10 DECEMBER 2020 W6/CT-170
The hike to Kagel Mountain is 3 miles long and has modest 1,275 feet of elevation gain. As usual, I did this hike before the sun came up, but I can imagine it would be a hot one on a summer day. There is about 500 feet of elevation loss on the trip out which, of course, translates to 500′ of gain on the return trip. The route follows a good road that is used by parasailers that access Kagel Mountain and use it as a launching point. Brian WA6JFK says it looks like an outdoor yoga studio because of all the mats and pieces of carpet used by the hang gliders. There is a mast and a windsock that can be used as an antenna support along with a picnic table and metal bench that make for a very comfortable activation. Verizon cell coverage is excellent.
This mountain offers a terrific view of the Front Range of the San Gabriel Mountains. To the west is Oat Mountain, Hines Peak and Santa Paula Peak. To the north Magic Mountain dominates. Be sure to walk over to the west edge of this broad summit to catch a glimpse of Pacoima Reservoir. The full length of the Santa Monica Mountains line the southern horizon across the San Fernando Valley.
My last visit to this summit was on the Fourth of July, 1995 when Cassie KG6MZR, our faithful dog Chauncey Gardner and I drove all the way out to the summit. The gate at Dillon Divide wasn’t locked back then. The whole place was covered in purple flowers and there was a rattlesnake under the trashcan
KG6MZS 
