Even if it’s just a hobby and no one is actively waiting for you, the simple fact that you publicly said you would do something, its putting a little pressure / concern in your head. If people are fine with it, they put alerts. If they are not, they don’t. They cannot be blamed for this because it’s perfectly understandable. Imho.
I hope you don’t give up sota for this and enjoy it as it comes, as randomly or planned as it can be. 
The electronic documentation Denis does is a good thing. He does it for himself or may be in addition to discuss the outings with friends.
If you make it mandatory, it turns to a very different thing. It becomes destructive. The fun is spoiled aud it contradicts the spirit of sota, as I understand it.
Lets breathe free air on the hills and mountains, 73 Johannes
If you don´t have any problem with that, PERFECT! But for me is a problem.
Are you underestimating me? You and I are different people so I can´t accept that you consider me a closed mind or something like this! Please be careful in this point or explain it because I consider it offensive.
I’ve been doing this recently and had a few listeners wish me well afterwards. It is nice to hear. I’ve also found it useful when I’ve called QRT and listeners then inform others I’ve already gone if they start calling.
I did never write anything about your person.
I wrote about social hobbies and open mindedness in general. Its not necessary to make an offense out of this.
73, Johannes
Yes, during the 2023 I was very close to give up. The reason was that in my 7 years and 11 months I noticed how during the last 2 years the manners of many activators and chasers have declined. Luckily came the 10 meters challenge that for me saved the 2024. This is one of many reason that I would like some rules were more strict.
Thank you for the respect and wishes. Have a good rest of your Sunday.
73 de JP3PPL
I have had chasers follow my timings such that I have received a call on my mobile when I have been late on a summit. It was kind of them to be concerned. This, of course, only happens when the chasers are local - I was activating on 2m at the time.
Andy,
While the principal is sound, one has to question whether going to this much trouble to confirm an activation (or a chase) allows SOTA to remain “fun”. SOTA exists because of the Honor System. If one is going to falsify activations and chases, why bother? I believe 99% of activators and chasers are legitimately participating in the sense in which SOTA was created. As soon as this is no longer the case, I’ll likely quit and take up knitting.
72 and Merry Christmas.
*ETA: I’ll frequently wait until I’m on the trail to Alert. Property access is a significant issue in my region, so I wait until I’m reasonably confident I’ll make the AZ before notifying.
I’m fairly sure it’s a bigger figure than 99% who are legitimately participating.
When someone is not in my log, who “chased me”, I write them an email. Each time I have less phantom chasers.
I’ve experienced this before, and it was a bit frustrating to find another operator on a small summit when I was very short on time. I always ensure to check scheduled activations because I don’t want to interfere with someone else’s plans.
It’s happened to me a few times too, i.e. I alerted, the other bloke didn’t. But I try to be phlegmatic about it – it’s a rare event for me and – although I always alert before I leave home (and usually the previous day) - I support the notion that walkers/hikers should have the freedom to activate a particular summit whilst already out on the hills for the reasons some of you have expressed above. I certainly don’t want to claim it’s “my summit” for the duration.
The main problem is when both of you want to work the same bands as – I found - the breakthrough from his tx can be annoying and make it difficult to hear the weak chasers. On the last occasion he arrived after me and came over to chat and we agreed he would work 2m first and I on HF first. It kind of worked.
@G8CPZ Certainly, couldn’t agree more. For a brief period I stopped bringing an HT with me, but after encountering this I always do. Getting better HF equipment less susceptible to overload helped as well.
When I said it was a bit frustrating, it was more in the sense of a drop of sweat getting in your eye during a walk. Not frustrating like wrecking your car. Outside of catastrophic injury, there are no bad days on the trail/summit for me.
This has been discussed several times and, honestly, I see no reason why an alert shouldn’t be set, as it could dissuade a potential second operator who originally planned to activate the same summit. It could also be the only lead for a rescue team. If I don’t go, I just remove the alert and that’s it. Some additional info like “tentative, time ±, bands/modes to be established” might be good to add.