Three days before my SOTA holiday in Graubünden (HB/GR) I read this topic from Roberto, IW2OBX. Why not using a vertical EFHW for 20 m by myself? Checking my stock I’ve found all the necessary things, a 10 m telescopic travel pole, guy ropes, light tent pegs, a transformer, wire and a wire cutter 
. The antenna was completed and tested in the backyard.
In HB/GR I was wandering about the right summit to collect experience setting up this antenna. I decided to use Roccabella, a well known summit to me (seven times on this summit before). The summit is large and the ground good to use tent pegs. During the week with fine wx only a few visitors a day. And, I had a joint activation with Roberto and Zac on this summit in 2019!
My plan was to stay as long as possible on the summit and make more contacts. The descend should start not later than half past 6 pm. So I could reach the more flat part of the way by sunset, also with my slow speed. But I was not 100 % sure about this because of a lack of training and the increased weight of my backpack. And the weight was increased because I was not 100 % sure (and the 10 m pole.) I nice circle. I packed some things for an emergency bivouac.
Looking back after 20 % of the way
Looking back, the valley to septimerpass (left), a pass used also by the old romans
10 m pole, a nice view
my shack on the summit
The activation was a success: 51 contacts on 20 m in a range from 100 km up to 2000 km, the most amazing loud and 13 contacts on 40 m, all in 2 ½ hours operation time.
For 40 m I used the vertical wire as a ground plane. I replaced the transformer by a direct connection and added two 20 m wires on the ground.
a large shadow after beginning the descent
The descend was a struggle. After a fight I reached the flat part after sunset but by good light. But on the last 500 m descend on a good country lane some snails overtook me (so far as I remember).
73, Ludwig
