It’s HOT!! Well, 94 degrees is hot to me. I activated Peak Mt W6/SC-028.
I drove through the Cuyama Valley at 8 am and it was 80 when I turned off on to Cottonwood Canyon rd. I was hoping it was a bit cooler on top.
The drive up this road is always pretty. Thick oak trees, sage and chaparral. The dirt road/trail is in fair condition with a few small washouts. Then as I topped the ridge I could see all the way back to my home, about 30 miles. There was fog at the coast so no ocean view. I looked at the temp gauge in the jeep and it was 85, ugh!
I arrive at the base of the summit and looked it was now 86. I got out and there was a slight breeze but not enough to cool you down. To reach the summit you hike on an old firebreak past 2 false summits, then it is a bushwack to the top. I have done this one before so I brought some small bush trimers. I zigzagged through the brush to the top.
At the top, there was a bit more of a breeze but still warm. I found a bush to sit under and recuperated for a few mins. I set up the mast with the 2m j pole and my end fed wire. The mast was set up in the open so no shade. Since the J pole has a short coax on it to use it I had to sit in the sun. I made a few contacts on 2 meters and called it quits on that band.
I was able to set up the KX2 under a bush that I trimmed. HF was noisy. I started on 10 meters and called CQ It took a few mins but I got 2. I jumped around a bit and called CQ and also looked for S2S. It was getting warmer! I spend about 2 hours on the summit. It was ok under my bush with the breeze. As I was sitting there I could see a rock that was coved by the bush. It was the summit marker. I also found the register, so I signed it!
I packed up and headed down the hill. As I was walking the breeze went away. I got hot! it took about 30 mins to get back to the jeep. I quickly took off my pack and threw it in the front seat and started the jeep for the AC. I looked at the Temp and it was 94. To hot for this OM!!
I headed down the trail. On the way, I jumped a forked horn buck and a bear! Another great day on a summit!!
Thanks, chasers and activators!
W6RR 2M FM
KJ6OHI 2M FM
KB6CIO 2M FM
W6RR 10M CW
WW7D 10M CW
K9VD 10M CW
WJ7WJ 20M SSB S2S
WU7H 15M CW S2S
AG7GP 30M CW S2S
K7SO 20M CW
WB5USB 20M CW
N7LP 20M CW
K6HPX 20M CW
KX0R 20M CW S2S
KB7HH 40M CW
K7WXW 20M CW S2S
K7DJL 20M CW S2S
NM5S 20M CW S2S
TNX 73 GL de N6WT!
