by Tim (W8TMI)
My spouse and I head to Northern Michigan over the New 12 months’s vacation virtually yearly. It’s a pleasant strategy to wrap up the yr and the busy vacation season. Most of our family and friends obligations are met, and we are able to spend time unwinding and exploring the fantastic issues that Michigan has to supply.
This yr was no exception. We discovered a pleasant place to remain in Frankfort, Michigan. A number of breweries, eateries, espresso homes, climbing trails, miles of shoreline, and an area bookstore made this an excellent location for a number of days with nothing urgent to perform.
Being a ham, I at all times take a peek round to see what POTA and SOTA entities could also be close by wherever we find yourself staying. I used to be in luck, there was a SOTA inside a POTA simply north of the place we had been staying. Alongside the Sleeping Bear Dunes Nationwide Lakeshore (US-0767) is Empire Bluffs sand dunes (W8M/LP-019). This was an excessive amount of to withstand.
Because the plans firmed up round our timeline and bookings, my thoughts started to think about the activation. I’m effectively versed in POTA activations and have many tips to beat seashores, snow, lack of picnic tables, lack of bushes, and plenty of different issues that may come my manner. My thoughts started to query if I had the fitting gear to make this occur and I started to plan for a setup that could possibly be deployed and operated in harsh circumstances with little help from the surroundings round me.
I’ve discovered from my earlier experiences on the sand dunes of the Nice Lakes that circumstances will be difficult. I knew I’d greater than doubtless face snow on the bottom, new snow within the air, wind, chilly temps, sand, slim dune peaks, native vegetation, and the problem to hike all of my gear to the spot. Now it was time to take what I had and switch it into the SOTA/POTA setup that would get the job completed.
The antenna could be the GabilGRA-7350 [QRPer.com affiliate link] with three 13’ radials deployed out so far as I might get them. Gabil recommends setting the antenna to the overall resonance space marked on the coil and utilizing a variety tuner to complete the job. I’ve discovered this to be true, particularly analyzing the antenna on the soil in my yard the place I can get a 1:1 SWR match versus the sandy seashores of Lake Michigan.
I selected the CFT1 as my radio. It covers the bands that I’d greater than doubtless function and with the Tufteln face cowl it weighs round 8 oz.
20 meters being the first band as a result of with the wind and chilly, I knew velocity could be paramount. For the tuner and battery, I selected the mAT-10 ATU and the Talentcell 3000 mA Li-Ion [QRPer.com affiliate link]. Lastly, the N0SA M7 iambic paddle.
To convey this equipment collectively in a manner that I might function standing up, I wanted some form of bag or pouch to put on that will permit entry to the tune button on the tuner, the quantity and VFO on the radio, potential to log, and key with out having to carry on to the paddle. As a fly fisherman I considered a sling pack or a chest pack, however neither would work with any of my backpacks I deliberate to haul the antenna.
My buddy Erik (WS3D) really useful a waist pack. At first look I wasn’t certain this might meet my wants. Off to the native procuring middle I went to see if I might discover some choices that would accommodate my SOTA equipment. After going into 5 completely different shops that had some types of waist packs, my native athletics sporting items retailer had one which I believed may work with some minor modifications.
It was small, which meant it might simply match into the backpack I deliberate to make use of. As soon as I obtained residence, I used to be in a position to stuff every element into one of many a number of pockets offered on the pack. The query remained: how do I key with out holding the paddle?
Following the tip offered by N0SA who designed and made the M7, Velcro connected to the underside of the important thing would permit adhesion to the pack. I used to be in a position to buy a number of the “loop” materials from JoAnn and started working with my stitching machine. A small 2”x3” portion on the fitting facet of the pack would permit for proper hand keying whereas I stored the logger in my left hand. Holding my proper hand free to function the message features, quantity, and VFO of the radio if wanted.
I had a equipment and a plan, now to get to it.
My spouse and I headed out for the Empire Bluffs path on December thirty first, 2024, the primary hike of many on this journey. With slightly little bit of haste as a result of in the last few days a number of X class flares had been sending a geomagnetic storm our manner and it was anticipated to hit between 12:00-13:00 Jap time.
The winter climate was growing in its depth, extra snow coming down with extra anticipated because the day progressed. The path itself was reasonable all through. Rolling elevation typical of most sand dune trails round Lake Michigan. That’s, till the summit of the Empire Bluffs. The free sand beneath our toes gave manner slightly with each step, the wind alongside the lakeshore elevated from the relative calm of the wooded path. The views had been breathtaking and impressed a way of respect for the Nice Lakes and the seriousness of those our bodies of water.
Making it to the summit at 11:30, the ridge was even narrower than I anticipated. It might be a fragile dance to go somebody going the wrong way alongside the highest. A steep angle down from the place we hiked up and a steep descent into cedars and pines on the opposite facet. Via the snow and vegetation, I shortly started deploying my antenna understanding that point was of the essence. Between the approaching photo voltaic storm and the cooling temps with lake shore winds, there was haste in my actions.
The GRA-7350 arrange shortly and I had the station able to go in a matter of some minutes. In accordance with my log, I had my first contact at 11:39. Engaged on the Moveable Logger app (PoLo). I had the entity quantity for each the SOTA and POTA programmed in and as every contact got here via it let me know what number of contacts away I used to be from completion of each packages. The snow continued.
At 11:52 I hit a lull. I had a pileup, however it was gone. The bands died. The storm will need to have hit. I used to be at 9/10 for the park. I had the summit, however I used to be caught at 9 contacts for the park. Cursed.
5 minutes later via fast-paced QSB KZ1J got here via. Working 15 WPM, I don’t transfer quick via a QSO. However I made it as fast as potential. I copied their name on the primary go, and despatched as succinctly as potential, “KZ1J TU UR 599 MI BK”. To my reduction I heard him on the rise of QSB, “BK TU TIM UR 559 MA BK”. That was it. 10/10. I beat the geo storm, bettered the weather, and obtained my summit and park activated. “BK TU MA 72 . .”
I shortly packed up my radio tools and tore down the antenna. Able to get transferring and get the blood flowing once more to heat up. As soon as down off the heights, the wind felt extra cheap as decrease dunes blocked the brunt of it for us. The bushes ultimately offered the perfect reprieve. The snow coming down was much less harsh and extra picturesque. It was time for among the best components of a hike, meals!
We went down the highway and located a sandwich store that had an incredible sub and heat rooster chili. Simply what was wanted for a day like this.
72, DE W8TMI, Tim
P.S. A pair extra pictures from the hike.
