K7MAS's blog

A return trip to San Gabriel Peak, which I last activated on May 23, 2014.  Taking a break from babysitting duties with our grandson, we snuck away for a quick SOTA Activation, as access to San Gabriel is very easy from the Los Angeles Basin.  It is accessed from SR 2, also known as the Angeles Crest Highway.  I have described this scenic byway before, as part of Activation reports on the many SOTA Summits scattered along its 66 mile long windy pathway trough the San Gabriel Mountains and Angeles national Forest.  See: 

http://angelescrestscenichighway.com/

 No Ghouls or Goblins were spotted, despite the fact that the Activation was on 10/31/15, Holloween Eve.

This was my second attempt to Activate Mount Lillian South.  The first time there, I only managed 1 or 2 contacts, and did not list the attempt as an Activation on the SOTA Database.  In retrospect, I regret that Activation was not successful, as the area has changed dramatically due to substantial forest fires.  What once was a very nice area of mixed pine, larch and deciduous trees is now a charred mess in most of the area adjacent to the summit formation of Mount Lillian South.  An interesting note:  The SOTA Summit in question is Mount Lillian South. What shows on the USGS maps as Mount Lillian is the North Summit, 6,120 feet, and approximately 3/4 mile due north of the SOTA Summit, Mount Lillian South, 6,191.  Mount Lillian South is only identified on USGS maps as Point 6,191.  The coordinates listed for Mount Lillian South in the SOTA Mapping web site are correct, and match what I found in the field.

On a recent visit with some good friends in Leucadia, California (a Pacific beach community, part of greater Encinitas), I spied a cluster of 4X - 6 point SOTA Summits in the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park (California), in eastern San Diego County.  This park is approximately 70 KM east-south-east of Encinitas, and can be reached from both the south and the north.  We chose the north approach, on State Road 79, through the quaint town of Julian, a mining / pioneer town, renowned for it's great apple pies.  If there is one thing I like almost as much as SOTA Activating...it's great apple pie! We decided to head over to Cuyamaca Rancho SP, and try Activating Stonewall Peak, the easiest of the 4 SOTA Summits in the area - as a way of scouting out a future overnight trip to the area.

On a recent trip to LA LA Land, to visit family, we decided to try our luck at "Glamping" (Glamor Camping) at Mount Baldy Tent Cabins, 7,800 feet elevation, below Mount San Antonio.  Also known as "Mount Baldy", 10,064 feet elevation, it is the king of the San Gabriel Mountains which tower above the Greater Los Angeles Basin.  This was the first year these tent cabins were set up and available, and we figured they would be an ideal base for some near-by SOTA Activations. We purchased a package deal, including ski lift ride up and down from the parking area at 6,500 feet elevation, to Baldy Notch, at 7,800 feet, meal tickets at the full service Notch Restaurant and two nights lodging in the Tent Cabins.  This is report 3 of 3 dealing with the activation of Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy).  Reports on the activations of Telegraph Peak and Timber Mountain are separate.

On a recent trip to LA LA Land, to visit family, we decided to try our luck at "Glamping" (Glamor Camping) at Mount Baldy Tent Cabins, 7,800 feet elevation, below Mount San Antonio.  Also known as "Mount Baldy", 10,064 feet elevation, it is the king of the San Gabriel Mountains which tower above the Greater Los Angeles Basin.  This was the first year these tent cabins were set up and available, and we figured they would be an ideal base for some near-by SOTA Activations. We purchased a package deal, including ski lift ride up and down from the parking area at 6,500 feet elevation, to Baldy Notch, at 7,800 feet, meal tickets at the full service Notch Restaurant and two night lodging in the Tent Cabins.  This is report 2 of 3 dealing with the activation of Timber Mountain, one of the famous "Three Tee's" (only two of which are SOTA Summits).  Reports on the activations of Telegraph peak and Mount San Antonio (Baldy) are separate.

On a recent trip to LA LA Land, to visit family, we decided to try our luck at "Glamping" (Glamor Camping) at Mount Baldy Tent Cabins, 7,800 feet elevation, below Mount San Antonio.  Also known as "Mount Baldy", 10,064 feet elevation, it is the king of the San Gabriel Mountains which tower above the Greater Los Angeles Basin.  This was the first year these tent cabins were set up and available, and we figured they would be an ideal base for some near-by SOTA Activations. We purchased a package deal, including ski lift ride up and down from the parking area at 6,500 feet elevation, to Baldy Notch, at 7,800 feet, meal tickets at the full service Notch Restaurant and two night lodging in the Tent Cabins.  This is report 1 of 3 dealing with the activation of Telegraph Peak, one of the famous "Three Tee's" (only two of which are SOTA Summits).  Reports on the activations of Timber Mountain and Mount San Antonio (Baldy) are separate.

A nice fall day, good company of Tim, KG7EJT and Dexter the SOTA Dog, a successful joint First Actvation of Cowboy Mountain (including a S2S contact with VA7JBE/7 on the summit of Mount Baker) and nobody else anywhere near the summit itself, made for a very nice outing.

A crisp Fall-like day, sparse crowds and a successful activation made for a pleasant, if short day.  The route to the summit, and the Activation itself were changed, and cut short, by a large heard of mountain goats which were straddling the ridge running between the SE Summit (incorrectly labeled as Mount Fremont) and the Middle Summit, (True Summit).

A clear, sunny and warm day; beautiful fall colors of yellow, gold, red and purple; a successful activation; and the company of my wife, Sharon and Dexter the SOTA Dog - all made for a very pleasant outing.  Summit Chief Mountain is a 6 point SOTA Summit in Chelan County, above the Stevens Pass Ski Resort area.  It is accessed via highway entirely, being located at Stevens Pass, on SR 2.

An 8 point SOTA Summit, activated on a beautiful, clear summer day, with good company, a successaful activation and capped off with a bracing swim in Dewey Lake made for a very memorable outing.  Approximately 6.25 Miles total travel and 2,100 feet gain, including the side trip to Dewey Lake, and climb out of the lake basin back to PCT / Naches Peak Loop Trail junction.