Summit 3,788

A very pleasant spring hike through flower fields. 18 MARCH 2023 W6/CT-167 Elevation: 3,788′ Route: Motorcycle track Hike Distance: 2.5 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 635′ Navigation: Easy Steepness: Steep in places Vehicle: Passenger car Road: Paved Cell Coverage: Excellent (Verizon), APRS Excellent Hike basics I hadn’t been out for a SOTA activation in weeksContinue reading “Summit 3,788”

Monte Largo

Looking southwest at the station on the summit. 25 FEBRUARY 2023 W5N/SI-014 Elevation: 7,710′ Route: Use trail Hike Distance: 2.6 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 675′ Navigation: A bit tricky Steepness: Moderate Vehicle: Passenger car Road: Paved Cell Coverage: None (Verizon), APRS Excellent Hike basics Due to heavy snowfall in New Mexico I limited myContinue reading “Monte Largo”

Blue Mountain

Blue Mountain from the gate off Highway 80 4 FEBRUARY 2023 W5N/PL-008 Elevation: 5,774′ Route: Cross country Hike Distance: 2.3 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 950′ Navigation: Easy Steepness: Moderate Vehicle: High clearance suggested Road: Dirt Cell Coverage: Good (Verizon), APRS Excellent Hike basics On my way to Cassie’s little adobe casita in north-central NewContinue reading “Blue Mountain”

Sandstone Peak x3

Two days before Christmas I return for a glorious third activation of the misnamed Sandstone Peak. Santa Catalina Island in this view looking from Chester the Drone. 23 DECEMBER 2022 W6/CC-056 This is a classic hike that I give four stars to with one very important caveat: it is an incredibly popular hike. I usuallyContinue reading “Sandstone Peak x3”

Summit 4,460′

On the Edison road to the summit. 26 NOVEMBER 2022 W6/CT-144 Elevation: 4,460′ Route: Short cross country Hike Distance: .6 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 250′ Navigation: Easy Steepness: gentle Vehicle: SUV High clearance recommended Road: Edison dirt road Cell Coverage: Good (Verizon), APRS Excellent Hike basics This activation didn’t exactly go smoothy but endedContinue reading “Summit 4,460′”

Trabuco Peak

Looking southwest to Lake Elsinor with Mount San Jacinto in the background 28 OCTOBER 2022 W6/CT-031 Elevation: 4,603′ Route: Short very steep bushwack Hike Distance: .25 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 150′ Navigation: Easy Steepness: Very steep Vehicle: SUV High clearance recommended Road: Forest Service dirt Cell Coverage: None (Verizon), APRS Excellent Hike basics MyContinue reading “Trabuco Peak”

Los Pinos Peak

Looking northwest to Santiago Peak 29 OCTOBER 2022 W6/CT-138 Elevation: 4,541′ Route: Trail Hike Distance: 2 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 500′ Navigation: Easy Steepness: Mostly gentle Vehicle: SUV High clearance recommended Road: Forest Service dirt Cell Coverage: Good (Verizon), APRS Excellent Hike basics I’d stayed up late (for me) the night before watching theContinue reading “Los Pinos Peak”