My last SOTA outing was also for Maple Mountain and I only got 2 QSOs. Mainly because I forgot a coax adapter so was just using VHF and was a bit unlucky. I really wanted to get at least 4 this outing so made sure I had everything properly packed.
I recently bought a bike, partly because I thought it would be great for reaching nearby summits. Climbing uphill was a challenge, but I alternated between walking and biking, reaching the top in under an hour. Compared to my earlier 80-minute hike, I saved around 20-25 minutes. Figure if I keep it up my time will only get better.
For this trip, I tested a new antenna setup: a 17-foot whip from AliExpress with a ground spike and two radials. After experimenting at home and achieving a low SWR, it registered 1.5-2 on the mountain – not ideal, but still acceptable.
I initially tried calling CQ on VHF but had no success. Switching to 20m proved more fruitful. After spotting myself using APRS, I completed 15 QSOs in about 30 minutes. I encountered an apologetic operator who began calling CQ over me, but I managed to log him as well. He was very close just over in Anacortes, WA. Additionally, I logged a QSO with VA4ADM during his POTA activation, marking his first SOTA hunt.
Biking uphill meant a quicker descent, granting me more time to experiment with FT8. I’ve been using the FT8CN Android app at home and highly recommend it for anyone into FT8 that has an Android phone. After spotting myself via APRS, I began calling CQ on 20m FT8 and logged 12 QSOs within 25 minutes, including contacts from Brazil and Argentina.
It was getting quite windy at the summit, so it was time to descend. The downhill bike ride was both thrilling and nerve-wracking, but I reached the bottom safely.
Overall, this activation was successful. The bike will be a great addition for some summits, and the FT8CN app will be a mainstay in my future activations.
it was teetering on the edge of too fast for me! I think I might try Prevost or Sicker next with the bike.