Activation report: A rare SOTA gem

Just wrapped up a trip to Europe where I had the chance to activate a few summits. I wrote up a report from one of the highlights. It was a joint activation with OE9HRV, OE9AMJ and OE9CSH. They took me on a great hike (loop of 10+ miles / 4832 ft elevation gain) to activate a rare SOTA gem.

Here the report: A rare SOTA gem | SOTA outings by KØMOS and contributors

73, Matt/KØMOS

In reply to K0MOS:
Thanks Matt for the great movie and really gutsy sound track with ear phones on i felt like i was in a theatre . Great activations everyone.
de Ian vk5cz …

In reply to K0MOS:
Hello Matt.
Your Activation report is brilliant!
While watching the video, one gets the impression to be activating with you.
Among other things this is due to the good quality of Sound and Photos.
Thank you for the S2S!
Best 73 de Fred, DL9MDI

Matt,

You picked a fabulous day for this roundtrip and I recall many good memories from 22 July 2013 when I was activating HB0. Naafkopf was my unique summit #100 :slight_smile: Next time I have to include HB0/LI-010; don’t know how I could miss Nospitz during my planing phase …

73 de Dominik, HB9CZF

An interesting report, and what fantastic weather for the hike! 73, Rick M0LEP

In reply to K0MOS:

Congrats on the great movie, Matt. The best SOTA movie I have ever seen.

Good luck with your future activations!

73,
Walt (G3NYY)

Best thing on telly all week!

Thanks for the video, very enjoyable viewing. I particularly enjoyed the double bass solo section of the background music.

Did all four of you activate all three possible references on the second summit? Was it difficult to know exactly where the borders were, and how easy was it for you to rotate operating positions, taking down equipment and setting up again etc on a border summit with three references like this?

Tom M1EYP

In reply to M1EYP:
Tom, thanks for your kind words. To answer your question:

  1. Yes, all four of us activate all three references
  2. It is very easy on this summit. They even built a wall along the border with labels. You don’t even need a map/compass on this one to determine where you are.
    See pictures: Naafkopf -44 | SOTA outings by KØMOS and contributors and Naafkopf -47 | SOTA outings by KØMOS and contributors
  3. Activating summits with more than one reference is governed by the General rule 3.7.1 clause 13. Fort short, only the operator has to be in the appropriate association. Therefore the equipment stays put (at least the antenna) and only the operator moves around (put the radio in the center and you only have to rotate the radio a few degrees when moving into another association).

Hope that answered all your questions?

73, Matt/KØMOS

In reply to VK5CZ:
Thanks Ian, hope your ear-drums are still intact :slight_smile:

Matt/KØMOS

In reply to DL9MDI:
Thanks Fred, it was quite a surprise to hear you from another summit - what a coincidence.

73, Matt/KØMOS

In reply to HB9CZF:
Thanks Dominik, it was indeed a perfect day - weather was exceptionally nice for this time of the year, we really enjoyed it.

73, Matt/KØMOS

In reply to M0LEP:
Thanks Rick, we were really lucky with the wether.

73, Matt/KØMOS

In reply to G3NYY:
My goodness, thanks for the flowers Walt.

73, Matt/KØMOS

OK, just looked on the Database and it looks like you guys did move around operating positions to activate each of this summit’s three references.

However, I am confused by claims of S2S QSOs between two of the team on Naafkopf. You might have been activating different references to each other but you were still on the same summit in the same activation zone, and so these QSOs are not valid either for activator or chaser/S2S entries.

Tom M1EYP

In reply to K0MOS:
Great movie Matt. Made me want to get on a plane and go there tomorrow! Although I suspect the first winter snow will now have arrived.

73
Gerald
MW0WML

In reply to MW0WML:

Although I suspect the first winter snow will now have
arrived.

You’re not wrong there!
http://www.markvoganweather.com/2013/10/11/record-snowfall-alps/

In reply to G4ISJ:
Blimey! That is a lot for October. Soon be time for the snowshoes!

73
Gerald
MW0WML

I’ve just taken another look and I see that these “S2S” contacts are claimed by two of the activators in this expedition. The logs appear in the activator logs, and are also claimed in the Summit-to-Summit award table.

As you correctly state Matt, provided the position of the operator is within the jurisdiction of the appropriate association, then the activator may do multiple activations on a border summit such as this. However, the definition of the activation zone does not alter and become within national borders. And QSOs with others within the same activation zone are not valid for SOTA chaser, activator or S2S awards.

A nice idea to quickly rack up 70 points in the S2S award, but not really in the spirit of the programme!

This may however force us to look again at the issue of border summits!

Tom M1EYP

In reply to MW0WML:

I’ve seen recent reports of significant snow in the Cairngorms, too. Time to sharpen ice axes and crampons!

73

Brian G8ADD

In reply to G8ADD:

Reports of significant snow are greatly exaggerated!

Light dusting (well two or three inches perhaps) and now a South Westerly wind; guess you can leave the tip protectors on for a while!

Perishing cold on Saturday though - two years sabattical have left me a softie!

73

Barry GM4TOE