One of the nicest hikes in the San Gabriel Mountains, Waterman Mountain is certainly worthy of repeat SOTA Activations, and this was our third time in about 2 years. Being graced with a very reasonable access, well graded trail and magnificent specimens of Incense Cedar (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calocedrus ) and Ponderosa Pine (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_ponderosa ) it’s a wonderful and popular SOTA objective. The trail is 6 + miles RT, with 1,200 feet elevation gain. The summit area is lightly treed, but still has views if you search them out.
Once again down in Southern California to visit family, grandson and also attend a wedding, we carved out a day for Activations. We were based in the san Fernando Valley. Access to Waterman is via State Highway 2, the Angeles Crest Highway. It is a worthwhile trip to just traverse this impressive engineering feat. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angeles_Crest_Highway
The fact that there are at least 16 SOTA Summits that can be accessed along Highway 2 makes this a very attractive area!
Ample information on Waterman Mountain is available at:http://www.summitpost.org/waterman-mountain/155188. For more information see: http://www.modernhiker.com/area-maps/angeles-national-forest/
It took us 1:15 hours to reach the summit, and 0:55 hours down. For this Activation I used 2M FM, as the weather was changing, and we wanted to do a second Activation of Kratka Ridge, later in the afternoon (separate report).
I made 10 contacts in about 20 minutes of operating, before packing up and trotting down the trail. See log:
Time
Call
Band
Mode
Notes
21:10z
N6POP
144MHz
FM
Rich - Alta Loma (Riverside), California
21:13z
KJ6BSI
144MHz
FM
David - Huntington Beach, California
21:15z
W6LGB
144MHz
FM
Dan - Long Beach (Mobile), California
21:18z
KF6UME
144MHz
FM
David - Mission Viejo, California
21:20z
KB6CIO
144MHz
FM
Bob - Orange, California
21:25z
K6QCB
144MHz
FM
Jeff - Rancho Cucamonga, California
21:27z
KN6CZ
144MHz
FM
Cornelio - Ontario (Mobile), California
21:28z
KM6CFH
144MHz
FM
Juan - Riverside, California
21:29z
W6WW
144MHz
FM
Bruce - Apple Valley, California
21:30z
KM6FBC
144MHz
FM
Tom - Westminster, California
Thank you to all my contacts. I appreciate each and every SOTA contact made.
