Hi everybody
I will be in the neighbourhood of Denver next week hoping to activate W0C/FR-003 Mount Blue Sky (August 16) and W0C/FR-004 Pikes Peak (August 18). I will have my KX2 and a 6m mast with the EFT-10/20/40 Trail Friendly endfed with me as well as my Yaesu FT5D with a Diamond RH-770.
Any advice concerning spotting and placing an HF antenna would be much appreciated. For 2m I would appreciate any advice as to what frequencies are used in this area.
Thanks and 73, Fritz HB9CYX
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For 2m, most activators use 146.52 MHz.
From https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/recarea/?recid=28508 / summit page:
Improvements to a section of Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway (Colo. Highway 5) will impact visitors in 2024 and 2025. Construction will begin in late July or early August 2024 with a temporary lane closure in the project area near Summit Lake. Visitors may experience traffic delays. Starting Sept. 3, 2024, through all of 2025, Mount Blue Sky Highway will be closed to motorized and non-motorized travel (foot, bike, etc.).
A public closure area will span from the CDOT gate on Colo. Highway 5 through the project area, above Summit Lake. Access to the Mount Blue Sky summit will only be available from various hiking trails. The area will reopen, as conditions allow, on Memorial Day weekend 2026.
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Also, You’ll need a timed ticket to drive up Mt. Blue Sky:
Get the ticket for the interpretive area at the summit. That’s where you will be parking. Going early will help avoid the crowds that increase as the day gets later. Last week-end the road was open, but they could start the road project that will reduce the road to one lane at any time now. You’ll probably see Mountain Goats on the summit.
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For Pikes Peak, keep in mind most Colorado Springs hams monitor 146.46 so if 52 sounds quiet, try 46.
73,Gil K0GWR
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Many thanks to everybody for the info and advice. I really do appreciate this.
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Mount Blue Sky: it can get a bit crowded up there with all the tourists so setting up an HF antenna can be a challenge. You might want to move away from the summit, down the ridge to avoid the crowd. 146.52 MHz should do fine on 2m.
Pikes is also a popular spot but there’s more room to spread out.
146.52 should be fine there, too.
My blog post on activating Pikes:
https://www.k0nr.com/wordpress/2022/06/sota-activation-pikes-peak/
Have fun!
Bob K0NR
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Hi Bob
Thanks for the info. I’ve studied your blog post and appreciate the information there!
73, Fritz HB9CYX