KCSB-FM has been the voice of UC Santa Barbara since 1962, its signal stretching across Santa Barbara from somewhere high above campus. Reaching that source means making the climb to Broadcast Peak, where the station’s transmitter stands among the other towering signals that serve the region.
The journey begins with the four-mile stretch of the Tequepis Trail. What starts as a steady ascent quickly turns demanding. Thick clouds drift in and blur the horizon. Gusts of wind sweep across exposed ridgelines. The path narrows in places, with loose gravel shifting underfoot and steep inclines testing every step. The higher the elevation, the quieter the world below feels.
Even after reaching the trail’s summit, the climb is not over. An additional mile leads to Broadcast Peak, home to KCSB’s radio tower. When the towers finally come into view, rising stark against the sky, the effort takes on new meaning. At the summit, surrounded by steel and silence, it becomes clear how a single signal travels from this mountaintop to speakers and car radios across the county.
