AJ2I needed this final summit to complete all of NJ. We planned it out for several weeks until our schedules lined up for November 7, 2025. We kicked off our Bald Hill Mountain (W2/NJ-006) activation early, starting our hike around 8am local time. The morning started at a brisk 27°F, making it the coldest day of Fall 2025 so far — perfect weather for a challenging hike and an even more rewarding activation.
We parked at Mahwah Fire Company 5 on Stag Hill Road, where there’s a small, underused parking lot marked for firefighters but is suitable for hikers. Before heading out, we called Mahwah Police Dispatch to let them know we’d be hiking in the area for several hours and the license plate of my car. They were very receptive, especially since there’s little to no street parking nearby.
From the firehouse, we walked down Stag Hill Road past Silver Lake, then made a left onto Lakeview Drive, where a wide trailhead provides access to the route. The trail begins as a broad path leading to the Pipeline Trail, then follows the powerlines all the way up to the radio tower and summit. The hike was about 1.75 miles each way, steady and scenic.
During the climb, we used the AllTrails app to track our route and later compared it with our APRS beacon data — an excellent match that shows the trail and elevation changes clearly.
At the summit, AJ2I achieved a major milestone — activating his final New Jersey summit and completing all 12 summits in the state! A huge ham radio accomplishment and a bit of SOTA history for New Jersey.
For this activation, I operated on 2 meters (146.520 MHz simplex) using a Yaesu FT-1900R and a roll-up J-pole antenna strung in the trees. AJ2I ran HF using an Elecraft KX2 at 5 watts into a 10–40 meter wire antenna. Despite the cold, band conditions were good, and both stations logged solid contacts.
Bald Hill Mountain is located in Mahwah, NJ, on land associated with the Ramapough Lenape Nation, adding meaningful significance to this final activation. With clear skies, crisp air, and a bit of trail adventure, this was a perfect way to close out AJ’s New Jersey SOTA journey.
Congratulations to AJ2I on this historic achievement — all 12 New Jersey summits activated and logged!
73 - WA2NWN
P.S. - the award is fake but would be cool if it was real!
