7,940′ “Strip Mine” Summit

Looking west toward the San Gabriel Mountains over what is left of summit 7,940′

21 OCTOBER 2023 W6/CT-060

No stars – This is a one-off summit. I am unlikely to return. Not recommended..
Elevation:Something less than 7,940′
Route: Mining road
Hike Distance: 2.2 miles round trip.
Elevation Gain: 350′
Navigation: Tricky because of the changing topography
Steepness: Gentle on the route below
Vehicle: Passenger car
Road: Good dirt road
Cell Coverage: Good (Verizon) APRS Excellent
Hike basics

There is very little to recommend this summit in my opinion. The OMYA Sentinel Quarry has decimated the summit to the point that it probably no longer meets the SOTA criteria for prominence. It looks like the north side of the quarry is now higher. About the only thing I can say is get this one now in case it gets de-certified later.

I followed the track posted on SOTLas by KX6I and the “short climb up a rockpile” is now a treacherous scramble up very loose powdered quartz. I spent 15 minutes or so carving out semi-stable steps to make the ridge. I don’t recommend this.

My route down follows a road that is a much better route. Who knows how long this will last given all the earth-moving up there.

I did have an enjoyable time on the radio despite all this and had my first-ever chase from down under!

The unlovely landscape of “Strip Mine” Summit
The Station
Looking North across the OMYA Sentinel Quarry to what I suspect is now the higher “summit.” The old route comes up the cliff in the foreground.

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Published by wringmaster

I'm a graphic artist in the movie business. When I was a kid I got interested in astronomy. When it would get too cloudy to observe the heavens, my buddy and I would sit at the VFO of his Hallicrafters S 38c like safe crackers trying to coax faraway signals out of that humble radio. My love of astronomy and radio survive to this day fifty+ years later.

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