AJ W6CMY and I met at 7 a.m. to head into the Angeles National Forest for an activation. Initially, I thought we might tackle Josephine Peak or attempt a two-for-one with Strawberry Peak and Mount Lawlor. However, we weren’t feeling motivated enough for either. Instead, Kratka Ridge, deeper into the forest, caught my attention. It’s an 8-pointer with a relatively short hike—about 0.8 miles with a 700-foot elevation gain—and despite being steep, it seemed manageable.

Our friend Mark K3MGM usually helps plan our activations because he knows the forest well and has Starlink on his truck, allowing us to access maps and internet even in remote areas. AJ and I, however, didn’t have that luxury this time.

We ended up parking in the wrong spot and couldn’t find the trail. So, we decided to ascend the summit off-trail and improvise. In hindsight, it wasn’t too bad, but the hike took twice as long as we expected. AJ convinced me to bring a small portable camping chair from my car, and I’m glad I did. It was a real treat to have that comfort at the summit, as you’ll see in the photos. We enjoyed a luxurious activation with mid-60s temperatures and plenty of pine shade at the top.

Don’t hire us to find the trail.