SOTA NEWS JULY 2016 - Part 2
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VK SOTA News from Allen VK3ARH
We welcomed Winter and two new Mountain Goats to VK this month.
Mitch (David) - VK3XDM/VK7XDM.
Mitch was introduced to Amateur Radio by Rik VK3EQ through their common interest in volunteer search and rescue and ski patrol. He gained a Foundation Licence in late 2012 and started SOTA with his first activation being a joint expedition with Rik in April 2013. David then upgraded to an Advanced Licence in January 2014 in order to access more bands for SOTA activations and has continued to activate high value remote summits, often in company with Rik, during the bonus period. Given the conditions usually present, these activations are of high value, fast and furious so valued by chasers.
He set a personal challenge to achieve 100 Activator unique, 100 bonus and 1,000 Activator points; which was completed on 17 June. Activations have included VK3, VK5 and VK7 and expeditions have included several First Activations including;
VK3/VE-036 Mt Winstanley,VK3/VE-174 Stilman Plateau,VK3/VE-033 Mt Number 3,VK3/VE-157 Mt Samaria,VK3/VE-140 VE-140,VK7/NW-046 Tinkers Lookout,VK7/NW-048 Gentle Annie,VK7/WC-003 Mount Field West,VK7/WC-005 Rodway Range,VK7/NE-024 Strzelecki Peak,VK7/NE-046 Counsels Peak, VK7/NE-057 Mount Killiecrankie and VK7/CH-022 Rats Castle.
Gerard - VK2IO
Gerard has taken 205 activations over 2.5 years in 25 SOTA regions to reach Mountain Goat status. The qualifying contact was from Mt Tarana VK2/CT-008 today with Nick VK2AOH on 40m CW with Steve VK7CW making it through the pile-up. The mid-week SOTA CW pile up itself an event that would not have been thought it possible a few years ago and deserves acknowledgment in itself.
Gerard’s unique style includes the use of CW during extended weekend and night activations. In typical fashion, Gerard qualified for Goat over the weekend when Sydney had its coldest day since 1996. The cold snap made for very wintery weather so the bonus points hard won. 10 of the 11 planned summits were activated giving 100 activator points including winter bonus.
Gerard qualified Mount Tarana at 1277m in the snow, with a chilly wind and the coldest temps of the weekend qualifying for SOTA Goat. We are all glad it did not turn to rain and cut short the activation.
Again well done to both Mitch and Gerard for gaining SOTA Goat status.
And on the subject of silly old goats out in the cold, several activators combined SOTA and Park activations to participate in the inaugural Freeze Your Butt Off (FYBO Down Under FYBO « vk5cz) contest .This contest is to encourage portable operations during cold and possibly wet and windy weather conditions.
Held over 25/26th June during a cold snap which made for very wintery weather. I had planned to activate summits in Mt Buffalo National park with VK3BYD Warren however after checking out the snow on Mt Buffalo decided to stay below the snow line for this event. Bernard, VK2IB was in the ridge line to our left with the same intentions. Gerard VK2IO was busy activating to gain the points required for Goathood. SOTA summits activated during this cold period included;
VK1MBE Andrew on VK1/AC-040
VK2AOH Nick on VK2/CT-005
VK2HRX Crompton on VK2/CT-003
VK2IB/3 Bernard on VK3/VE-241, VK3/VE-144
VK2IO Gerard on VK2/CT-031, VK2/CT-042, VK2/CT-007 & VK2/CT-011
VK3ARH Allen on VK3/VE-126
VK3BYD Warren on VK3/VE-165
VK3GRK Graeme on VK3/VN-016
VK3JBL Andrew on VK3/VC-003
VK6NU John on VK6/SW-039
VK7XDM Mitch on VK7/SC-001
VK7ZMS Murray on VK7/SC-015 & VK7/SC-044
Also there were several park activations braving the cold including;
VK3ANL Nic at Phillip Island
VK4AAC/3 Rob at Churchill National Park
VK5HSX/4 Stef at Camooweal Caves National Park
VK5KLV/P Les at Mount Brown Conservation Park
VK5PAS/P Paul at Ettrick Conservation Park
VK6MB Michael at Sir James Mitchell National Park
My beanie goes off to those who camped in the snow (Gerard VK2IO, Compton VK2HRX and Nick VK2AOH), you’re heroes or barking mad, I’m not sure which.
Thanks to everyone who was out on the day and special thanks to Ian VK5CZ for organising the event.
Reports are coming in ;
Paul VK3HN - FYBO 2016 at Kangaroo Ground | VK3HN
Allen VK3ARH - https://vk3hra.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/fybo-2016-25-26th-june-2016/
and to continue the reports as to Andrews from abroad checkout,
Andrew VK1AD blog ( https://vk1nam.wordpress.com ) for reports of recent activations
Gaisberg Austria
SOTA – Gaisberg Austria | Get out of the Radio Shack and Live Life
Kaienspitz in Switzerland
SOTA – Kaienspitz in Switzerland | Get out of the Radio Shack and Live Life
Helwangspitz –- Liechtenstein
Helwangspitz – Liechtenstein | Get out of the Radio Shack and Live Life
Lake Constance – Bregenz Austria
Lake Constance – Bregenz Austria | Get out of the Radio Shack and Live Life
OE/OO-420
My first OE SOTA activation – OE/OO-420 | Get out of the Radio Shack and Live Life
Schober OE/OO-265
First Austrian summit – Schober OE/OO-265 | Get out of the Radio Shack and Live Life
Shining Tor
SOTA – Shining Tor – My first SOTA Activation in the UK | Get out of the Radio Shack and Live Life
Andrew VK3ARR the activator we can’t keep in VK latest activations in JA - JA6/FO-042 Oogusukuyama 大城山 | VK3ARR's SOTA Blog
Finally Andrew VK1DA ( http://vk1da.net/blog/ ) has documented his trip to the Uk;
http://vk1da.net/blog/2016/06/22/vk1da-in-england-at-sota-summit-np-028/ and recent activations
73
Allen
VK3ARH
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Northern Scotland, Cape Wrath and other first activations – from David G0EVV
Twelve months in the planning, my Sota trip this year was to the 3 one-pointers, two of which are within the Cape Wrath military bombing range and accessible only by passenger ferry (capacity 10 persons). I live just north of Newcastle in the town of Morpeth so the military range is 3 days travel away. Public access to the range is very regulated and access can only be granted with 7 days notice. I had no desire to become a target so compliance with the military requirements was imperative! I also wanted to use the window of decent weather, long daylight hours and as few midges as possible. This suggested as previously the end of May, beginning of June
I looked long and hard at the maps and decided I needed a chuck wagon companion. Chris, a long time friend and mountaineer, was not licensed to radiate RF. His part of the deal was to climb 2 Munros.
Chris was in charge of tent, and the expedition food. The three new ones were GM/NS-149, Beinn Akie, GM/NS-124 Fashven and GM/NS139 Sgribhis-beinn. A few weeks before the planned dates, during a Sota activation in the Tweed Valley, I learnt that Terry G0VWP had similar plans. We agreed to meet up in Durness on Monday 30th May and share the activity.
On the way North, with an overnight stop in Aviemore, Chris and I activated GM/NS-112 Ben Dreave 510m, 34QSOs, a nice hill with a quad-bike track all the way to the top, located about 40miles south of Durness.
On completion of the activation we continued the drive to Durness, met up with Terry on the campsite and booked into the Bunk House. We spent an interesting evening talking with runners who had just finished the un-supported 10day “Ultra Run” from Ullapool to the Cape Wrath lighthouse. Phew!
Monday was a grey day with the cloud base at about 500ft. We had breakfast early and prepared rucksacks for 3 days wild camping and Sotering. Then down to the ferry jetty to meet the boatman at 10:30. We were the second group. Within a few steps I realised how heavy my Bergen rucksack with its side pockets, Sota gear, sleeping bag, bedroll, spare clothing and food for 3 days was.
The Boat trip took about 10 minutes and then off up the single track road towards the Cape.
After about half a mile we took a left off the road towards GM/NS-149 Beinn Akie, then dropped the non-Sota gear and completed the rough grass ascent to the summit . At 288m we were just below the cloud base. Two stations were set up and activations carried out I made 31QSOs.
An hour and a half later we retuned down to the kit drop and continued to our first camp at the base of Fashven GR NC 325659. That rucksack had not become lighter but fortunately our route was across rough but mostly level ground!
After a rain free night we climbed GM/NS-124 Fashven 460m, entered the military range and carried out another double station activation in thick mist. I made 32QSOs.
After descending we cleared camp 1 and walked about 3 miles across more rough ground to Camp 2, South of. Sgribhis-bheinn GR NC 329695
After making camp we climbed GM/NS-139 Sgribhis-bheinn, 371m and undertook our third joint activation. Quite a lot of artillery and mortar debris was visible on the ground but we touched nothing and nothing exploded! I made 37QSOs
After another rain free night we packed up and walked back the 5 miles down the single track road to the ferry.
One near catastrophe was only just avoided. We had not reckoned on summer coming to Scotland on the first of June and earlier ferry sailings. Fortunately there were sufficient punters and we caught the second crossing avoiding a wait of 6 hrs.
Chris and I parted company with Terry and we drove over to Ben Hope to activate GM/NS-122 Feinne-bheinn Mhor before camping in the glen near Ben Hope. I made 32QSOs.
The following day the 2nd June was set for the activation of Ben Hope 927m, we were both feeling the strain so we decided to just do the climb without activation, apologies, but (as the song says) although the spirit was willing, the flesh it was weak!
At the summit cairn we met a couple just completing 50% of the Munros. Chris and I were offered a glass of Champaign, we accepted, it would have been rude to refuse!
The next two nights were spent at the Crask Inn.
This inn was built along with 7 other hostelries to aid travellers in the 1840’s. It is situated 20 miles from nowhere but has a bunkhouse, and beer. The following day was forecast for rain but at 0700 we had low, wet cloud. So an activation of GM/NS-014 Ben Klibreck 961m was agreed.
On the way up we collected a fellow traveller (Brian) who was 2 short of completing his Munros. Brian was not a happy bunny in the thick mist.
On the summit there are the remnants of 2 trig points, in successive events, both appear to have been blown off their pedestals by some cunning explosive device. In heavy rain a quick activation with 19QSOs was completed prior to descending down the hill to the bunkhouse.
On the final day we left the bunkhouse early and ascended GM/NS-119 Meall an Fhuarain 473m, the last new activation. After an easy ascent, Chris and I set up the Sota equipment and activated the summit. I made 40 QSOs.
After descending, and a much needed shower at the Crask, we drove south, overnighting once again in Aviemore
Sota kit:
FT857 at 50Watts
Link dipole for 60/40/30/20
Competition Roach Pole, feed point 20ft AGL
RG58 feeder and current balun
2 X 5Ah 3 cell Lipo batteries in parallel 2 sets taken, on expedition, re-charged on the car.
Hi Mound manipulator and bugambic keyer
Ear bud phones
Home brew electret tie mike
Waterproof paper
Thanks:
To Terry for his company and local knowledge.
To Chris for total support in return for 2 new Munros.
To all the chasers and the MT.
To Christine for still talking to me.
To Hill Baggers.co.uk for access ideas and maps
To Google Earth for assistance with topography and locating parking spots
Midges few
Ticks one, non attached, now dead
WX, cool, misty, sunny, wet, wind light
David G0EVV
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A Year Later by Geert PA7ZEE
In 2015 I had planned to combine a visit to Ham Radio with the activation of some summits in that area. A drive to the Bodensee area means 9 hours drive minimum from the Netherlands. On arrival on the west part of the Bodensee, I activated DM/BW-359 and -361. After that I had a good beer and a meal followed by good sleep. The next day I drove to Malbun in Lichtenstein, took the elevator and walked to the Augstenberg HB0/LI-004. Living below sea level it was not easy to do this without any accomodation. After my activation two other SOTA enthousists came up. It were Zoli YO2PB and Adé YO2LIW. We had a good talk and made some pictures.
After the Augstenberg I walked to the Pfālzerhütte where I had a quick drink and then I walked to Naafkopf HB0/LI-002. I passed some unexpected snow fields and every 15 minutes I had to rest because of the effect of the altitude on me. I felt terrible and about to vomit. After the activation I headed for the Pfālzerhütte where I had a reservation for the night. On the way down I slipped in a snow field and slided down. I managed to stop my self from sliding down by using hands and feet as anchor. It took me 15 minutes to reach a place without snow. My hands than became very painfull. Finally I came fully exhausted in the Pfālzerhütte. The Lady there brought me, without asking, a huge beer followed by a Bergsteiger. This is a meal with nudels, meat and some vegetables. At nine o clock I was in my bunk. No sleep that night because my heartbeat was still over 100 strokes per minute; normally it is around 50 since I have runned many marathons in the past. The other morning I felt much better and after breakfast, I walked down to Malbun where my car was waiting. From there I drove to Auf dem Hochstrasz DL/AL-227. After that activation I went to Ham Radio but by than the exibition was almost at the end.
Why this story a year later? Well looking back, I was very lucky with the weather compared with this year. I also realize that, beiing now 76 years young, maybe this was the last time that I could have had such a fantastic experience.
This year I met many SOTA friends on Saturday which was great.
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SOTA ON TOP BAND - Mark G0VOF
Hello everyone & welcome to this month’s edition of SOTA on Top Band.
Three activators ventured onto Top Band this month, with varying degrees of success. All of these activations took place with daylight fully established so conditions on the low bands were going to be difficult.
During June, John G4YSS took his annual trip to the English Lake District (G/LD) & included 160m on three of his activations. This first summit to feature 160m was G/LD-004 Skiddaw on 7th June where John managed 2 CW QSO’s with Phil G4OBK who has a very good Top Band station, & Roy G4SSH who manages very well with what is effectively a very short, non-resonant vertical on Top Band!
A detailed report can be found here:
G4YSS: G/LD-004, Skiddaw HF-QRO & VHF-QRP, 07-06-16
A short time after John was QRV, thanks to Ian VK5CZ for organisinand, Heinz HB9BCB/P spotted himself on 1832KHz from HB/BE-109 Blasenflue / Blaseflue, & a short time after that, Jan OK2PDT/P spotted himself on 1831KHz from OK/VY-040 Holý vrch! Sadly, neither Heinz nor Jan managed to work any chasers, or each other, but certainly having several activators out on the band at the same time is the only way summit to summit contacts are made. These are still quite a rare thing on Top Band, so well done both Heinz & Jan for trying!
The following day John G4YSS, again using GX0OOO/P, was active from G/LD-008 Blencathra - Hallsfell Top & again with daylight fully established only one CW QSO was made, again with Phil G4OBK. Midges were a problem, as was static build-up from the rain, however John came up with an ingenious solution which you will see in his report.
John’s report on this activation can be found here:
G4YSS: G/LD-008 Blencathra on 08-06-16
On Thursday 9th June John was again active on Top Band from the highest peak in England G/LD-001 Scafell Pike. After sessions on various HF & VHF bands John dropped onto 160m & was rewarded with two CW QSO’s, with Phil G4OBK & this time also with Roy G4SSH.
Another of John’s superb reports can be found here:
G4YSS: G/LD-001 Scafell Pike on 09-06-16
John has also posted a topic containing links to all his G/LD activations this trip which are also well worth a read which can be found here:
G4YSS: Lakes Week 2016, G/LD20-LD23-LD4-LD8-LD1 Report Links
The final activation on 160m this month came on 21st June when Jan OK2PDT/P tried the band during an activation of OK/VY-053 Duforty. Again, as daylight was fully established, conditions were difficult & Jan could not raise any chasers, but again well done for trying!
Congratulations & well done John, Heinz & Jan.
At the time of writing, these were the only Top band activations during June that I am aware of, if I have missed any others please let me know.
On 7 June, John GX0OOO/P (G4YSS) Activated G/LD-004 Skiddaw & made 2 QSO’s (2 CW / 0 SSB)
On 7 June, Heinz HB9BCB/P Activated HB/BE-109 Blasenflue / Blaseflue & made 0 QSO’s (0 CW / 0 SSB)
On 7 June, Jan OK2PDT/P Activated OK/VY-040 Holý vrch & made 0 QSO’s (0 CW / 0 SSB)
On 8 June, John GX0OOO/P (G4YSS) Activated G/LD-008 Blencathra - Hallsfell Top & made 1 QSO’s (1 CW / 0 SSB)
On 9 June, John GX0OOO/P (G4YSS) Activated G/LD-001 Scafell Pike & made 2 QSO’s (2 CW / 0 SSB)
On 21 June, Jan OK2PDT/P Activated OK/VY-053 Duforty & made 0 QSO’s (0 CW / 0 SSB)
As always, If you do have any suggestions on things that you think should be included, or if you wish to contribute tips, ideas or anything else that you think may help others on the band please email them to me at mark@brownhill.demon.co.uk
Until next month,
Best 73,
Mark G0VOF
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