| Activation Date: 26 August 2017 | |
| Transport: Hike | Distance: 5.6 miles |
| Elev. gain: 850 feet | Time: 2 hours |
| Rig(s): FT-817, VX-2R | Band(s): 40m, 20m SSB |
| Antenna(s): End-fed half-wave, 12.5 inch flex whip | |
| Cell Service: Marginal/None (T-Mobile) | |
| Parking: Side of road, Highland Way and Buzzard Lagoon Rd | |
| Trailhead: Buzzard Lagoon Rd | |
| Fees/Permits: None | |
| Route: Buzzard Lagoon Rd, Aptos Creek Fire Rd | |
| Dogs: Not sure | Toilet: No |
Hot, hot, hot! Well, for the SF Bay Area, at least. I chose this as a relatively easy, nearby summit that I hadn’t done yet. And with the hot weather in Silicon Valley, I figured I might have a chance of some cool ocean air, by getting closer to the ocean. Not so. I had decided to bring my 8-year-old son on this hike, after asking him if he’d like to go (and if he’d be happy working the radio with me, or finding something else to do for 30+ minutes). He said he’d like to look at trees and bugs. OK! I also asked my 6-year-old son if he’d like to go but he wasn’t initially interested. Come the morning of the hike, he changed his mind and they both wanted to go!