W3/SV-060 White Mountain

White Mountain has only been activated twice before, by two prolific W3 activators NK8Q and W3QP. It’s probably because of how strenuous the climb is, though I found the activation itself to be more pleasant than the one I just finished, W3/PW-029 Thick Mtn. Driving to this last hike of the day required me to drive past Poe Valley State Park and Poe Paddy State Park in succession along the scenic Penns Creek, which is evidently prime for trout fishing. These looked like nice parks to overnight in, so I’ll definitely be back to the area.

I parked at Havice Valley Road about 1.2 miles down the road from Poe Paddy State Park, as reported by W3QP. Here off the side of the road there was room for 2-3 cars to park, across from the driveway for a cabin. A short walk down this driveway is a bouncy suspension bridge over Swift Run, which continues as Long Path trail along the edge of Peens Creek Wild Area, marked with yellow blazes.

Before long, the hike became a relentless uphill trudge. The first 3/4 of a mile was not too bad, with an average grade of 15-20%. Then, things got ridiculous for the last 1/3 of a mile, with 400 feet of scrambling up a steep boulder field, over 50% grade at times. This was a slog, especially after having done 9 tough, rocky miles throughout the day so far, but coming at it fresh would have been all right.

Once I made it to the junction with the red-blazed White Mountain Ridge Trail, which continues northeast to the summit, I stopped to set up. I did this rather than continue up to the summit because I was now in the activation zone, I was tired, and the trail that way looked overgrown. It was also getting just a couple hours to sunset, so I was eager to get the QSOs rolling.

I had accidentally left my notepad in the car (doh!), so this was my first time using logging software in the field, Ham2K PoLo. I actually enjoyed the experience, and liked how it brought up each chaser’s name. I don’t like entering callsigns on a phone keyboard, but that’s more of a me problem. VA2EO was my only DX, yet again.

I packed things up, then descended slowly. Bring poles! I didn’t, and I fell, accidentally dropping my phone without noticing. I had to come back for it, which was a heartbreaking climb scanning through the boulder fields. Luckily, I did find it after about 10 minutes of searching.

Trailhead: 40.82389, -77.40512 : A spot off the west side of Havice Valley road.
Map: [AA3TZ SOTA], some info on the area from Purple Lizard Maps
Route: 2.3 mile RT hike on Long Path, steep climb of 1100 ft into activation zone at junction of White Mountain Ridge Trail.
POTA: Bald Eagle State Forest (US-5462)

Then it was off to Reeds Gap State Park (US-1412) where I would camp for the night. I did a late-shift POTA activation, racking up 58 QSOs! By the morning, the coronal mass ejection finally arrived at earth, and the raging G8 geomagnetic storm scuttled my plans for a morning hike up Thick Mtn, W3/SV-022. I’ll be back!

W3/PW-029 Thick Mtn

This second summit of the day in Bald Eagle State Forest was a short drive from W3/PW-024 Buffalo Mtn 2224. I parked near what Google Maps calls the Bear Run Natural Area, just north of the intersection of Bear Run Rd and Woodward Gap Rd. I found parking off the side of the road, but there is some space closer to the trailhead itself, which is right at the bridge crossing Bear Run. It was taken by a large truck today, but there is enough space for a few cars otherwise.

I hiked west along the the Bear Run Trail, which passes by a hunting cabin before continuing along the woods. The path starts out looking like a jeep track until you pass the hunting cabins, then turns into a hiking trail. It’s blazed in yellow, and about 0.6 miles in is a junction with the Mid-State Trail.

A jeep road turns into the trail once you pass the hunting cabin.

Here I continued west on the orange-blazed MST. The whole hike was a gradual climb of 400 feet over about 1.5 mi. As in the last hike, there was a lot of mountain laurel starting to flower. The trail was overgrown in places, but still easy enough to hike through. I did pass by a woman walking a friendly white lab, but those were the only other two hikers I saw. The activation zone covers a lot of the trail, but the tree cover is dense the entire way. I eventually found a spot I could step off trail to set something up.

This activation was subdued with some light rain. I did manage to work VA2EO on 40m, and a S2S with WN4AT on W4A/PT-004 Augusta Mine Ridge in AL. Be careful with ticks around here. I found a couple of them crawling on my leg as I was packing up.

Trailhead: 40.88637, -77.32471 : You can park right next to the trailhead if there is space, otherwise I found a spot off Woodward Gap Road at 40.88710, -77.32410 where NK8Q reports parking as well.
Map: [AA3TZ SOTA]
Route: 3.0 mile RT hike along Bear Run Trail and Mid-State Trail, 400 feet of gain
POTA: Bald Eagle State Forest (US-5462)

W3/SV-001 Blue Knob via Lost Turkey Trail

Atop the second-highest peak in PA is a ski resort, making Blue Knob a drive-on. Since it’s the ski season, I wanted to stay away from the crowds and hike along the south face in Blue Knob State Park. I brought Luna along this time for her first SOTA activation, with the goal of hiking the Mountain View loop trail.

Park Road was closed off, likely due to snow, so we had to change plans. I continued up Forest Road to park at the Chappell’s Field Trailhead which has great views of the surrounding hills. A short walk through the family campground (gates were closed) got us to the Lost Turkey Trail, which is marked with red blazes and approaches the summit from the west. This trail was blazed by the Youth Conservation Corps in 1976. If we had gone west from here, we would have passed a monument for the Lost Children of the Alleghenies, memorializing two children who died in the wilderness around here in 1856.

There was about a foot of snow on the trail in some places, which made things trickier. Luna, only about 50 pounds, could walk on top of the hardened snow’s surface without leaving footprints, while I sunk right in with each step in places. She did enjoy diving into the snow when we found a soft spot. Adding snowshoes to the gear wishlist…

After about 700 feet of elevation gain, we made it to the northern terminus of Lost Turkey Trail, Herman Point. As is typical for PA peaks, there was a small collection of radio antennas here. Across the road was the Lost Turkey Trail Connector that continues on towards the ski resort. The trail’s entrance was hard to find, but is marked with a couple blue blazes. We lost the trail a few times in here, but our goal was just to get within the activation zone.

Last time I visited Blue Knob, I activated it by parking on Jack Rabbit Lane and walking down to this spot. This time, I hiked up from the west. Either way, it’s a good spot to operate while staying out of the way of skiiers.

I got a good 36 QSOs in 40 minutes, including a S2S with KC7WXD on Spanish Benchmark in Nevada (W7N/WC-084) and KB9ENS on Mount Lawlor in southern California (W6/CT-089). After waiting patiently for so long, Luna was happy to get back on the trail and jump through more snow. Blue Knob is an easy 10-pointer, one of only 4 in all of W3-SOTA. This trail was a great way to make activating it more of an adventure than a simple drive-on!

Trailhead: 40.28915, -78.58924 : Chappell’s Field Trailhead
Maps: [AA3TZ SOTA] [Blue Knob State Park Map]
Route: 4.8 mi out-and-back, following the Lost Turkey Trail and Connector Trail
POTA: Blue Knob State Park (US-1335)

W3/WE-002 Dans Rock

Dan’s Rock is the high point of Allegany County in Maryland, at 2894 feet. It’s the peak of Dans Mountain, and a tremendously popular place to paint rocks. I went here to start a day of a couple of activations in the Cumberland, Maryland area. I was the only one here on a cold January morning.

I walked up the green scaffolding to get to the spectacular overlook. There was still snow on the rocks. I dusted the snow off a convenient bench at the top and wrapped my antenna tripod along the railing. The AX1 is truly a versatile antenna, and made it a snap to get set up! A couple did come up onto the observation platform for a few pictures, and then left quickly due to the cold winds.

The wind was harsh, but I stuck around for 17 QSOs, including DX on 20m: F4WBN and F6EAZ in France, and two S2S on 15m: AD5A on W5A/MA-001 Magazine Mountain and N7CW on W7A/CS-038 Beacon Hill.

I had considered trying to make this a combined SOTA/POTA activation by staying in Dans Mountain Wildlife Management Area (US-7767) on the way up, but I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to operate from the top of the rock. Maybe next time!

The activation zone is roughly bounded by the 860m contour. There is a small overlap of the AZ with POTA site US-7767 Dans Mountain Wildlife Management Area, highlighted in yellow. Perhaps there’s a good spot in here for a POTA/SOTA activation!

Trailhead: 39.58171, -78.89811 : Parking pad by radio towers
Map: [AA3TZ SOTA] [Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area Map]
Route: A couple minutes walking up stairs. The parking spot is already in the activation zone.
POTA: Old Dans Rock Road SW passes through Dans Mountain Wildlife Management Area (US-7767). The boundary of the park appears to be within the AZ, but you’d have to pick your operating point carefully.

W3/PD-001 Big Mtn

I wanted to add a second peak to my trip after bagging Snowy Mountain, but I was concerned about the building winter storm. AC3B’s trip report noted that the forest road leading to Big Mountain (the high point of the Tuscarora Mountain ridge) was wide and unexposed to steep cliffs, with plenty of opportunities to bail if needed. It also is within Buchanan State Forest, so this works as another SOTA/POTA special.

To get there, I drove west on US-30, then turned onto Augwick Rd. I followed this for a mile, then turned onto Tower Road, which is not maintained during winter and was covered in snow. I just had to take things slow and in low gear for the 2-mile drive to the summit, letting my Subaru’s AWD rise to the occasion. The road was double-track width, which was comforting (even though I didn’t pass anybody on the way up or down).

Tower Road looks like this the entire 2-mile drive up. Dear reader, the sign that says “No Winter Maintenance” was not lying! Still my low-clearance sedan with AWD made it with minimal slipping (going slow and low gear).

I parked along the small loop by the overlook and saw where the Tuscarora Trail continues north through the woods. The vista point must be great in clear weather, but all I could see today was a gray haze. I took in the view, setting up on the stone bench while opting to operate while standing. There was a security camera making sure that nobody would spray graffiti onto the rocks. By now, the flakes were coming down thick and making everything wet. I was thankful for the AX1’s rapid and painless set up.

I picked up 11 contacts in just about 15 minutes, including a S2S with WW4D on Cedar Creek Mountain (W4C/US-029). My notepad was starting to soak with the heavy precipitation and I decided to pack it in.

Trailhead: 39.92892, -77.95549 : The intersection of Augwick Road and Tower Road, just north of US-30
Map: [AA3TZ SOTA] – For the driving track along Tower Road
Route: Drive-on along 2-mile forest road (no winter maintenance, but relatively easy drive as forest roads go)
POTA: Buchanan State Forest (US-5463)

As I was leaving, this sign for Cowans Gap State Park beckoned me to continue north on Augwick Road for a POTA chaser, just 4 miles away. I set up in a picnic shelter near Parking Lot #2, not far from the park office. I could relax a bit and enjoy drier conditions for a bit.

Now that I’m accumulating PA state parks and forests, I feel like I should try to visit/activate them all: 124 parks and 20 forests!

W3/PD-007 Snowy Mountain

I went in Gettysburg, PA for a personal mini-retreat after the semester’s first week wrapped. A winter storm was coming through, so I tried to get an early start to tackle a group of SOTA/POTA sites. This my first time trying out the AX1 portable vertical antenna for quicker set up and pack up process than putzing around with my arborist’s throw line and end fed wire. Snowy Mountain in Michaux State Forest was first on the list.

I did not want to drive up snowy forest roads, so I decided to hike in along the Appalachian Trail. I parked at the trailhead on PA 233, which has room for a couple cars. Shortly into the hike, the AT briefly continues along Swamp Rd, then winds on through the forest.

A runner mysteriously materialized, and somehow passed me twice during the 1.6 mile hike. I also saw a hawk carry a squirrel away for a meal. Other than those wildlife sightings, it was a serene and quiet winter hike.

The last half of the hike came with 500 feet of climb. At the end, a powerline cut crosses over with the AT, and a short segment of the Caramba Trail continues due south to the peak, where a couple radio towers stand. The trail appears to be just inside in the activation zone, but I opted to set up about 50 feet up the path to the summit where I found a rock to sit on. At this point, the snow was really coming down in large, wet flakes, so I was eager to get started.

The AX1 worked well! I was spotted quickly on 20m and made 11 contacts in about 20 minutes. By then, everything was starting to get wet and full of snow. Packing up was where the AX1 really shined, with the whole kit stowed away in just a couple minutes.

Trailhead: 39.84973, -77.50879 : Appalachian Trailhead Parking: PA 233 Rocky Mountain Rd
Maps: [AA3TZ SOTA] [Michaux State Forest Map]
Route: 3.2 mi out-and-back, following the Appalachian Trail
POTA: Appalachian National Scenic Trail (US-4556); Michaux State Forest (US-5471)

Mont Alto State Park (US-1386) is just over 3 miles down PA 233, so I added this POTA activation to the trip. Mont Alto is the oldest PA state park, and started (as many PA parks in this area) as an iron furnace. The main feature here was a large picnic pavilion (formerly a carousel house) that was an ideal place to set up. I worked this one a little longer due to the shelter keeping things dry, and logged 40 QSOs on 20m CW before calling it quits.

It was on to the next peak: Big Mountain.

W3/PT-007 Bear Cave Lookout

I recently changed my callsign from AI6CU to AA3TZ since I now live in PA, and was working the CQ WPX contest to break in the new callsign. I went on this hike to take a break from the contest and work my first SOTA with the new callsign. It took longer to drive to the trailhead than I expected, since the final approach is very bumpy. Bear Cave is large maze cave formation somewhere west of this 2600 ft peak. It looks like it gets very tight in there (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFYwIoEOKV0).

Google will try to take you down a trail that goes northeast from Derry Ridge Rd in Ligonier, but the road does not appear to exist. Continue along Derry Ridge Road, then turn northeast on Austraw Rd towards the intersection of Austraw Rd, Derry Ridge Rd, and Firetower Rd. Here, continue down Firetower Rd, which is a good gravel road for about a half mile, then becomes a bumpier dirt road for the remaining mile (starting around 1700 feet elevation). I had to go slow, but my sedan (Subaru Impreza) made it fine. It would probably not have gone well on a wet day. There is a small dirt parking spot at a locked gate with room for one vehicle. A truck was parked there so I parked a bit down the road where there was another pulloff.

Red marks the car route and Yellow marks the hike. Fire Tower Rd gets kind of rough about a half mile in for a sedan, but it’s fine on a dry day.

The first half of the 1.5-mile hike is a climb up 400 feet to a long, flat ridge. The rest of the hike follows a road that passes a large number of radio transmitters along this ridge. The road was flooded with 4 inches of water in places during this trip, but it was dry off the road. The observation tower at the peak was locked.

I set up by some rocks near the edge of the forest, but a couple of hikers suggested that I stay away from them as above 1600 ft elevation is where rattlesnakes live. “It would really suck to get bit by a rattlesnake out here,” one added. They were actually there to look for snakes and claimed that they had seen over 20, walking along the sun/shade line! Spooked, I moved into the sunny clearing and kept my eyes peeled. I heard intermittent noise on 40m, presumably from one of the nearby transmitters.

After the hike, I found the snake-fans by their truck, which was the one parked at the gate. They asked me some questions about CB radio, and I got them hyped up about the current peak in the solar cycle. I might come back in the winter, but I will probably just walk along Firetower road for a longer hike rather than drive on the rough road. Also, the snakes will be hibernating.

Trailhead: 40.33267, -79.23716 : Approach from Firetower Rd
Maps: [AA3TZ SOTA]
Route: 3.0 mi round trip, following trail towards and along multiple radio transmitter sites.