del Valle Park. As of mid-November 2025 no permit is needed. Just pay the park entrance fee and have a nice hike.

Mt Diablo, North Peak, Marsh Benchmark (just to the right of the tree), and Brushy Peak.

W6/NC-191 El Sereno

This was my second time up to El Sereno, and I took the same route as the first time I went up. From the small lot at the top of Montevina road, follow the fire road up, turning left at the intersection.

Looking back at Mt Um and Loma Prieta.

Unlike the cloudy day last year, there were some decent views of the southern Santa Cruz Mountains that I enjoyed on my way up and down. At the summit I set up on the side of the road, careful to stay out of the path in case any bikers rode by.

View to the south/west.

I started my activation on 60 meters, getting three contacts. I then tried 17 meters and got another two. Finally, I went back down to 30, where I worked the pileup. I tried VHF, but only got one answer on 2 meters.  I could have spent more time at the summit, but I had some other errands I needed to run back in the valley, so I packed up and headed down.

Enjoying the first activation in over a month!

Trailhead: Top of Montevina Road. Limited parking.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Take the dirt road to the summit. At the junction, go left.
Red Tape: None. Watch out for bikers on the drive up.