As suggested by Martin, OE3KME: Would it be possible to establish a Green Goat award (as annual award, may be)?
Goal should be to reach the summit by means of public transport or just with muscle power - at least with carpool. Award should be compatible with sota rules - no question (I’m long enough in this business now) - but additionally an exception to the “only once a year - rule” would make sense in this case, I think. I understand that sota is about gaining points, but I suspiciously watch activators driving 100s of km to reach 10 point OK / DM summits while using the term “drive by summit” which is all completely contradicting sota spirit - in my modest opinion. It would be so nice to have some motivation (award) to keep sota responsible and sustainable. What do you think?
A very laudable idea, however, the database has no facility to track the modes of access so I’m at a loss how to confirm the accuracy of any claim. Where I am on vacation (CT3) it is very feasible to activate most Summits using public transport and leg power!
Probably the only real way is to set-up an alternative means of keeping track as suggested by Andy @GM4LLD
SOTA caters for all levels of ability, with everything from summits accessed by rock climbing to drive on summits. Easy access summits mean that decrepit old mountaineers like myself can still occasionally add a point or two to their score! That, too, is part of the SOTA spirit, to not entirely abandon the mountains when physical ability diminishes, bearing in mind the aging ham population.
SOTA operates on trust: Barry checks that the database confirms the score before issuing certificates and MG Awards, he does not verify that the claims are for genuine activations. I would suggest that certificates and trophies could be requested to be inscribed as “green” when claimed, and SOTA takes on trust that they were genuinely “green”.
I think you mean Drive Up summits. I did once feel very uneasy about such activations.
But there are many peaks in VK that are only accessible by 4WD and summiting is not trivial.
Drive Up summit activations have their place and there are of course requirements to prevent operating from the vehicle.
The kicker in my change of heart is the result of the ravages of age that have diminished my mobility so that drive up peaks are my last fling at SOTA.
We don’t have any public transport in country South Australia where the summits are so be sitting at a disused station till eternity waiting for a train or bus. Of the 50 odd summits I get access to thinks its only 5 or 6 that have some sort of 4x4 track to the top. So like Ron who took me to some vk3 summits last year I will be still burning the liquid gold too.
Thank you for your comments! I do not want to abandon the black oily goats, sometimes I behave in this category myself… I know, it will be difficult to spread this idea around the world, but that’s why I am asking, 73 Martin
That, too, is part of the SOTA spirit, to not entirely abandon the mountains when physical ability diminishes, bearing in mind the aging ham population.