At today’s YU SOTA weekend eventthe following question arose. I am sitting exactly on the summit. I want to descend 20 meters and then ascend 10 meters again. is this a valid activating position? I have money riding on the answer 73 2 clarify from the summit I would down 20 meters is subtle into a saddle and then continue up the other side to another little Hill 10 meters higher yeah that is the question.
As defined in the General Rules 3.5, the activation zone is the area within a closed contour 25m below the summit, so if you descend 20m and reascend to a minor summit 10m higher than your lowest point, you have remained within the Activation Zone and your new location is valid for SOTA. If you had descended 26m and then reascended 10m the new location would not be valid for SOTA. If there are any hollows (such as a sink hole) within the AZ that at the bottom are more that 25m below the summit then below 25+m down from the summit would not be valid for SOTA although being a location within the AZ contour.
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Thank you Brian!
Paul just won 100 Swiss Franks 
73 from Serbia
Mario DJ2MX
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Paul owes Brian a 10% gebühr. That’ll be 10 SF, cash, check or M.O. Danke.
Elliott, K6EL, Brian’s agent
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I’ll accept a beer next time I am in the area! 
Use this to determine activation zones