Good Parking At Trailhead

On midwinter trip to Southern California to visit family, once again we set aside time for several SOTA Activations.  This report details the Activation of Point 4202, off SR2, the Angeles Crest Highway, in the San Gabriel Mountains.  I had previously Activated many nearby SOTA Summits, and had driven right below and by Point 4202 without being aware of it.  Being our last day in So. Cal.

On midwinter trip to Southern California to visit family, once again we set aside time for several SOTA Activations.  This report details the Activation of Occidental Peak, very close to the famous Mount Wilson Observatory.  I has previously Activated the adjacent San Gabriel Peak, and had observed Occidental close by.

Here's an activation on the way to the coast for after hours or weekends only to comply with the timberland owner. There's a short hike of about 1.2 miles RT and 400 feet of gain. A GPS will be Very Handy to get you to the summit. Head out west on Highway 26 from Portland where your turn south at Milepost 38 to go 3.0 miles into the small village Timber, Oregon.

Here's a drive-up activation on the way to the coast. A GPS will be very handy to get you to the summit. Head out west on Highway 26 from Portland where your turn south at Milepost 38 to go 3.0 miles into the small village of Timber, Oregon.

This was once a drive-up activation that has been gated due to valdalism - it is accessable to non-motorized vehicles (see sign below). (Updated August 2023.)

On Wednesday, March 2, 2016, I completed my first winter SOTA at Shafer Butte, Idaho (W7I/BC-064).  Best way to get there is take the Bogus Basin Road 16 miles from Boise to Bogus Basin Ski Area, then continue about another couple miles to Pioneer (upper) Lodge parking lot.  During ski season Pioneer Lodge has open restrooms, lunch room, dining area, and beer bar.  From the Pioneer Lodge one can snowshoe or nordic ski up a ski trail or transverse the mountain from about 6,750' elevation for about a mile to Shafer Butte 7,582'.

Winter Adventures in Joshua Tree National Park, California.  On a recent trip to California to visit family, we took some time to visit Joshua Tree National Park, and Activate a couple SOTA peaks.  We made the town of Twenty Nine Palms our base, "roughing it" in the relatively new Holiday Inn Express facility, and making day excursions on February 1 & 2.  This is report 2 of 2, detailing Activation of an unnamed peak, Point 5540.

Winter Adventures in Joshua Tree National Park, California.  On a recent trip to California to visit family, we took some time to visit Joshua Tree National Park, and Activate a couple SOTA peaks.  We made the town of Twenty Nine Palms our base, "roughing it" in the relatively new Holiday Inn Express facility, and making day excursions on February 1 & 2.  This is report 1 of 2, detailing Activation of Ryan Mountain.

A return trip to Table Mountain, this time for a "winter" Activation.  This SOTA Summit has a ski area at the peak of the mountain, Mountain High North, with the ski runs going downhill (north) from the summit.  The ski area is part of the Mountain High complex of ski areas, near Wrightwood, California.  Therefore, there are excellent roads leading to Wrightwood, and beyond to the ski areas, including Mountain High North.  On this sunny winter day, a Monday, this particular part of the Mountain High ski complex was closed.  This was one of the reasons we cho

This is a drive-up to an old USFS fire lookout that should be accessible to most vehicles, although the road is somewhat rutted.  There is a picnic table located on the spacious, forested summit that makes for a comfortable operating position.  The road is closed to vehicles from Oct. 15 – May 15.