With the best intentions in the world, I prepared myself for my first activation in five years. I’m sure it can’t have helped prospective chasers that I posted an alert for 12:00UTC, but I had meant 12:00EST (10:00UTC). Also not helpful was the fact that, when I got to the summit, there was no mobile phone coverage, notwithstanding the fact that I had line-of-sight to the whole of the Lenggries valley below me, with numerous mobile masts down there. So, I couldn’t send an SMS via Andy’s excellent service to say I was QRV.
So I got to the top at 10:30UTC, and called on 2m fm, but heard nothing. Then it dawned on me that the timing was wrong, so I waited around until 12:00UTC but again heard nothing. So, my activation of DL/MF-001 was a non-starter - nonetheless my stay at the top was brightened considerably by the fantastic views (did I mention I forgot my camera?), a hill-topping Swallowtail butterfly which made regular appearances, and the amazing sight of four - yes, four - gliders ascending a column of air in tight spirals right above my head. An unforgettable sight.
I can recommend the hill for its’ views, but the unremittingly steep ascent and descent (almost all in the shade, so good for hot days) may not appeal to all. Nevertheless, I had a good day out in great weather. Better luck next time…
Rob
In reply to DM1CM:
Hi Rob,
you need much luck to qualifiy a summit in 2m fm. i tried it now much often, but only one time it is happen that i get 4 qso´s in the log. that was a saturday evening at a weekend. at a weekday you have no chance to get 4 qso´s in 2m fm in the log in dm/bw. or you go on a repeater and ask for direct qso´s. IF ! someone answer to your cq ! but to ask for direct qso is not my way in sota 
2m ssb in dm/bw will work on contest weekends, but then you work no sota chasers and most contests i´m in a contest team myself. so no sota ;-). don´t know why, but what is so wrong on to go on a summit to do VHF and up ?! maybe the activity on the vhf bands is very very low. think in dm/th you have no problems to get the qso´s in the log. better you take a rockmite for 20m and a 1/4 wire with you, then there are no problems
but you have a nice day on a summit in the nature, thats ok ! hope you enjoy it…
vy 73 Klaus DF2GN/p
working two weeks night/lateshift, so no sota. but the last days i finished my qro “fuchskreis” antenna and hope i can test it next week. then i do some test with endfeeded hw wire antennas from 40 to 10m , vertical es horizontal at different heights…hope it works and i get some qso´s in the log !
In reply to DM1CM:
Nice to hear SMP does not consume all of your time so you can also do real activations. Of course this is a perfect chance to record another GPS-track for the SMP, HI.
Also not helpful was the fact that, when I got to the
summit, there was no mobile phone coverage, notwithstanding the fact
that I had line-of-sight to the whole of the Lenggries valley below
me, with numerous mobile masts down there.
This is a common problem on mountaion tops, at least if one wants to do a phone call or use the internet. The cell phone is overwhelmed by the large number of repeaters and often selects one which is too distant.
Due to the downward beam direction of the repeaters in the valleys you have poor coverage at all.
This is one of the reasons I am using APRS Spots as backup.
Then it dawned on me that the timing was wrong, so I waited
around until 12:00UTC but again heard nothing.
You were lucky to be two hours early on the summit. I take into account the UTC/ME(S)Z time shift but despite all my plans I am often late. Normally I fail to stick to my schedule and even the ETA ± 1h notice does not suffice.
did I mention I forgot my camera?
On rare occasions I deliberately did not take the camera with me as I expected nothing worth taking a photo. Of course I was often wrong in this cases.
So do not get discouraged by this small adversities.
@DF2GN
Normally in OE/OO, OE/SB, DL/MF you have a good chance to do a 2m FM activation and get at least 4 QSOs into the log. In DM/TH and DM/BM 2m FM&SSB is often a complete fail. I even struggled to manage a single QSO on 2m FM on DM/TH-012 with fine propagation to north direction. Finally I got into a local QSO in Arnstadt.
I often regret to take HF gear on a summit perfectly suited VHF/UHF. But without chasers listening even the best location is of no use.
73 de Michael, DB7MM
In reply to DF2GN:
Yes, Klaus, I thought I might be unlucky with the QSOs, but I needed a walk, so I took my VX7R just in case. It’s all I have at the moment, no chance of HF from the tops, unless I haul an 897 up there, which I’m not going to do.
I was remembering some earlier activations in 2009 in the Berchtesgadener range when I had my previous callsign DK1ROB. I had no problems there with 2m FM activations, but they WERE conducted during weekends and I was using an Arrow 2m/70cm handheld yagi. That’s the big difference, I suppose. I thought with a clear view right out to Munich (no yagi this time), then it might have worked on Tuesday. But nobody seemd to be on the air - I kept having to check with various repeaters (z.B. Zugspitz 2m) that i was actually getting a signal out.
No problem, it was good to stretch the legs - and the views were good. Viel Glück/Spaß mit dem Fuchskreisantenne…
rgds, Rob
In reply to DB7MM:
Michael, just between you and me (of course, nobody else will read this…), I’ve been getting really fed up with working on the SMP since it has certainly consumed most of my free time for far too long.
After a long illness, I’ve recently been getting back in shape, so this last hike, and another one last week up the Keilkopf DL/MF-096, have given me a good indication that my level of fitness is now nearly back to what it used to be.
I’ve taken your advice and drawn a track in the SMP (I have no GPS) using the tools so thoughtfully provided by the author ;-).
On the subject of mobile phone coverage, I had thought of the low-angle propagation from the repeaters, but I must admit I hadn’t considered the phone being overloaded with signals. So, yes, APRS would be a better option.
You were lucky to be two hours early on the summit. <
I was actually 1/2 hour late, but that’s no big deal. And I was really lucky with the weather, which was sunny and with a slight fresh breeze, so staying on the summit was delightful, watching ravens (and the gliders) circling around.
Servus, Rob
In reply to DM1CM:
Hi Rob,
you should think positive: The subject shouldn’t read “Non-Activation DL/MF-001” but “I spent a great afternoon on a superb summit” 
That is one of the nice sides of DL summits, you have to spend a little bit more efforts to reach a summit, but then you will be rewarded with a great view.
The Geigerstein was one of my favourite summits, before I joined SOTA. Back then it was not seldom that I hiked up this summit a dozen times in a year. But then came SOTA and now I’m limited to only one ascent per year 
I guess, in comparison with your recent activations in Berchtesgaden, e.g. Hoher Göll, the Geigerstein was for you only a nice little afternoon walk.
The mobile phone coverage on our summits is far from being complete, it happens to me quite often that I’ve no mobile signal on a summit. I guess the problem is mainly the downward beam direction of the repeaters which focus mainly on the narrow valleys here in this part of bavaria.
I hope you’ll keep on activating and you’ll give me a chance for a summit to summit soon.
Servus Stephan, DM1LE
2m ssb in dm/bw will work on contest weekends, but then you work no sota chasers and most contests i´m in a contest team myself. so no sota ;-). don´t know why, but what is so wrong on to go on a summit to do VHF and up ?! 
