Mt Whitney W6/SN-001 - 14,500’
8/26/17 @ 130pm
I borrowed a KX2 a few months ago for this trip. Have used it a TON taking it with me and throwing up antennas at the beach, hiking, camping, etc. Great radio. For this trip I did basically no SOTA planning and put my focus into getting to the top and staying safe. I had no idea if and when I would even summit. Luckily I was almost full quiet into my home repeater system in Los Angeles 160mi away on my handheld and got spotted that way. I made 8 contacts on my 40m EFHW strung up to the stone building from 1908 and my bamboo walking pole. Operated prob 10mins max- broke down- clouds kept forming in the west. 6 hrs to go hiking down totaling 20mi on foot for the day. Altitude was a problem climbing but not descending. I am very fond of mono band antennas tuned flat right where you are operating. This setup was not ideal as there was no way to get 66’ of wire pointed NE without falling a couple thousand feet first. If I go again I would love to get the word out and operate longer but once you experience getting to Whitney you understand why radio takes a back seat. I did get a summit to summit w CO! Thanks all who responded to the spot.
Trip log:
http://www.cliffordnovey.com/?p=7638
73
Clifford
KK6QMS