2. Ham Radio

Haskell Peak (W6/NS-162) SOTA Activation 10/21/2013

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The SOTA Northern Sierra region logo. This logo is available on Northern Sierra T-shirts, sweatshirts, beer steins, mouse pads, etc. for SOTA participants who qualify for the Northern Sierra Award (offered by yours truly KU6J). The award rules are linked to from my page on QRZ.com.
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The SOTA Northern Sierra region logo. This logo is available on Northern Sierra T-shirts, sweatshirts, beer steins, mouse pads, etc. for SOTA participants who qualify for the Northern Sierra Award (offered by yours truly KU6J). The award rules are linked to from my page on QRZ.com.

SOTANorthernSierra

  • The SOTA Northern Sierra region logo. This logo is available on Northern Sierra T-shirts, sweatshirts, beer steins, mouse pads, etc. for SOTA participants who qualify for the Northern Sierra Award (offered by yours truly KU6J). The award rules are linked to from my page on QRZ.com.
  • There are a number of ways to get to Haskell Peak. The easiest way is to take Plumas National Forest road 09 (shown in purple) north from Highway 49 to Chapman Saddle. Ignore the Forest Service's sign (their sign says Haskell Peak is straight ahead, and it isn't) and turn LEFT at this major 4-way intersection to continue on road 09. This is a well maintained dirt and gravel road that 2WD passenger cars should have no problem with.<br /> <br /> The official trailhead is at HaskellTrail. If you like long hikes, or don't like hiking cross-country, park there and follow the official trail. I don't like long hikes, so I continue westward to the road junction at F09HASKELL. Turn right, climb up the hill on the road shown in blue, and park at HaskellLoggingRoad. Hike along the logging road (shown in red) until it peters out, then head straight for the summit. There is a rather steep climb along this route, but it isn't bad. Brush is largely a non-issue and is mainly a stunted variety of Manzanita, maybe 6 inches high, that you can tromp right through.<br /> <br /> GPS coordinates:<br /> H49F09 - 39.61728N, 120.50629W<br /> ChapmanSaddle - 39.6576N, 120.52281W<br /> HaskellTrail - 39.65082N, 120.53963W<br /> F09HASKELL - 39.6564N, 120.56343W<br /> HaskellLoggingRoad - 39.66351N, 120.56488W
  • I like to unload my ATV at the big paved OHV parking lot at Yuba Pass on highway 49 and ride along the snowmobile route to Chapman Saddle. Unless you have an ATV or dirt bike, you probably won't want to go this way. <br /> <br /> If you DO have an ATV or dirt bike, then for the most enjoyable ride hang a left at YPSNOWNORDIC1 (39.62995N, 120.48635W) to take the snowmobile route shown in blue instead of the tamer Nordic Skiing route shown in green (the tamer Nordic Skiing route can be managed by rugged 2WD vehicles such as pick-up trucks). There is actually a sign at this intersection that indicates left for snowmobiles and straight ahead for Nordic skiers. When you reach YPSNOWNORDIC2 (39.64216N, 120.49298W) turn left to ride the road along the base of Pt. 7605 W6/NS-203 and continue to road 09 at F09YP (39.64619N, 120.5157W). Turn right to go to Chapman Saddle.
  • The sign at Chapman Saddle. Ignore their straight-ahead arrow for Haskell Peak and TURN LEFT towards Gold Lake Highway.
  • A topo map that better illustrates how many vertical feet you WON'T be climbing if you hike my route from HaskellLoggingRoad vs. taking the official trail at HaskellTrail. Hiking the official trail has an elevation gain of about 1200 feet. My way has an elevation gain of only 540 feet, and the hike is about half as long.
  • Here is the sign at HaskellTrail. Note that the engine on my ATV is still running, I'm headed west for the logging road.
  • If you were to shut your engine off and start up the official trail, you'd see this sign facing the road.
  • Topo map showing my mostly cross-country route from HaskellLoggingRoad. After you leave the old logging road (shown in red) and tromp through the forest, you'll then make the short but steep climb up through the open (white) area. This puts you on the flat west of the peak. Cross that and you'll run into the official trail just before the final (and easy) climb to the summit.
  • Last year a guy told me that my unofficial route used to be the official trail to the summit. I guess he was right because I spotted these old trail signs up on a fir tree in the lower forested section. I could see no signs of an actual trail, other than game trails.
  • Here is a shot from <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-10192012">my activation last year</a> that shows the steepish climb along my route. This year, instead of climbing up through the low brush that you see in the foreground, I went up the steeper section of brush-free larger rocks that you can see further back in this shot. Stepping rock-to-rock ended up being easier than dealing with the scree and low brush.
  • Haskell Peak has a unique summit marker. Not only is it big and unique, but it is a handy-dandy place to tie off the southeast end of an 88' doublet.
  • The cool looking mountain in between me and the summit marker is Sierra Buttes W6/NS-139. I give that one a big thumbs up for its awesome views. See <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-9202012-Sierra">my activation album from last year</a>.
  • My 28' Jackite pole holding up the center of the doublet up on the summit, with my hiking pole down the northwest slope supporting one end.
  • My operating spot on the summit. The rocks provided a nice windbreak against the unusual east wind. I used my other hiking pole to keep the doublet's extra twinlead up off the ground and rocks.
  • Happily cranking out the Q's on CW. Conditions were fantastic, I think you could have worked into Europe with a Rockmite and a wet noodle.
  • Another shot of Sierra Buttes.
  • Looking northeast down to the Sierra Valley with Beckwourth Peak W6/NS-228 to the left of it. Todd KH2TJ's home QTH is down there somewhere.
  • To the north is Smith Peak W6/NS-198 on the left and Crocker Mountain W6/NS-207 on the right. I've activated Smith Peak twice, <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activation-10302012-Smith">last year</a> and <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-SmithPeak-W6NS198-2013">again just a few weeks ago</a>. I <a href="http://www.grizzlyguy.com/HamRadio/SOTA-Activations-W6CN005-NS207">activated Crocker Mountain just a few days before my latest activation of Smith Peak</a>.
  • SOTAWatch spots page 1.
  • SOTAWatch spots page 2.
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