I was in Medford for work and had an afternoon free – nothing better than a close-in activation of Roxy Ann Peak, probably one of the best-named peaks that I’ve activated. It’s just east of Medford and is surrounded by Prescott Park.

From downtown Medford, take E McAndrews Road east 4.0 miles and continue on Hillcrest Road for another 1.4 miles. Turn left on Roxy Ann Rd where there is a sign for Prescott Park. Continue up Roxy Ann Rd for about 1.4 miles to the second gate. Note that the first gate is closed at 5pm during the winter and 9pm in the summer. The second gate may be open, but only authorized vehicles can go beyond it.

The road is about 2.5 miles to the summit – there are a few trails that cut road switchbacks but some might lead on to a maze of trails that may end abruptly in the middle of nowhere, leaving one to follow game trails towards the summit. (Ah, that means that I recommend the road.) As the road approaches the summit from the north and wraps around to the west there is a clear trail headed up through the woods to the summit and an overlook. You don’t need to be near the communications equipment to activate this peak.

The overlook has good views and a picnic table near the actual summit – there’s plenty of clear space for antennas here. There was about two inches of snow on the ground and temperatures near 35F I’d guess and there were still half a dozen people walking the road on a weekday afternoon – in the summer it is no doubt very popular and the overlook itself might be too busy for radiosport.

According to the first activator of Roxy Ann, Ken, K7NIB, immediately south of the picnic table (about 100 “horizontal” yards) is a “large flat bouldered area ” located less than 80 vertical feet below the peak. It provides a clear SOTA operating location open to a southern viewing angle of roughly 135 degrees. That is where he operated and found that during summer there is plenty of room to SOTA-operate without bothering other hikers.

I was happy to have a new record eleven 40m QSOs (all the way to Missouri) and another six on 20m but then I had to get out of there before the gate was locked. I did have some intermittent s8 powerline noise on 20m but no problems with that on 40m. It was a little chilly but dry, and a nice day for so close to the Solstice.