Today is my annual trek to Poser Mountain. I started doing this on 12/22 every year to commemorate the first bushwhack and very difficult descent when I decided to descend the mountain via a ravine (big mistake). The chaparral has grown a bit since last year and the mountain posed the usual challenges.

On the way up I wrote a small note about the mountain, bushwhacking and SOTA, called “SOTA Darma: Bushwhacking”.

SOTA Darma: Bushwhacking

Bushwhacking success comes after multiple battles on the mountain within which planning, along with hundreds or thousands of small decisions and thoughtful steps are contained. But don’t be misled by my words, the mountain is not my enemy, but my teacher, for after every hike, I give gratitude to the mountain.

I learned that this mountain and probably other bushwhacks require patience and attacking with compassion to make it to the top. Or said another way, less brute force and taking your time and enjoying it. It was a fun ascent, stopping often to find a path through the brush and terrain. It wasn’t super difficult and there were only a couple of places where I had to bash my way through some tall chaparral. It’s only a mile up but it takes a while.

Once on top, I took in the views, and then chased some other summits on CW. I pulled in several contacts after posting myself on sotawatch, including George, KX0R who chased me from a summit. I got lucky when talking to another ham on my HT. A ham on Taquitz who was just hiking hailed me. That coincidence was cool, and gave me a SOTA complete for Tahquitz Peak.

John, K6MXA wanted to contact me because he was planning a trip up to Poser and if he chased and activated, he’d get a “complete”. It’s just another stat we geeks jot down in our quest to be king of the hill. John actually drove out to a small hill so he could get me. Thanks for the contact John.

I enjoyed my time on the mountain and pulled in 29 contacts including New Zealand. Great weather and a relaxing morning on the mountain.

Expedition Summary

SOTA summits:W6/SC-397 (Poser Mountain)
Points:2
Activation Date: 2020-12-22 (UTC)
Unique: No
Activation No: 226
Call sign used: N1CLC
Radios: KX2
Antennas: K6ARK random wire & LNR Endfedz 10,20,40, MFJ Whip
Band/Modes used: 17m 20m, 30m, 40m, CW (morse) SSB (voice), 2m FM
Cell Data: AT&T
Miles Hiked: 2 mi
Hiked Elevation Gain: 800

Contacts

Date:22/12/2020 | Summit:W6/SC-397 (Poser Mountain) | Call Used:N1CLC | Points: 2

Time	Callsign	Band	Mode	Notes
17:29	WA6MM	7MHz	CW	Summit-to-Summit!
17:32	WB2FUV	14MHz	CW	Summit-to-Summit!
17:36	WN4AT	18MHz	CW	Summit-to-Summit!
17:40	WS0TA	7MHz	CW	Summit-to-Summit!
17:44	F4WBN	14MHz	CW
17:45	W5GDW	14MHz	CW
17:46	N4HNH	14MHz	CW
17:46	K7GT	14MHz	CW
17:48	KR7Q	14MHz	CW
17:49	WF4I	14MHz	CW
17:49	K3TCU	14MHz	CW
17:50	KU4R	14MHz	CW
17:52	WB7BWZ	14MHz	CW
17:52	WW7D	14MHz	CW
17:54	KX0R	14MHz	CW	Summit-to-Summit!
17:55	K7MTD	14MHz	CW
17:56	K4MF	14MHz	CW
17:57	K2JB	14MHz	CW
17:58	ZL1BYZ	14MHz	CW	New Zealand
17:59	NG6R	14MHz	CW
18:05	W7HO	10MHz	CW
18:06	K8TE	10MHz	CW
18:08	W5ODS	10MHz	CW	Summit-to-Summit!
18:09	N6IZ	10MHz	CW
18:11	KS2TJ	10MHz	CW
18:12	K0LAF	10MHz	CW
18:26	KM6LAQ	144MHz	FM	Summit-to-Summit!
18:27	KN6IRV	144MHz	FM
18:35	K6MXA	144MHz	FM