SOTA Trip to Tenerife:
From IN3JIB.
https://sotl.as/activators/IN3JIB
Between October 30, 2023, and November 8, 2023, I traveled to Tenerife for nine days to enjoy the local culture, landscapes, and the last warm days of the year. How did I end up in Tenerife? I wanted to visit a place with warm weather, distinct from the Alps in terms of landscape, and where I could activate many SOTA summits. During my search for a suitable destination on https://sotl.as/, I stumbled upon Tenerife. With its 19 SOTA summits, including several volcanoes, and of course, Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spanish territory, I knew, “That’s where I want to go!”
Three weeks before the planned date, I booked my flight. Planning was completed, and I loaded the GPX files onto MAPY.CZ for Android. However, there were still some unclear points, especially regarding permissions for Mount Teide. Ascending Mount Teide during the daytime seemed impossible since all slots were booked three months in advance. But then I came across EA8AMT, Raúl, a local resident and one of the two people (Alex - @EA8DKV ) who have activated all SOTA summits in Tenerife.
I exchanged emails with Raúl. He provided details about each summit and explained possible routes, but more on that later. At this point, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to RAÚL - EA8AMT. He was in contact with me via 2m-band radio and email throughout my trip, both before and during.
With that, there was nothing stopping the journey, except for flying with radios and batteries. Luckily, a Ryanair chat representative assured me that accumulators up to 100 Wh are not an issue and can be carried in hand luggage. However, it’s essential not to carry too many batteries, as there’s a limit on accumulators per person.
On October 30, it was finally time. With my hiking backpack, suitcase, and radio equipment, I flew to Tenerife. After a roughly five-hour flight, my arrival and car rental transfer, I drove to my hotel in Guaza, checked in, and headed directly to my first SOTA summit.
Day 1 - 30.10.2023
EA8/TF-010 - Roque del Conde
My first summit in Tenerife. I drove to the village of Vento, parked my car, and began my hike. The landscape immediately impressed me. The trail was well-trodden, and after 2.7 km, I had already reached the summit.
EA8/TF-014 - Roque de Jama
The first activation was already behind me, so I proceeded directly to the second summit, Roque de Jama. The path was straightforward and not too strenuous, taking only a short time to complete.
Day 2 - 31.10.2023
EA8/TF-012 – Chinobre
On the second day, I decided to drive to the north by car to conserve energy for the Teide ascent the next day. The car ride was long and characterized by narrow mountain roads. Parking was straightforward by the roadside, and the trail to the summit led through a beautiful green forest.
EA8/TF-011 – Paso
A few minutes further was the Paso summit. Many tourists came here to hike, which became evident when no parking was available nearby. Therefore, I continued until I found a suitable spot to start my hike to the summit. The forest was dense, and it was a bit of a struggle to make my way through, but I eventually reached the summit. Here, I could only set up my shortened EndFed antenna. Despite the suboptimal setup and the antenna not being resonant, I made very good radio contacts.
EA8/TF-008 – Taborno
Afterward, I continued towards Taborno. Access to the summit was not allowed, but some people crossed the barrier and activated the summit directly at the top. I found myself in the activation zone further down. Due to limited space, I set up my shortened antenna again and still made several contacts.
EA8/TF-018 – Güímar
As this day went well despite the rain, I spontaneously decided to climb the Güímar volcano on the way back to the hotel. Ascending the summit was best approached from the rear, and the path was easy and well-trodden.
Day 3 - 01.11.2023
EA8/TF-001 - El Teide
After a restful night, I headed to “Playa del Duque” in the morning to bask in the sun on the beach. Around 12:30, I started my journey to the Teide National Park. En route, I visited the “Pino Gordo.” At the parking lot where the “Sendero de Montana Blanca” begins, I waited for about five minutes until a spot opened up. Then I started my hike. Right from the start, I met an Italian and two Spaniards, and we hiked together. We waited at the Refugio de Altavista until 5:40 PM. None of us had the required permit to pass the checkpoint before 6PM. At the summit, I made many 2m radio contacts. It was too windy and cold for HF. Afterwards we used headlamps to make our way back to the car. It was a fantastic experience.
Day 4 - 02.11.2023
EA8/TF-015 - Roque Chiguel
Roque Chiguel was a very exposed and wild summit. The path I chose was very challenging. I got lost and deviated from the trail. After a long hike and some minor hand abrasions, I finally reached the summit. I cannot recommend this path at all. There are supposedly other routes to the summit that may be more interesting.
EA8/TF-013 - Montaña de la Atalaya
Montaña de la Atalaya was one of the shortest summits on my journey. There were plenty of parking spots just before the summit. After a 10-minute walk, I reached the summit.
EA8/TF-019 – Rojar
Heading toward the sunset, I chose Rojar, located right next to the TF1 highway and perfect for my route back. Many people visited this spot to watch the sunset. There was ample space and setup possibilities for various antennas.
Day 5 - 03.11.2023
EA8/TF-002 – Guajara & EA8/TF-003 - Roque de la Grieta
The next day, I decided to ascend the Guajara and Roque de la Grieta summits. The hike was very long and strenuous, especially in the heat.
EA8/TF-002 – Guajara
The path to the Guajara summit was well-marked, pleasant to walk, and I reached the summit in about an hour. There was ample space and the remains of an old observatory, which could be used as a windbreak or even for overnight stays in case of an emergency.
EA8/TF-003 - Roque de la Grieta
The trail from Guajara to Roque de la Grieta was
good, with several variations that could be taken. However, just before reaching the summit, the path ended. Here, one had to traverse a rocky terrain to reach the summit. It’s important to pay close attention to the map to pinpoint the exact location of the summit, as there were several almost identical-looking peaks, and naturally, I ascended all three.
Day 6 - 04.11.2023
EA8/TF-004 - El Sombrero & EA8/TF-005 - Montaña del Cedro & EA8/TF-006 - Colorados de Chinoia
One of the most demanding days of my trip.
EA8/TF-004 - El Sombrero
The path to El Sombrero from Mount Teide side was very steep! There were many small stones that made it easy to slip. At the top, you had to walk around the summit, and on the backside, it was possible to climb the summit without any issues. It was essential to return the same way as marked on OpenTopoMaps. However, due to my curiosity, I chose the wrong path again.
EA8/TF-005 - Montaña del Cedro
One should definitely ascend “Montaña del Cedro” from the rear. There was a nice path, and it saved you from climbing on uneven ground. Again, there was ample space for antennas.
EA8/TF-006 - Colorados de Chinoia
There were hardly any trails, and you had to fight through the wilderness.
After this challenging tour, I enjoyed the sunset in the national park.
Day 7 - 05.11.2023
EA8/TF-007 - Cruz de Gala
The path to the Cruz de Gala summit led along an asphalted road. Be cautious, as many stray dogs roamed the area. Once at the top, a construction site was visible, likely for a new transmission tower.
After returning to the car, I met @OE5JFE, JOE, who joined me to activate the next two summits.
EA8/TF-009 – Baracán
After a breathtaking drive along the mountain road passing by Masca, you reach the parking lot leading to the Baracán summit. With Joe by my side, we hiked up the trail. We set up Joe’s 2m Slim-J antenna and made several contacts in the 2m band. Subsequently, we made contacts in the 10m, 15m, and 20m bands.
EA8/TF-017 - Montaña de Taco
Continuing, we headed to the Montaña de Taco summit. Joe and I hiked up the road to the barrier, and then we went directly to the left. We followed the path until we reached the summit. We activated the summit in the 2m band and then set up our antennas to make simultaneous QSOs.
After the activations, we found a restaurant in the village of Las Canteras to wind down and enjoy the evening.
Day 8 – 06.11.2023
EA8/TF-016 – Guaza
My last day in Tenerife had arrived. Well-rested, I set out towards the Guaza summit. It was a well-traveled path, and I encountered many athletes and seniors along the way.
After the activation, I headed to the beach to savor the last warm hours of the year. On the ninth day, I had my flight back to Vienna at 11 AM.
THANK YOU!
I would like to express my special gratitude once again to Raúl – EA8AMT, who supported me throughout my entire journey.
Also, thanks to Joe – OE5JFE, who activated two summits with me!
Thanks to all the amateur radio operators from Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and La Gomera for the contacts in the 2m band!
And thank you to all others who contacted me during my activations!
@EA2DT, EA8ASL, @EA5JN, SM5LNE, @EA7GV, @F4WBN, SP6KEP, @EA1DHB, EA8DDW, EA3EVL, EA8FJ, S57S, @CT2IWW, IN3ADF, @OK2PDT, @ND0C,ON7ZM, EA7ANC, EA8DKV, OH1MM, SA4BLM, EA2CKX, IN3NJB, OE7PHI, EA1GKP, EA2BD, EC8ADS, IW3AGO, DJ2MX, EA1AAP, EA8DNV, DL8DXL, EA3HP, EA8BWD, EA8BYC, EA8CZ, EA8DS, KD1CT, M0CQE, OE5JKL, OK1SDE, ON7MD, SV3IEG, 2E0VRX, DL5EBG, EA1FHY, EA2FAU, EA4BQG, EA5TU, EA7TS, EA8/OE1KEB, EA8CZL, EA8DAR, EA8DNZ, EA8IH, EA8VJ, G4AFI, G4OBK, IK1GPG, IX1IHR, OE5EEP, OE6GND, OE9HRV, ON4CB, PY2PLL, S58AL, SM4CJM, SO9P, SQ9MDF, SQ9NOT, 2E0FEH, DJ5AV, DK7ZB, DL7CX, EA2ATL, EA2BO, EA2TW, EA3HAB, EA7JJR, EA8AIJ, EA8AP, EA8ARM, EA8BNZ, EA8CBY, EA8CHF, EA8CWA, EA8DEY, EA8DHY, EA8DIZ, EA8DJT, EA8DLY, EA8OV, EA8YN, EB8AWV, F5JKK, G0VWP, G3RDQ, GW4RFT, IK3SWB, IN3IJJ, IN3PBO, IU3GKJ, IW0HLE, IW2NXI, LW2DO, M1TES, OE5FSM, OH2CGU, S52RA, SV2RUJ, WB6POT, WB8BHN, 2E0IGD, 4Z4DX, 9A2KI, 9A3BJC, AA8WQ, CS7AWH, CS7AWO, CT1HIX, CT2IQK, DF1AI, DF2QZ, DG0JMB, DG1NM, DG1NPM, DJ5RE, DK4RM, DL1DVE, DL1GRC, DL2DXA, DL2RDT, DL4FO, DL6MST, DL8AWJ, DM7KN/P, EA1BUL, EA1DRL, EA1EV, EA1FB, EA1FOV, EA1GIB, EA1IPR, EA2CQ/P, EA2DDG, EA2ETV, EA3BP, EA3GNU/P, EA4FTV, EA4GOK, EA4GVU, EA4HSC, EA4R, EA5EFU, EA5FPL, EA5HOP, EA7BO, EA7HW, EA7KHR, EA8/YV5ATS/P, EA8AA, EA8AE, EA8AHH, EA8AQK, EA8BFH, EA8BFL, EA8CB, EA8CCA, EA8CGY, EA8CIG, EA8CII, EA8CJZ, EA8CZM, EA8DDL, EA8DGC, EA8DGO, EA8DHC, EA8DIF/M, EA8DIO, EA8DIO/P, EA8DKD, EA8DKW, EA8DLH, EA8DMS, EA8DMY, EA8DMZ, EA8DNG, EA8DOF, EA8IS, EA8L, EA8ML, EA8QZ, EA8SR, EA8TU, EA9LS, EB1AC, EB1CIC, EB4FZI, EC5ALJ, F4GBY, F6FTB, F6KRK, F8DAM, G0HRT, G4YBU, GI0AZA, GI0AZB, GI4ONL, GM3JW, GM4JXP/P, GM4ZMK, HB9CGA, HB9EAJ/P, HB9EVF/P, HB9HXJ/P, HB9MKV, I0KHY, IK2IQD, IK2JTS, IK2LEY, IK2LEY/P, IK3AMB, IK3VVA, IK6BAK/P, IN3DOV, IT9SMU, IV3GVY, IW2BNA, IW2OEV, IW3BSO, IZ1GDB, IZ8DFO, K6EL, K8LJG, KC2WLR, KO6BXE, LA5WNA, LU1MAW, LW2O, LX1CC, M0DLL, M0ICR, M1AOB, MM0MMN, MM1EYP/P, N6AF, NE4TN, OE3GGS, OE3KAB, OE5HDN, OE5YYN, OH1CM, OH1RR, OH7TO, OK1CZ, OK1VEI, OK2QA, OM3CND, OM5TX, ON2KMJ, ON4ON, PA5KM, PA7RA, PU1JSV, PY1PDF, PY2QT, PY2VM, S52AU, S57MS/P, SM4BNZ, SM6CNX, SP8DJY, SP8DR, SV2CNE, SV2NCH, SV2OXS, SV2RUJ/P, SV4SWQ, UR0PA, VE9GLF, VE9MY, W4GA, W4GO, YO3DAM/P, ZS6JGW, ZS6MSM, ZS6RDP
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Julian, IN3JIB, OE1JLN
