Many due to Micah (N4MJL) who shares the next visitor submit:
by Micah (N4MJL)
Emboldened by my profitable activation of W7U/SL-022 (7,500ft MSL) every week earlier, I made a decision to up my SOTA sport and attempt to activate Grandeur Peak (W7U/NU-065).
Grandeur Peak is positioned within the Wasatch Vary (POTA Entity US-4398) simply to the east of Salt Lake Metropolis. It’s roughly three ridges south of my final weeks SOTA activation. Which you’ll examine right here.
The shortest distance between two factors is a straight line, that ought to be true for climbing a mountain proper?……
After conducting an space research, I made a decision to take the “West Ridge Route” it’s a quick 2.2 mile path to the highest of Grandeur Peak. A number of the feedback on the hiker boards described this route as “undoubtedly one of many steepest hikes on the Wasatch Entrance.” One other commenter mentioned, “this quick however brutally-steep hike positive aspects over 3,300ft elevation in a mere 2.2 miles to achieve the summit. Including as much as only a 4.4-mile spherical journey, this can be a fast jaunt for probably the most achieved climbers.”
Studying in between the strains I deduced that this was a brief 2.2 mile jaunt to the highest, with a little bit of elevation achieve. In spite of everything, we all know how these drama queens…I imply hikers…typically embellish climbing tales. Both means, this seemed like a great way to stretch my legs after flying virtually 8 hours the day earlier than. There was a considerably longer path with numerous switchbacks and extra light elevation achieve, that I might take, however I’m a millennial and delayed gratification is outwardly not a powerful go well with for me. Wanting on the SOTA web page for this summit, it had just one QSO logged this 12 months, though this summit had been activated 14 instances since April 2011.
On the morning of 25 August 2024 I received up at 0700 and packed up my REI Flash 22 day pack. I used to be taking with me a full 2 liter hydration pack together with 2 extra 1 liter water bottles (4L water whole), together with assorted snacks and electrolyte components. Based mostly on my final SOTA activation within the space, I made a decision I ought to deliver some emergency gear simply in case. I introduced my trusty Surefire EdCL2-t flashlight [QRPer affiliate link], just a few raps of duck-tape round a stick of chapstick, a field of matches, and some toes of bathroom paper. In spite of everything some issues simply occur, like the results of espresso on an empty abdomen. Don’t go away with out rest room paper.
For the reason that temperature in Salt Lake Metropolis was projected to be round 85F, I made a decision to deliver a flannel shirt and wool cap for the summit. There may be nearly no humidity in UT and the temperature at 8,300ft might simply be 15 levels cooler with attainable wind chill. I’m unhealthy sufficient sending CW with out being chilled.
My radio gear consisted of the next:
Throughout my 15 minute Uber experience from the resort to grandeur Peak West face car parking zone my driver was incredulous that anybody of sound thoughts would ever voluntarily climb such a mountain. He was satisfied that I used to be going to be eaten by mountain lions.
After my first 5 minutes on the path I began to query whether or not or not I really was of sound thoughts.
After quarter-hour on the path I started to suppose that there might have been some reality to what was written on the hiker boards about this path.
After 30 minute on the path I used to be undoubtedly working by means of the 5 levels of grief!
1) Denial: how was I sooo silly to be climbing straight up a mountain
2)Anger: I’m an fool for NOT listening to these hiker boards
3)Bargaining: if I can simply make it ten extra toes additional I’ll take one other selfie
4)Despair: if I don’t get to the highest, I received’t have a selfie on the summit and I’ll by no means get a dopamine rush from public accolades.
Significantly, the primary 0.8 mile was brutal. The path was fully straight up the ridge, and it was all unfastened gravel with little to no vegetation to stabilize the path. If I began to slip down, I might be sliding aloooong means down. My plan if I tripped or began to slip was to go flat on my abdomen like a star fish In hopes of stopping my down hill slide. I attempted to get footage to indicate how “brutal” this part of the climb actually was. Sadly, footage actually don’t do justice.
It’s a 3,346 ft elevation achieve in 2.2 miles; what extra must be mentioned? Wanting forward, I spotted that if I might make it a bit additional up, the mountain began to look extra inexperienced indicating some shrubbery. I hoped this meant the path would stabilize for me. Being younger and bullet proof, I pushed on.
Fortuitously for me, the upper up I received the extra secure the path turned. After the preliminary 0.8 miles the hike was very gratifying and I had no extra security considerations for the remainder of the hike up.
I used to be starting to really feel cocky once more, and I started to consider how a lot of a foul A@s I used to be for doing a hike like this. All of a sudden, I heard a noise behind me. I circled to discover a shirtless Spartan Warrior of a person operating up the very path I had simply slowly fought my means up. In my head, I heard the sensible voice of my major flight teacher from virtually 20 years in the past, “LaVanchy, each time you strap on an airplane, examine your perspective and go away it on the bottom. There is no such thing as a room for ego within the cockpit, solely talent, and regardless of how good of a stick you turn into you’ll all the time discover a larger ace on the bottom!”
By the point I made it to the highest of the summit, 4 totally different hikers handed me on their option to the highest. I’ll attempt to blame that on acclimation, but it surely’s been a very long time since I used to be ever near having a ripped six pack. Oh nicely, not less than I do know that this can be a poplar path regardless of the steep grade.
The view from the highest was spectacular! It was Sunday morning and there was virtually a reverent ambiance on the summit. The 4 different hikers that handed me on the way in which had been nonetheless there, and so they every gave me a silent nod of welcome. I dared not pull out my telephone and get a selfie though it was burning a gap in my pocket! I must wait till they left! Lest they revoke the proverbial man card that I had simply earned.
I seemed round and located the geological survey marker from 1973. I additionally perused the Grandeur Peak mail field. The summit mail containers are steeped in custom. You’ll find life recommendation and encouragement in these mailboxes. For instance Luke and Hopper wrote “if my canine can do it, you’ll be able to” (6/2/24).
Due the reverent ambiance I sensed on the summit, I didn’t need to be that man and begin climbing in every single place organising a 20ft mast and linked dipole.
Though I had carried the mast and dipole with me. As a substitute I solely used the telescope whip antenna of my Elecraft KH1.
I solely scheduled my self on the SOTA web site though I used to be additionally in a POTA entity. I needed to provide SOTA hunters the primary crack at me. The reverse beacon community labored like a attraction and had me noticed, by the tip of the second CQ name.
I began calling CQ at 1654z and by 1733z I believed I had 11 contacts. I say “thought” as a result of one among my 11 name indicators was not legitimate. The decision signal contained H and S subsequent to one another. I attempted numerous combos however sadly I screwed it up sufficient that I couldn’t in good conscience log something.
“H” and “S” are my two mortal enemies in CW.
On a current activation throughout a summit right here in Virginia, a really savvy hunter who had an H in the course of his name signal sensed my downside and despatched his name signal at regular pace till he received to the H, then he despatched 4 sluggish dits, then he despatched remaining characters at regular pace. I’m a noob and I do know it. I’m 95% sure that my different 10 name indicators had been appropriate. In truth, at 1715z on 20m, I had the pleasure of working AC0UT.
The selfie with me sporting the blue flannel shirt was proper after I labored my Dad (AC0UT) Missouri to Utah 5 watts CW. I heard many stations means down within the noise flooring that I couldn’t work. I even heard a s2s beginning with I feel a “KX” within the name signal, sadly I simply couldn’t pull it out of the noise flooring.
After I received the 11 contacts, I didn’t keep on the summit for much longer. I might like to say that inclement climate, dehydration or low battery lower my activation quick. Sadly the truth is that my butt damage from sitting on un stage rocks and my arms damage from holding up the KH1 for 45 minutes straight, and I actually needed a chilly bathe and a scorching meal.
Heading down the mountain was a lot much less drama till the final 0.8 miles. I child you not, there have been instances I sat down on my butt and inched my means down the slope on the palm of my palms making an attempt to not slide down the mountain on the unfastened gravel path. However trying over my shoulder I felt a way of delight at one other summit that I efficiently activated.
I don’t not have any extra Salt Lake Metropolis (SLC) over nights on my schedule for September and as we method winter I don’t suppose I’ll have any extra SOTA activations in Utah till it warms up subsequent summer time. I do have just a few SOTA/POTA activations deliberate for the Phoenix, AZ and Las Vegas, NV space. I will probably be doing extra California POTA activations largely in San Francisco but in addition in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Sacramento.
Huge due to all you hunters. I’m starting to acknowledge a few of your name indicators. At the same time as I write this text, I simply observed a number of name indicators that I simply logged from summit in Virginia. It truly is a small world with 5 watts and a wire!
Thanks all and 72..
~ Micah J. LaVanchy
N4MJL
