On my former SOTA activations I went alone or with my (very) patient wife.
Yesterday, at the 14th of August, I was guiding a small hiking group on a round trip using marked as well as unmarked trails through the mountains near Windischgarsten. Our first rest was made on top of the Seespitz (OE/OO-242), there I wanted to make a SOTA activation.
As I was the guide of the group, I was short on time. The activation started unexpected hard (only 2 QSOs on 2m and no respond to my CQs), so I decided to assemble my HF gear and try my luck on 40m in CW. I couldn’t believe it, there was a real pile up growing. But in the meantime the others were regained and wanted to leave. We had five hours of pure walking time in front of us.
So I had to shutdown and pack my gear after the 15th QSO. I wish, I had more time, because I heard still some calls after the last QSO.
I am sorry, that I couldn’t serve all the HAMs, who called me. For my next SOTA activation, I plan to go my own way alone as usual.
73 de Andy, OE5DIN