Tuesday, March 25, 2014

GREY DAY ON GREENTOP

Had a few hours after a short day at work, so I decided to make a quick SOTA Trek.  I headed out to Greentop Mountain W4T/SU-076.  Greentop is an easy summit to access.  A short drive from Knoxville, and a short walk from the gate into the activation zone.  The weather started out grey and cool.  It soon turned to white and cold as snow flurries moved into the area, and the winds picked up. Greentop's towers create a lot of noise on the receiving end, so I had some difficulties picking out some contacts.

 I set up among the multitude of radio towers on the summit and started calling.  I worked 40 stations including some DX: Finland, Greece, England, Spain, and Whales.  One of the best contacts of the day was WG0AT!  I have enjoyed his activation videos for a long time.  It was great to finally QSO my SOTA hero!  And Thank you to all of the contacts below! 

Date:25/Mar/2014 Summit:W4T/SU-076 (Greentop) Call Used:KK4NQQ Points: 8 Bonus: 3 
TimeCallBandModeNotes
17:10zWX4ET7MHzSSBGreentop
17:16zAE4FZ7MHzSSBGreentop
17:16zW4DOW7MHzSSBGreentop
17:17zW4JKC7MHzSSBGreentop
17:17zN4EX7MHzSSBGreentop
17:18zK4LFB7MHzSSBGreentop
17:26zNE4TN7MHzSSBGreentop
17:26zVA3MZB7MHzSSBGreentop
17:38zW0MNA7MHzSSBGreentop
17:38zWOERI14MHzSSBGreentop
17:39zNS7P14MHzSSBGreentop
17:40zVE2JCW14MHzSSBGreentop
17:40zW7RV14MHzSSBGreentop
17:41zN7UN14MHzSSBGreentop
17:43zKB1RJC14MHzSSBGreentop
17:48zWI2W14MHzSSBGreentop
17:48zKC3BZT14MHzSSBGreentop
17:50zKK4HEQ14MHzSSBGreentop
17:51zN8DEA14MHzSSBGreentop
17:52zW7CNL14MHzSSBGreentop
17:53zKG3W14MHzSSBGreentop
18:00zG6TUH24MHzSSBGreentop
18:01zK6EL24MHzSSBGreentop
18:02zW7RV24MHzSSBGreentop
18:03zW7AUM24MHzSSBGreentop
18:05zOH9XX24MHzSSBGreentop
18:06zWA6RIC24MHzSSBGreentop
18:06zWG0AT24MHzSSBGreentop
18:08zKK7EL24MHzSSBGreentop
18:09zEA2DT24MHzSSBGreentop
18:13zN7AMA24MHzSSBGreentop
18:15zKB7HH24MHzSSBGreentop
18:16zKD5KC24MHzSSBGreentop
18:18zWB5USB24MHzSSBGreentop
18:20zON4FI24MHzSSBGreentop
18:22zGW4VPX24MHzSSBGreentop
18:22zNS7P24MHzSSBGreentop
18:25zKF5PMU24MHzSSBGreentop
18:30zG0RQL24MHzSSBGreentop
18:31zSV2OEW24MHzSSBGreentop

 

 

I have a big announcement to make.  I have been named one of my Departments new K9 Officers.  In May I begin the K9 Academy and I get to pick out my furry new partner.  I will do my best to activate whenever I can, but who knows how much time I will have in the next two months.   I will post a few picks soon.  And who knows, I might be able to bring him along on a few SOTA's!!!
 


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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

GORGEOUS SECOND ACTIVATION OF MOUNT LECONTE


I was truly blessed this weekend with two gorgeous days to return to Mt Le Conte.  My first activation last July was very wet, and did not offer the views I had hoped.  This weekend was the total opposite.  What an awesome weekend. Check out my first activation of Mt Le Conte here. 

I decided to head out late Sunday morning for a summit attempt around dinner time.  As many of you know I am not the fastest mountaineer in the world.  I am more of a tortoise than a hare.  I packed a full load up the mountain today in order to sustain me through a cold night on the summit  My KX3 and antenna were joined with some new gear I received for Christmas!  A new pack, a new sleeping bag, and a really cool little camp stove.
 



 My new pack is an Eberlestock Battleship, and as packs go it is a big one.  It performed flawlessly.  The Battleship is not a light pack but the suspension and padding system really carry the load extremely well.   My new sleeping bag is a Big Agnes Whiskey Park 0 Degree bag.  As a "larger" activator I require a bit more space in a sleeping bag.  This bag with its ample room fits me well.  And with is integrated insulated inflatable sleeping pad i was kept toasty on the cold night.  And to cook my food on this trek I used my new little SOLO Stove.  This little hobo stove does not require you to carry fuel up with you.  Just pop in a little bit of dry wood for fuel, and in no time you have boiling water!  Check out a video here.  Its pretty damn cool.



I hit the trail with my new gear and started up the trail.  The weather was perfect!  Spring seemed to have arrived for my activation attempt.  Mt Le Conte is an iconic trail in the Smokey Mountains, and I believe I will have to make this an annual activation stop.  The trail was in good shape this year, and was in use by many hikers, backpackers, and spring breakers.  I met and spoke with people from all aver the US, each sharing in a great hike.


I enjoyed the views all the way to the top.  I stopped by the shelter, my home away from home for the evening, and dropped off my sleeping kit to claim my spot.  I then continued up to High Top.  It is marked by a pile of stones.  I had a hell of a time getting my antenna up into a tree but soon I was setup and running.  I made contacts on 20 and 40 meters.  I had intended on trying 80 meters as well, but I was not having any luck on 80.  The bands were very busy with lots of QRM.  I hoped to make more contacts with some of my favorite activators, but I was not having a great deal of luck on the bands.  I also could not self spot via my cell phone.  In the future I plan on learning how to self spot via APRS.  I believe this will help everyone chasing me.

Date:09/Mar/2014 Summit:W4T/SU-003 (Mount Le Conte) Call Used:KK4NQQ Points: 10 Bonus: 3   
TimeCallBandModeNotes
22:17zAD5A14MHzSSB
22:17zN7UN14MHzSSB
22:18zN1EU14MHzSSB
22:18zVE2JFM14MHzSSB
22:19zW0MNA14MHzSSB
22:19zW0ERI14MHzSSB
22:19zVE2JCW14MHzSSB
22:20zKK1W14MHzSSB
22:20zEA2LU14MHzSSB
22:20zNT1K14MHzSSB
22:21zNS7P14MHzSSB
22:21zKG3W14MHzSSB
22:21zG6TUH14MHzSSB
22:22zK8TE14MHzSSB
22:22zEA2IF14MHzSSB
22:23zW7RV14MHzSSB
22:24zG4OBK14MHzSSB
22:24zK5WI14MHzSSB
22:25zKB1RJD14MHzSSB
22:25zKB1RJC14MHzSSB
22:30zAI0Q14MHzSSB
22:33zKK4HEQ14MHzSSB
22:34zN6CK14MHzSSB
22:37zKA5PVB14MHzSSB
23:30zK2RKB7MHzSSB
23:31zKE6IVK7MHzSSB
23:32zKK4FWE7MHzSSB
23:35zKK4LZF7MHzSSB
23:36zWA4TZT7MHzSSB
23:38zKK4FTW7MHzSSB
23:40zN4ILK7MHzSSB
23:41zN4UTN7MHzSSB
23:42zKK4SME7MHzSSB
23:43zN3AIN7MHzSSB
23:44zAA3JK7MHzSSB
23:45zKC4COP7MHzSSB
23:46zN4EFL7MHzSSB
23:47zKR4KW7MHzSSB
23:48zNS8G7MHzSSB
23:49zKK4SME7MHzSSB
23:50zK5DNA7MHzSSB
23:51zWA4YGN7MHzSSB


I snuck back into my sleeping bag and enjoyed a warm night of sleep despite the freezing temperatures outside.  I wore my thermal underwear to bed and found I had to vent my bag a bit during the night to cool off. I was very thankful for my new gear, it made this trip very comfortable.
I woke up just before sunup and was greeted with a foggy, dewy morning.  I busted out my SOLO stove and fired up breakfast.  Dehydrated eggs and bacon, mmm mmm good.  I packed up and headed back down the mountain.  As I descended the fog and clouds parted, and I was treated to a second  beautiful day.




Again thank you to all of the chasers out there.  I enjoy contacting all the dedicated chasers, as well as those who know nothing about SOTA.  I like educating Hams about Summits on the Air, and I hope  the more people I introduce to our sport will spawn more chasers, and activators for the future.
So 73's everyone and remember to 
KEEP CLIMBING!!!!


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