Scott N4AAJ has been doing extremely well on his Appalachian Trail (AT) Thru hike. Looking quickly at the SOTA Database, to date, Scott has activated 17 Summits along the AT for 115 points! This includes 21 DX contacts, 18 S2S, and 168 SOTA QSO’s!! Seems that Scott’s activation radio setup including the antenna is working quite well! I was able to make contact with Scott on 10 of the summits including 3 S2S. I enjoyed meeting Scott while we jointly hiked and activated Mt Cube, New Hampshire W1/HA-089 on July 11th. The 7 mile RT with 2100 ft EG hike allowed me to experience how the current trails in the New Hampshire mountains are in such poor condition. Since starting from Mt Katahdin, Maine on June 1st, Scott has hiked in unusually rainy WX in Maine and New Hampshire which has caused rushing high-water crossings and lots of water and mud on the trails. Scott is now taking a well-deserved break from the trail which is a wise decision since over the past few days the flooding and washouts have been getting even worse after downpours of several inches of rain in just an hour of time. Hopefully, when Scott returns, the trail conditions will be better. Bob AC1Z
Scott is back on trail! He will be on Killington Peak (mile 495.5) tomorrow afternoon (Wed) and has plans to activate it. He’s excited to be back and hopes to get in some great activations as he finishes Vermont and heads into Massachusetts.
73, Betsy N4AJJ
Another great activation today at Peru Peak. He will be activating Bromley Mountain (W1/GM-080) bright and early tomorrow since he sleeping there on the peak tonight. Thanks for all the contacts today!
73, Betsy N4AJJ

FB!, Mr. MAN! I tried to work you but I could not hear you.
73,
Andy, N4LAG
Thanks for the S2S on Killington! Oh, so nice to see you’re meeting some of the locals.
Scott ran into this Black Bear on his way up Killington. I believe he also saw a Sow and 2 Cubs on Holt’s Ledge.
More successful activations today (even in the rain) on Glastenbury Mountain and Little Pond Mountain! Some interesting set ups with the rain and terrain but he enjoyed contacts with lots of the usual suspects!
He will be in Bennington, VT later today and will take a zero day tomorrow. On Wednesday he will activate Pt. 3025 then will be entering Massachusetts and Mt Greylock will be a day after that!
73, Betsy N4AJJ
Scott N4AAJ has completed close to 660 miles of the trail. What follows is a long chain of one pointers stretched over the next 500 miles, until he reaches Harpers Ferry, during which he will be at the halfway point; and then the big mountains come again, once he enters the Virgina Mountains in the Shenandoah National Park. Thank you Betsy N4AJJ for all the updates to this point. Below is a screenshot of the portion of the AT he has covered down to Mt. Greylock in Massachusetts in the Berkshires.
Ariel NY4G
Last Thursday (8/10) I had another successful activation with Scott. This time on the summit of Mount Greylock.
It has been an absolute pleasure joining Scott on a couple of activation’s as he made his way through the Northeast. I hope to do it again as he makes his way south but the logistics are getting a little more complicated.
Good luck OM.
Ariel, Betsy thank you so much for keeping us up to date on Scott’s progress. I look forward to reading more details in future posts.
Shelter from the storm. Yes, just as we set up it started to rain. Will it ever end?
In addition to activating Mount Greylock we also had a chance to visit the summit War Memorial.
73, Fred WX1S
Scott, N4AAJ, is a hiker/SOTA hero! I hope he’ll write a book about this adventure.
73,
Andy, N4LAG
Scott has made it to Connecticut! There are fewer summits in the area and many are just one point so he’s trying to make up some miles and won’t be as active in the coming weeks. He is at mile 724 currently and has had a couple of 20+ miles days under his belt! Hopefully more to come on the move to the big hills in Virginia! He will be entering New York tomorrow and may activate Ten Mile Hill on the way. Thanks for continuing to chase and I will continue with updates!
73, Betsy N4AJJ
Great stop in NY! Scott got to meet up with KD2YDN, Chris, for help with a resupply and a good visit. Chris has a YouTube channel so check it out if you haven’t already. “Ruck and Radio” Scott appreciates all the SOTA community’s help along the way! He’s had a blast meeting up with the SOTA folks and is looking forward to more meet ups!
All,
I have decided to section hike the remainder of the Appalachian Trail and focus more on the SOTA aspect. I was entering a stretch with few SOTA opportunities and realized that I enjoy the SOTA aspect more than the actual thru hike. At mile 782 SOBO I decided to go home and change how I use the remainder of my time off work.
In the coming weeks I plan to do an AT SOTA specific VA trip followed by another in TN. Betsy and I are looking forward to a trip of NC SOTA soon as well ![]()
Thank you for all the chases and support. I get super excited every time I hear a familiar call during an activation.
Hoping to be back on summit soon.
73 es CUL de N4AAJ
Hi Scott, thanks for the update. I’ll look for you as you make your way through VA. Thanks for all the QSO’s.
73, Fred WX1S
Glad you made it home safe, and looking forward to activating together again soon! Thanks for the chase opportunities in W1, and looking forward to future SOTA fun!
Michael, N4DCW
Does that mean you are coming to GM? The Appalachian mountain range actually extends (in geological terms) across the North Atlantic. You would be made most welcome and we could explain the difference between “Whisky” and “Whiskey” ![]()













