Yesterday was a lovely day in southern California. I went up to Gold Mountain, W6/CT-053 for some winter points. I guess I earned them: it was snow all the way to the summit. Lucky for me, some big trucks with BIG tires had forged their way up to the top on the Gold Mountain dirt road. I was able to walk in their tracks. Without them, I would have had to posthole in 20" of snow all the way up.
The activation went well. I found a spot in the sun and stayed warm for the 1 hour 45 minutes I was up there. I had 72 QSOs and quite a few DX
I got back to my car about 12:00 and decided I would also activate Silver Mountain, W6/CT-073. It was on the way home. Plus, if you’ve got gold, you might as well get silver.
I turned onto the forest service road that starts the route up Silver Mountain. Being a little tired (and lazy) from my first peak, I decide to try to drive some of the road. That was a BIG mistake. After about 100 yards down the road, my rental car slid off the road. I got out of the car to look it over, but I already knew that I was %&$#!).
There was no way I was getting out. Even with a shovel, which I did not have, I could not have dug my way out.
Then miracles started to happen. I pulled out my phone and had 4 bars on 5G, IN THE MOUNTAINS! Then I opened my map program and searched for tow truck. Another miracle: Lacona’s Towing was just 15 miles away in Big Bear City. Miricle #3: they answered the phone. I told the guy my problem. He asked me to send him a map pin. He texted me immediately so I could send it and then called me back. Then he asked me to take pictures of my stuck car. I guess he needed to determine what kind of rig he needed to get me out.
Miracle #4: His name was Angel and he said he’d be there in 15 minutes. What are the chances that you’ll need to be towed out of the ditch and they are available and can be there in 15 minutes? And he did show up in 15 minutes and pulled my car out. Very friendly and professional.
I got my car back to the nice wide parking area right on the highway and parked. By now it was 14:45. I was tempted to consider myself a very lucky, but stupid, guy and drive home. But my SOTA addiction got the best of me. I hiked the peak, had a nice quick activation with 21 QSOs and a few DX.
I made it home by 17:45. Since the towing cost me $150 (espensive but considering the options, a gift), I had toyed with the idea of NOT telling my wife. But I couldn’t resist telling her about my miracle Angel.
Where is it?
