Activation

SOTA W6/CT-246, Mount Lewis

5/31/2016 by Michael — 2 Comments

SOTA Summit: W6/CT-246, Mount Lewis

Trail: Short steep use trail.

Hike: 0.9 miles round trip.

Elevation gain: ~500 feet

Self Spot: APRS (AT&T maybe)

2-meter FM: Yes (see 2-meter note)

Files: GPX

W6/CT-246, Mount Lewis is another of the recently added peaks in the W6 region and makes a great add-on when activating peaks along the Angeles Crest Highway. My son and I combined it with W6/CT-012, Waterman Mountain and W6/CT-014, Kratka Ridge for a SOTA Saturday. [Read more…] about SOTA W6/CT-246, Mount Lewis

SOTA W6/SC-405, Sugarloaf

5/11/2016 by Michael — 2 Comments

SOTA Summit: W6/SC-405, Sugarloaf

Trail: Traditional single track with short use trail.

Hike: Moderate – 10.4 miles round trip.

Elevation gain: 3150 feet

Self Spot: Yes via AT&T

2-meter FM: Yes

Files: GPX

If it looks easy, you’re looking at the wrong Sugarloaf.

SOTA W6/CT-172, Sitton Peak

4/25/2016 by Michael — 2 Comments

SOTA Summit: W6/CT-172, Sitton Peak

Trail: Yes with a short scramble to the summit.

Hike: Moderate – 10 miles round trip.

Elevation gain: ~2150 feet

Self Spot: Yes via AT&T

2-meter FM: Yes

Files: GPX

Sitton Peak is a fun 10 mile day hike just off the Ortega Highway 74 in the Cleveland National Forest and San Mateo Canyon Wilderness. I’ve completed the hike a number of times and this past weekend my sons and I decided to bag Sitton Peak again for Summits on the Air.

SOTA W6/CT-056, Iron Mountain

3/31/2016 by Michael — 7 Comments

SOTA Summit: W6/CT-056, Iron Mountain

Trail: Mix of traditional trail and use trail.

Hike: Strenuous – 14 miles round trip.

Elevation gain: ~ 6800 feet

Self Spot: Yes via AT&T

Files: GPX

SOTA W6/CT-056

I have wanted to hike Iron Mountain for years. The allure for me has a lot to do with its difficulty. I enjoy adventurous hikes and this one qualifies in spades. As they say on Summit Post, “According to John Robinson, author of Trails of the Angeles, ‘8007 foot Iron Mountain is by far the least accessible peak in the San Gabriels….No trail approaches its isolated summit, and to climb it you must start miles away and thousands of feet below.’ In this local hiking legend’s view, “Big Iron” is the most strenuous one-summit hike in the entire San Gabriel range.”

SOTA W6/CT-150, Pt. 4202

2/17/2016 by Michael — Leave a Comment

SOTA Summit: W6/CT-150, Pt. 4202

Trail: Yes – a bit steep and slippery in spots

Hike: Short 0.5 miles to summit

Elevation gain: 500 feet

Self Spot: Yes via AT&T, SOTA Goat

Files: GPX & KML

SOTA W6/CT-150

With the kids off for ski week we decided to put together a father and sons SOTA adventure. We scoped out a busy day with the goal of 3 summits: W6/CT-019 San Gabriel Peak, W6/CT-089 Occidental Peak and W6/CT-150 Pt. 4202. This is a report for W6/CT-150.

SOTA W6/SD-044, Pt. 5352

1/30/2016 by Michael — 1 Comment

SOTA Summit: W6/SD-044, Pt. 5352

Trail: No – steep cross country scramble

Hike: Short .75 miles to summit.

Elevation gain: 700 feet

Self Spot: Yes via AT&T, SOTA Goat

Files: GPX, KML & CalTopo

SOTA W6/SD-044

As mentioned in my previous activation report for W6/SD-039 my eleven year old son, William N6WMG and I were headed to Joshua Tree National Park for a Boy Scout campout and rock climbing trip. It’s a trip we’ve done before with the Troop and decided this time we’d bookend the trip with two summit activations. We choose W6/SD-039, Pt. 5540 (6 points) for late Friday and W6/SD-044, Pt 5352 (4 points) for Sunday on the way home. [Read more…] about SOTA W6/SD-044, Pt. 5352