SOTA Activation of Sitton Peak, CA – W6/CT-172 – San Matteo Wilderness, CA – December 26, 2014

In an effort to fight the Christmas pounds which could accumulate and probably will anyway I decided to hike to Sitton Peak and do an activation.

Whether you want to do SOTA or just hike Sitton Peak is definitely worth the effort a magnificent hike with spectacular landscape and views. You hike through long stretches of old California oak forest, through valleys and over ridges with a final really steep trail to the summit. Its a 10 mile hike to the summit and back to the trailhead. Use the Ortega Highway from Orange County or Riverside County and park opposite at the Candy Store at the Cleveland National Forest parking lot. The trailhead of Bear Canyon Trail is just across the street.

Trailhead on Ortega Highway at the Candy Store

Route taken to Sitton Peak

Trail register

Hiking up Bear Canyon Trail from the Candy Store on Ortega Highway

San Matteo Wilderness sign

Nice hike through oak forest

Oak trees

Bear Canyon Trail with marker to Four Corners

Closed trail

Trail towards Four Corners intersection

View from the trail

Sitton Peak marker at Four Corners

Activator on the trail

Snow capped mountain ranges

Natural sculptures

Rough trail section

The variations on the hike are incredible, exposed ridges, deep valleys and long stretches of oak forest. At the final intersection where the final ascent to Sitton Peak starts a water tank and the debris of a helicopter crash clearly indicate the trail to the summit. The last 0.25 miles up to the peak are rough, extremely steep but have incredible views to offer. From the mountains to the Pacific great views.

Water tank close to the final summit marker

Debris at helicopter crash site

Summit trail

Equipment used for the activation

Summit benchmark

Summit views

Orange county from the summit

Operating conditions were not really good, signal strength and severe fading made it challenging to activate the summit. Thanks to Bob KB6CIO for spotting me and all the chasers who managed to get my weak signal.

Date:26/Dec/2014   Summit:W6/CT-172 (Sitton Peak)  Call Used:WN6E

Time	Call	Band	Mode	Notes
19:07z	AE9F	14MHz	SSB	14,347.50 kHz
19:10z	NS7P	14MHz	SSB
19:23z	N6JZT	24MHz	SSB	24,950 kHz
19:24z	KB6CIO	24MHz	SSB
19:26z	KI0G	24MHz	SSB
19:26z	N7ENL	24MHz	SSB
19:27z	N4EX	24MHz	SSB
19:27z	W0MNA	24MHz	SSB
19:37z	W1AW/3	21MHz	SSB	21,270 KHz
19:47z	N7NGO	14MHz	SSB	S2S 14,345.00 KHz

73,

WN6E

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