Hi guys,
Thanks to everybody for contacting us and spotting us today. We had a blast. I’ll put more info later but I just wanted to say that this summit really kicked my rear-end. I am really pooped. I’ll add more info later as usual. (Vids, pics, etc…).
Salut les copains! vous m’avez rendu jaloux.
Hello folks, you made me feel jalous, i would have love to be pooped too…
Congratulations for climbing this summit.
Gerald F6HBI
Hello Arnaud & Thierry, got back awhile from a walk in the forest. Got to Clump Hill and then had huge rainfall but nothing Iike your adventure today.
This morning I was D/Star-APRS tracking both of you - Thierry tracks were much more accurate 
but I could not understand all the wandering about.
Arnaud I sent a Thierry a DropBox link of your CQ from the summit - so check it out. Am I mean with my reports - I guess so 8) - listen and judge…
Thanks to Don G0RQL who created a ‘spike’ on the display which led me to you!
Best wishes
Mike
Hi Gerald,
GPS says 1340m of vert for the day but I am not sure how accurate it was given that there were not always enough satellites in that area to be precise. Hike length was about 13km. The tough part for me was how technical the top section was. It was basically rock-climbing without any protection. I’d rather level V rock climbing protected with the proper equipment than level III+ climbing unprotected. I thought some sections were a bit silly tbh.
Hi Mike,
Thierry was a lot more diligent pressing his microphone to send DPRS data than I was so it makes sense. Also the wandering of the data can make sense. In some spots my GPS was complaining about not enough satellites available. Once you push deep into the valley the coverage becomes so-so. As for me I was more focused on trying to not fall off that mountain face than pressing the Microphone to send data to APRS. This is my first and last time on that mountain 
The more info the better, keep the reports coming! Thanks.
Hello Everybody…
You confirm my though Thierry… I’ve say to Roger that doing the 2 summit around l’Izoard is not so easy and you confirm it !!! And that there is one month hiii !!! Returning from Cucumelle and Roche-Gauthier I want to take a look a these summits !!!
So I’ve missed you again… Sorry to know that you don’t return there !!! So no complete hoping for me hiii !!! Wait your report…
Good luck !
73’s Tof
Hello 8)
“As for me I was more focused on trying to not fall off that mountain face than pressing the Microphone to send data to APRS.”
Very good idea!
Let me know what you think of the sound clip via PM or here.
Night night
Mike
Hi Tof,
unfortunately we were able to only work 1 French station today (F2YT). The skip on 20m is not friendly to nearby stations. We missed the VKs sadly. We did not stay long and packed early given the long and tricky hike down. I have also been surprised, both summit around Izoard have been tough for various reasons. I knew Rochebrune was going to be tough but not that tough…
Hi Mike,
feel free to send it either way. Thanks.
73,
Arnaud
3 small gopro vids showing what the top looked like.
I recommend you switch the vid settings to HD.
On the first vid you’ll notice the laughable ‘path’ going up the side of the cliff… And it gets worse…
73,
Arnaud
Very impressive mountains.
Well done. Congratulation!
73 de Guru - EA2IF
Thanks Guru.
Ok, now QSO vid this time around but a few pictures:
Sayonara Rochebrune!
73,
Arnaud
Bravo Arnaud et Thierry.
Vous êtes des maîtres … You are kings !
Cela me donne des envies … Hi !
73 QRO
SOTA Fever
Roger
Hi Roger,
Not kings, lol. To be honest I think if I had known it was that tricky I may not have gone, or I would have gone with a rope. Oh well, this is what experience is about. Lesson learnt.
See you next summer if you’re in the Briancon area.
73,
Arnaud
Hello Arnaud,
Amazing shots and scarey stuff, at least to me
The views are amazing and so nice and clear. I dread to think what the summit will be like in awhile.
Have a trouble free journey back to JA and thank you and Thierry for the activations.
When someone next says “solar” I will not think ‘hmmm’
Mike
Amazing pictures, Arnaud.
I think you took a bit too much risk climbing those rock walls without safety stuff. I wouldn’t have done it.
My admiration for being so brave!
Regarding the solar pannel you use to power your rig, I like it very much and I wonder how much does it cost, where do you think it’s best place to purchase one.
Also, I’d ask you to take and share with us a picture of this pannel when it’s fully rolled and packed for transport. How much does it weight?
Thank you.
Best 73 de Guru - EA2IF
Hi Mike,
All packed an ready to go! It was scary to me too! While doing the QSOs I was trying to think at the same time how I was going to get down that mountain without a rope. I felt a huge relief once I got down the tricky bit. I went very slowly and carefully. I survived! Not a mountain I would recommend for a family picnic.
Solar is way cool and it works a treat! I was suspicious too at first. Trying is believing.
73,
Arnaud
Hi Guru,
I agree with you it was too much risk and a consequence of my reading vague books and not doing enough planning. Entirely my fault. I think I was more stupid than brave to be honest.
Regarding the solar panels, you are not the only one to like them. I left all my solar gear including the foldable panel to Thierry who loved the set-up very well as well and is going to keep the whole set in France. The panel is not cheap it was around 450 euros if I remember correctly. It was 60w (3.6ah), foldable. The weight is 1.15 Kg. I bought it from Powerfilm Solar. You can easily find their website and their list of retailers. I also had a 6ah Sunsaver charge controller. I had a small 1.2ah battery that I used as a buffer but to be honest I could have operated without it. I then had 3 cables: 1 cable from the solar panel to the charge controller, 1 cable from the charge controller to the battery and 1 cable from the charge controller to the FT-817 to power it.
With the above set-up we could easily power 2 FT-817 at the same time.
For the picture of the panel folded I’ll send you one once I get back to Japan as all my stuff is packed for my trip tomorrow.
73,
Arnaud
Hi Guru,
ok, here’s a picture that will give you a good scale of the panel versus a FT-817 and a cap.
73,
Arnaud
Thank you very much, Arnaud-san, for the information and the picture.
It looks very nice, although I find it too expensive, so I’m afraid I’ll keep using the batteries I’ve been using so far and you can see in the following picture:
By the time you’ll see this post, I guess you’ll be finally back in JA.
I hope you had a good trip and the jet-lag won’t be too bad 
Best 73 de Guru - EA2IF
Hi Guru,
Yes, it is expensive I agree. Given that many people think twice about the efficiency of solar power I understand that they would hesitate to put that kind of money into a set-up. There are smaller panels as well that cost less. I think basically that people are not convinced until they try a set-up or see one in action. I guess if you live in England solar may be less attractive than if you live in Spain or in the south of France.
Batteries are always dependable but heavy. Lighter types of batteries are expensive as well. Nothing’s perfect unfortunately.
Yes, I am now back in Japan and jet-lagged. It is the middle of the afternoon and the family is sleeping .
73,
Arnaud