Many due to Micah (N4MJL) who shares the next visitor publish:
by Micah (N4MJL)
As an airline pilot, Iām at all times looking out for POTA/SOTA websites which can be close to me when I’ve lengthy layovers in several cities throughout the nation. Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah is not any exception. I at all times carry a modest assortment of ham radio gear with me once I journey.
I jumped on the probability to knock out a SOTA and POTA activation when a 23 hour layover confirmed up on my schedule for Salt Lake Metropolis. A month earlier, I used to be in Salt Lake Metropolis on a shorter in a single day, and I had scouted out a SOTA activation for W7U/SL-022 which is situated simply to the east of Salt Lake Metropolis contained in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache Nationwide Forest, which occurs to be POTA US-4398.
I plotted my route on Gaia GPSāa free app that I extremely suggest.
In reality, you’ll be able to lookup my route that I used for this activation.
My path to the summit began on the Pure Historical past Museum of Utah and could be a 5.6 mile a technique ruck as much as the summit with 2,800+ ft Ascent. I would go away the museum heading in direction of the Residing Room path head, however then department off in direction of Mount Wire.
Mount Wire has an elevation of seven,110ft MSL and supplies unimaginable views of Salt Lake Metropolis. When you make it to the hearth tower situated at Mount Wire your ascent is nearly over. Nevertheless you continue to have one other 3.1 miles traversing the ridge line earlier than reaching the true summit situated at 7,500ft MSL. The activation zone may be very straightforward to find out since it’s on the very finish of the ridge line.
Sunday morning (11 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.
My radio gear consisted of the next:
I scheduled an motion for each SOTA and POTA on their web sites. I knew from my earlier journey right here that I’d have cell reception to a minimum of Mount Wire, however I wasnāt taking any possibilities that I’ll not have cell reception on the summit. I’d be relying on the reverse beacon community to get me noticed.
I additionally made positive I despatched my spouse and my captain my deliberate route, and once I must be again in touch with them. In spite of everything, this was going to be a solo 12 mile ish spherical journey with some modest elevation acquire. I’m an skilled backpacker, and I’m not going to take pointless dangers with out a backup plan.
It was an exquisite day to go mountain climbing. It was forecast to be 93F in Salt Lake Metropolis that afternoon. I reside in Virginia the place the humidity is completely gross when itās 93F, however out right here, there may be basically no humidity which makes it very nice.
To not point out up within the mountains itās sometimes about 15 levels cooler. Rucking up the gully, there may be some shade on the best way up the Residing Room path, however when you get out of the gully heading as much as Mount Wire you’ll be in direct solar for almost all of the ruck.
Mount Wire has wonderful 360 view of the world at 7,110ft MSL. The hearth watch tower is a favourite location for some āfurther curricular actionsā from the native school children. It affords wonderful views of the town. The tower additionally represents the top of the strenuous elevation acquire for this hike. The image above reveals the ridge that I’ll now comply with for the subsequent 3.1 miles to the true summit of seven,500ft MSL.
As soon as previous Mount Wire, the ridge line will slim out significantly and, at instances the path will nearly fully disappear within the brush, nevertheless in the event you preserve urgent ahead alongside the ridge line the path will finally re-appear.
Iām guessing this can be a VHF repeater?
After a number of geological saddles I lastly catch a glimpse of the activation zone additional up the ridge.
Wanting again behind me, alongside the ridge within the path of Salt Lake Metropolis/Mount Wire, the Hearth tower is now not in sight. I really am alone. Simply the best way I prefer it!
As talked about earlier than the activation zone is fairly giant and straightforward to search out. It’s the farthest north east on the ridge line you can go earlier than it drops all the way down to the valley. I arrange on a small knoll on south east part of the activation zone. The knoll contained a number of small bushes that I used as help for my mast and wire ends. I made a decision to remain out of the shade because it contained plenty of poky weeds, and presumably subject mice that may additionally appeal to snakes.
My linked SOTA beams band hopper III is my go-to antenna of selection each time I’ve the room to arrange. It’s a linked dipole that enables it to be resonant for 3 bands: 40m,30m, and 20m. The Elecraft ATU tunes the 20m part to work on the 15m band with little or no issue.
Getting arrange may be very fast, sometimes lower than quarter-hour. I used to be excited to search out that within the activation zone I had superb cell reception. I rapidly pulled up the SOTA alert web page and located AA7OY who was activating W5N/GW-007 in south western a part of New Mexico. We efficiently established a S2S summit to summit on 14.062 MHz at 1808Z.
After a couple of minutes of listening to 14.117 and calling QRL with no response, I begin sending my CQ. I checked the SOTA alert web page and after the third CQ name the reverse beacon community (RBN) did its job, and I now have an energetic alert on the POTA and SOTA pages.
I selected 14.117 as a result of I’m most positively a noob, and anybody who tunes to that finish of the CW band is aware of what they’re entering into even earlier than they hear my pitiful makes an attempt at CW.
I get my first caller at 1824z, and by 1846z I’ve 11 contacts on 20m. What a rush! It was an enormous confidence builder.
I’ve by no means activated a park or summit that rapidly earlier than. An enormous thanks to these 11 who slowed down for me and waited patiently! You might be all a real class act! All these hours of working towards are lastly displaying some small successes!
After a number of extra CQ calls with no response, I despatched QSY transferring to 30m. I turned off my radio, received as much as stretch, make a cellphone name, and fix the hyperlinks for the 30m part of my dipole. After monitoring 10.115 for a bit, I began calling CQ. As soon as once more, it didnāt take greater than three calls earlier than the RBN picked up my CQ and up to date the POTA/SOTA websites with my new frequency. At 1909z N0XE referred to as me and despatched MO for his state. I used to be very excited as a result of that was the farthest east that any of my contacts had but despatched. As quickly as I completed working N0XE I used to be greeted to a real pileup of callersā¦..
Sadly, at that time my KH-1 gave me a HI TEMP warning. I despatched a fast āradio too sizzling QRT ā CW message, and posted that I’d be taking a break. At this level I began to judge my scenario. I had 12 contacts within the log.
I needed to do extra radio, however I needed to have an sincere analysis of my scenario. I now solely had 1.5 liters of water left for a 5.6 mile ruck again in direct afternoon solar. I already drank 2.5 liters of water, and I didnāt even rely what water I drank earlier than leaving my resort room that morning. The scary factor was, I had not but wanted to go to the toilet. Whereas this may increasingly sound like an odd factor to write down about, it truly is an enormous deal.
My shirt, my ball cap, and my backpack have been nearly fully dry. In Virginia, in the summertime, I’d usually be soaking moist with sweat by now. Since up right here within the mountains there may be little to no humidity, my sweat was evaporating nearly fast. I used to be shedding water quick! As a lot as I needed to remain and play extra radio, the truth was that I used to be alone, on a mountain, 3.1 miles from any frequented path. It was time to pack up and get again to civilization.
My hike again was un eventful, and my step appeared gentle for some purpose. Perhaps it was lighter as a result of I used to be carrying so much much less water. Or possibly it was my rising confidence in my CW abilities.
Iād activated a brand new state, a brand new park, and a brand new summit.
Letās be sincere Iām nonetheless a Lid, and in the event you attempt sending one thing outdoors the standard CW alternate itās most likely going proper over my head. I’m on a journey to at some point be fluent with CW. I’m positively not there but, however I do know Iām higher than I used to be a month in the past!
72,
Micah (N4MJL)
