Dear all
HB15SOTA was in the Gotthard region today for you where the main north-south and east-west transalpine axes of Switzerland cross. Winter is said to come back to the mountains on the weekend, with some sunny corners maybe here or there on this Saturday. Paring this with your needs for the HB15SOTA diplome let me opt for a summit nearby the Oberalp pass road.
Mt. Calmut, HB/GR-292, is an easy drive-in summit in the winter period since there is a chairlift from Oberalp col to the activation zone. But you have to get there first, and I was on public transportation today. There are good train connections from Lucerne via Göschenen and Andermatt, and the bottom station of the chair lift is just a stone’s throw away from the train station. The pass road is closed during winter what brings a good sort of peace to the place.
Be aware that this chairlift service is open to skiers and snowboarders only. Pedestrians are transported on the “Oberalp Flyer” only upon prior settling with the company (www.skiarena.ch, a “Touren-Ticket” covering both ways is needed and can be paid at the bottom station of the lift in cash only). They are aware of SOTA now, and the staff was very friendly and helpful. So be a skier, and you won’t have any problems – beside your SOTA rucksack, hi.
The promised sunshine window was reality, and I had blue sky and bright sunshine at the summit. But the very strong breeze was also very real, with sharp snow dust flying around.
Operating was a pain somehow. I had to anticipate the next dust cloud and turn up the tablet timely to the body to keep it dry, but the snow dust was everywhere soon. Additionally, the tablet didn’t like the radio frequency on 60 m, trying to exit VK port-a-log and switch between several popups and software displays. Together with good band conditions and poor visibility with my sun glasses this kept the operator agile, hi, and I had 83 contacts in the log finally. Not a single boring minute! The antenna mast was not broken but I managed to break one of my hiking poles . . .
I had some audience from time to time due to the close chairlift. Two radio amateurs were among them: Benoît, HB9EUE, and Thomas, HB3YSI, both taking a day off, following the present Covid regulations.
Hoping here that this activation could reduce some needs for the HB/GR canton for the HB15SOTA award – some further cantons will follow until May! I’m remembering a fantastic winter world and some operating pains disappearing soon after leaving the summit of Mt. Calmut. Only the cold toes of the operator needed some additional attention.
Vy 73 de Markus, HB9DIZ