History:
Over the last years I thought about working from summits in CW and not only in SSB. In the past, 23 years ago, I used CW on short wave for some weeks and later some times on VHF and UHF during contests. I was not sure to handle Morse code yet good enough from summits.
During the last years occasionally I was searching for a small and really summit suitable single (!) paddle (!) key for not so much money, found nothing. When I decided to use a bit more coins for a good quality and buy a palm key I found the production closed. Now, with some luck some weeks ago, I’ve got a Palm Pico Single. Working with the key (in local mode) was very joyful. This was the boost. It was itching me (right wording?) to use the key from a summit.
Activations:
Last Tuesday the forecast for Wednesday was perfect (a little to perfect with up to 25 °C in March). I packed the station and things for a day hike and especially the Palm Pico Single.
The first summit was Großer Farmdenkopf, DM/TH-012, a convenient place with tables and benches, a good place to concentrate on CW.
6 m wire up and some along the metal fence
After a spot by RBN two strong signals with the same pitch came in. SV3IEG was my first contact and OH5RP came later in the log.
Thanks to the chasers I managed contacts with
20 m CW: SV3IEG, EA7GV, EA5K, SA4BLM and OH5RP
20 m SSB: SV3IEG
40 m SSB: EA2DT, G4WSB, EA2CE and G0FEX
The weather was nice but sometimes with a strong wind, very dangerous for my paper log. After 40 minutes I packed up.
The next summit was Quittelsberg, DM/TH-844, a longer hike and much more ascend.
20 m dipole supported by the pole
I was QRV about 14:40 UTC and worked
20 m CW: UR3IRM
40 m CW: SA4BLM, G4WSB, F4WBN, EA2DT, S57D, OE6WIG and UW8SM
20 m SSB: EA2DT and EA1DHB
As a precaution to get enough contacts from this summit in the late afternoon I brought my PA and LiFePo 6.6 Ah on the summit, meaningless. 5 watts were ok. Carrying 2 kg for nothing, it was like a small anvil.
The way down was boring, 3.2 km on a forest road permanent with 11 % slope.
the first 300 m with 18 % slope
Thanks a lot to all the chasers, especially for these with patience when I don’t get the call at the first attempt. Now I’m waiting for the next activation in CW. Hope to work you then.
73 Ludwig
