Sometimes my busy schedule gives me opportunities to activate summits that I wouldn't otherwise get to activate. A case in point was travelling to the IBC in Memphis. My drive from San Antonio took me through eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Both areas are target rich environments for SOTA activators so I was able to accumulate a lot of points. So many points in fact that, when added to a recent trip to Santa Fe, NM and the Davis Mountains in Texas I am knocking on the door of the SOTA Mountain Goat award which requires 1,000 activator points. I am now at 965 points.
Not just because I am getting close to earning MG status, but I believe this is one of the toughest awards in ham radio if you factor in the physical side of it. Nearly all awards in the amateur radio world require you sit on your derriere for hours or even days at a time. You will never mistake a ham convention for a gathering of tri-athletes. Staying fit enough to do these climbs has me in the best shape I've been in years. That said, you don't have to be in fantastic shape to participate in SOTA. There are mountains or hills that qualify that can be driven up or just a short walk will get you there. But it does require that you get outside, which is a good thing. And I promise, the more you do it, the more you will want to do.
I've learned some much about portable QRP operating while working toward this award. It's been said that when you achieve MG status, you have a Ph.D in portable radio operation. When I think about my first activation versus the way I operate now, it's night and day. I travel so much lighter and my station is much more efficient. I can be operating within 10 minutes of arriving on the summit with a station that will generate a pile-up and make DX contacts on multiple bands.
So I am anxious to get the 1,000th point, which hopefully will be within the next couple of weeks. Below is a video and picture from a couple of summits I activated last weekend in the Davis Mountains of Texas. The Davis Mountains are the home of the McDonald Observatory which, as you will see below, is a dominant feature on the horizon in that area. BTW, Mount Locke, where the observatory sits, is a 10 pointer that you drive up, however you have to get of the house to get there. The picture is from Mt. Arabella, a fairly steep 8 pointer that will take the average person 30 -45 minutes to ascend. The video is from Peak 6411 outside of Ft. Davis. It also is a drive-up. I use the Alex Loop on drive up mountains, but End Fed Half Wave (EFHW) on hikes of any distance.
Since beginning my chase for MG my longest hike was doing Santa Fe Baldy, in Santa Fe, NM. A 15 mile roundtrip up to 12,000+ ft. ASL. The tallest mountain I've done is Mt. Sherman in Colorado at 14,036 ft. ASL.
I 'm sure I will make another posting to the Blog when I get the 1,000th point. I can't wait to become a certified Old Goat!
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| McDonald Observatory from Mt. Arabella |
Mike: I am impressed with the SOTA score. I don't participate because I am a bit lazy. GTW, I was raised in Memphis and any time I can find an excuse I go there for some "Q".
ReplyDeleteI lived in Texas for eight years in Houston in the 1970's and I had an REA Coop customer west of San Antonio with electric service in the Big Bend area. I never got to go there, but was fascinated with your pic of the McDonald Obs.
Great article.
Bob
K4BB
Bob,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments. The Davis Mountains are a little oasis in the middle of West Texas. You should find a reason to visit them. In the summer you will drive through 100+ degree temperatures to get there and then once in the mountains the temps moderate, everything is green from the daily thunderstorms and you feel like you are in Colorado. The elevation is almost identical to Denver, CO.
73,
Mike AD5A