Labor Day weekend (Friday - Tuesday) I’ll be in the remote Sierra Nevada trying to activate a bunch of peaks. I’m 111 points from Goat status, and I’m doubtful I’ll achieve it on this trip, but you never know.
On the list of potentials include a dozen never-activated SOTA summits. I’m hoping to bag somewhere between 7 and 12 of them over 5 days. Much of the trip will be off-trail, and in very remote areas. I am carrying a small VHF/UHF handheld for 2m simplex (central valley, anyone?) and a 5W SSB/CW transceiver. My CW skills are slowly improving, but I typically still operate SSB - generally on 20m and 40m. I will be spotting via deLorme inReach - watch for generic W6/??-??? spots and look for me on a frequency +/-10kHz to avoid QRM. Those spots allow me to use preset messages on the inReach rather than paying 50 cents/spot
Here’s the map of my planned adventure. I may add some of the other peaks near my route if I’m moving fast enough. https://caltopo.com/m/PMG5
Nice, ambitious, backcountry trip Adam, you’ll have a blast! Will keep an ear/eye out for your call. If any specific times/freqs you may be working that you are aware of now, please post. Have fun / be safe.
73
Mark / K6MTS
I don’t have specific times, but activations will range from Friday afternoon through Tuesday morning. I typically operate on 14.326 and 7.185 +/- slightly to avoid QRM. I will likely also try 146.52 FM for the central valley folks.
My trip went well, but I still decided to hike out after just 2 nights. I activated 5 of the summits - 1 on the first day, 3 on the second, and 1 on the third. The remote peaks off to the West would have been a big commitment and I was having trouble spotting with my inReach which was making my activations take longer than usual. To be successful out on those remote peaks quickly, I needed to be able to spot. I decided to “just” do 5 and hike out.
The terrain was rugged with almost 14k feet of gain and loss over 3 days, much of it off trail and on talus and scree. I carried my full pack (26lbs with 3l water) the whole way, which made things more difficult and slowed my pace a bit, but made the trip possible which otherwise would not have been.
In the end, I activated 5 SOTA summits for the first time and had a blast. I refueled in Bishop and will be heading up to the White Mountains for a series of activations tomorrow. Thanks to all who chased me.
It’s a rainy day here on the Scottish Borders and looking at your photos of the Sierras near Bishop made me quite home sick!
Thanks for posting them and have fun in the Whites. I found an area that is legal to camp in deep within the Bristlecone Pine Park and ping me if you want details.
