W6/SS-328 Pine Mountain

 After activating Bald Mountain I drove back around to the base of Pine Mountain, my next destination. This summit in the Domeland Wilderness has no trail to the summit, and promised an interesting hike. There is a decent size pullout along the road, easy to see in the satellite view. It also seemed like the only place to park in the area.

Parking area.

From here I decided the best route would be to go over the small knoll, then aim towards the col, and head up the north face. This seemed to work. Walking over to the col it seemed like I was following an old fire break. There was trash and other evidence that people go this way somewhat frequently.

Not many pine trees for a Pine Mountain.

As we hiked closer, the skies got darker and darker. It looked like rain in the distance, but so far it hadn't rained where we were. 

Happy before the climb.

At the bottom of the hill, there didn't seem to be any obvious route up. I decided that the rocky outcropping on a small ridge appeared to have the least amount of brush, so went up that way. 

Interesting burned tree.

It was a steep slog up the hill, made more interesting when the rain started. Luckily it wasn't very heavy, nor did it last too long, but the wet rock was more fun. I was clad to get to the summit area, where I found the summit block was easy to walk up. I didn't see a register. 

Summit of Pine Mountain.

I went down to a flatter area to put up the antenna. As I expected, there was no cell service. I had trouble getting chasers, but eventually I got my four. The rain had held off while I was operating, which was nice of it, and it didn't rain the rest of the day. 

Excellent views of the southern Sierra.

I mostly retraced my steps on the way down, but didn't try to go down the rocks. It seems it was easy enough to find gaps in the brush to descend through, and the sandy slopes made the descent fast. Back at the car I was still feeling good, so decided to get one more summit before returning to the hotel.

Trailhead: Pullout on the south side of 22S05. See the map linked below.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Head around the hill to the base of the north face. Climb up to the summit.
Red Tape: None.

W6/SS-285 Bald Mountain

 It was too hot to do a hike in the desert, so a drive to the Sierra was in order. Today I had three peaks near Kennedy Meadows picked out. First up was Bald Mountain. This peak in Sequoia National Forest has a manned fire lookout on top.

Start of the walk.

There is a good quality road to the summit. A sedan might be able to make it, but I didn't want to get stuck, so I just walked. I parked where 22S77 leaves the main paved road, 22S05. There was plenty of space to park.

Up the road.

It was a pleasant walk under blue skies that slowly got more cloudy. There are no intersections in the road, just follow it up to the top. Higher up there are some excellent views and some climbable rocks. A short distance below the summit the road is gated to cars, but open to hikers.

Gate just below the summit.

We went around the gate up to the summit. As we approached a dog started barking at us, but it was up at the top of the tower, so no worries. As I began to set up, the warden came down to ask what I was doing. I gave a quick explanation, and he then returned to the cabin at the top.

There is no cell service on top, so I relied on RBNHole to spot me. It came through this time, and I made my contacts.

View back to the tower.

The views on top are excellent, as you'd expect, and I could've spent all day up there. But there were more summits calling my name, so I packed up and headed back to the car, taking the road down again. Back at the car I drove over to the start for Pine Mountain.

Trailhead: 22S77, either where it leaves 22S05 or at the gate near the top.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Follow the road up to the summit.
Red Tape: None.

W6/CT-025 Josephine Peak

 After activating Hoyt Mountain and Peak 4202, I started up the trail to Josephine Peak. There is a fire road all the way to the top, maintained for the tower on the summit. This meant the hike wouldn't be as steep as Hoyt, but it would be a lot longer.

Just past the trailhead gate.

This would be a great peak to do by bike. I had just arrived by plane however, so nothing that easy for me. It was hot as I started, but I figured I had enough water to make it to the summit. I began the trudge to the top.

Finally getting some views.

As you climb the views get better. I was hoping there'd be some breeze higher up, but I was disappointed. The first half of the climb is on the south side of the ridge. At a col between Josephine and Strawberry the road crosses over and climbs up the rest of the way on the north side.

Almost at the summit.

I was regretting my decision to go up, but I made it to the top without much trouble. It is not steep, except the last little bit after the road ends. There wasn't any shade on top, so I just picked a spot to sit that was comfortable and had a nice view.

Sign on top in case you forget where you are.

There was no cell service on this summit either, but some local 2m chasers were willing to spot me, so I had a good run on the HF bands I used. By this point I still had a four mile walk back to the car, and not much water, so I packed up and headed back. It seemed like a really long walk down, but that was probably because of the lack of water.

Looking back at the two peaks I had done earlier.

Back at the car I turned the AC on full, and headed down the hill to my hotel, ready for a shower and meal.

Trailhead: Just down the hill from Switzer Visitor Center.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Follow the fire road (2N64) up to the summit.
Red Tape: None.

W6/CT-150

 After getting Hoyt Mountain I drove over to the Switzer Visitor Center, at the intersection of the Angeles Crest and Angeles Forest highways. I wasn't sure where to park, so parked in the big dirt area across from the visitor center. I didn't see any signs forbidding it, and I didn't get a ticket, so it must've been ok.

Pit toilet at the start.

There is a well worn use trail that goes to the top of this peak. It starts at a gate just to the left of the pit toilet. Go through the gate and up the hill. This peak is much easier than nearby Hoyt. It is a similar distance, but much less elevation. 

Always impressive views in Angeles NF. Looking east along the road.

I made it to the top pretty quickly. After putting up my antenna I was surprised to have cell service. Not sure why this peak has it but the nearby ones don't. 

On the summit.

It was no problem getting contacts. I did wish there was some shade though. It was getting pretty toasty in the sun!

Managed to use a yucca to hold up the pole without stabbing myself.

Back at the road I crossed it and walked down to the Josephine Peak Road to get myself one more summit.

Trailhead: Switzer Visitor Center, behind the toilet.
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Go through the gate to the left of the bathroom, then follow the use trail up to the top.
Red Tape: None.

W6/CT-146 Hoyt Mountain

 This was the first peak planned for the day, and it looked like a short and hopefully easy hike. I parked at the small lot at the east side of the peak at Georges Gap. There is room for about a dozen cars here, but it was empty on a Tuesday morning.

Start of the "trail"

There is not a maintained trail to the summit, but there is an old firebreak that was bulldozed up the ridge that seems to be the main route. This trail is quite steep.

View back to the road and start.

It was hotter than I expected, but I still made good time up the hill. A few sections seemed like they'd be sketchy coming back down, but nothing impossible. About halfway up there is a flat section. The climb after that is much less steep, but still a good workout. 

Small reprieve from the climbing.

The summit is broad and flat, and there was plenty of space to set up my antenna. I was surprised not to have cell service, but wasn't worried since I had an alert up. I started on 20 meters, and started calling and calling with no response. After a while I got frustrated and decided that I might have better luck on VHF since I had a great view of the LA basin. I soon got some contacts in the log, and one person even offered to spot me on HF. With the help of a spot I got some CW contacts.

Yuccas and the view from the top.

It was hot and I had two more summits planned, so I didn't spend too long on the summit. The hike down was steep and quick. I was glad my boots had plenty of tread, or it would have been a ski trip.

Trailhead: Pullout, CA 2. Google calls this "Georges Gap Trailhead"
Website: SOTA Site.
Maps: AA6XA SOTA Hikes map.
Route: Follow the old firebreak steeply up the ridge to the summit.
Red Tape: None.