Tomorrow we will be activating the SOTA summit Monte Summano (I/VE-238), operating on the HF bands (ssb/FT8). nothing exceptional.. sure.
Every activation, however, begins well before the hike. The first part of this report comes to life in what is perhaps the most fascinating phase: preparing the equipment. While checking antennas, charging batteries, and packing our backpacks, our minds are already up there on the summit, surrounded by wind, silence, and radio signals starting to travel through the air.
It is in that moment, filled with anticipation and excitement, that the activation truly begins, for me..
I hope to complete this report tomorrow evening with the same smile as now.
one step at a time..
Yesterday the alarm went off early for a special mission. We arrived at the foot of Monte Summano around 9:00 AM, leaving the car at the last available parking spot, right where the road ends in front of the no-entry signs. From there, backpacks on and boots laced up, we began the hike.
The trail treated us to a refreshing walk of about an hour. Our pace was steady, driven by the desire to reach the summit and set up the station. Once we arrived beneath the imposing cross of Summano, the view rewarded every effort, opening up over the entire Vicenza plain.
Operating on Frequency
There were two of us, ready to make the airwaves sing: myself (IZ3LEY) and Umberto (IZ3ZQT). We set up the antennas quickly, but the challenge wasn’t just physical: once we turned on the radios, we were faced with very annoying interference that made listening quite difficult.
I scanned several bands, looking for a clean portion of the spectrum, but it seemed hopeless… until I finally found a free “gap” finally.
Results and the Thrill of the QSO
Despite the QRM and difficult conditions, I managed to log about ten QSOs. But the real highlight of the day was an incredible coincidence: among the various operators, We made same Summit-to-Summit (S2S) QSO! That’s the beauty of radio: standing on top of a mountain and connecting with the world through a wire and a bit of luck.
Final Thoughts
The final balance of the day? A fantastic experience. Activating Monte Summano was truly rewarding and, despite the technical difficulties, the spirit of amateur radio prevailed once again.
Thanks for the great report. Glad you got through the QRM and made the activation. Looks like a nice peak and a nice day. It’s fishing with a wire in the air a see what you can catch.
