W1 SOTA Campout 2019 July 12th Friday to July 16th Tuesday, 2019
We had a great time camping and activating last year with SOTA operators from NH, Maine, CT and SC. This is an opportunity for those who participate in or have interest in the “Summits on the Air” SOTA program to meet each other, have conversation, learn and activate SOTA summits in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Join in for the entire four night campout or for as many nights as you can or just stop by for a while! More details will be worked out as the date gets closer.
Please email me at: bobac1z.nh@gmail.com to let me know if you are interested.
Bob AC1Z Alton, NH
Location: Sugarloaf 2 Campground
This is a rustic campground that has both tent and small RV sites. Some sites can be reserved and others are a walk-in first come first serve basis.
Information: (603)536-6100 White Mountain National Forest U.S. Forest Service
Reservations: This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at Recreation.gov
Fees $18 fee includes site and 1 vehicle. A $5.00 additional fee charged for a 2nd vehicle
Open Season: mid-May - mid-October
Closest Towns: Twin Mountain, NH
Water: Handpump
Restroom: Vault Toilet
Operated By: Pro-Sport, Inc
GPS Coordinates: 44.25806, -71.50444 or 44°15’29"N, 71°30’16"W
Note: There are two other campsites- Sugarloaf 1 located within walking distance next to Sugarloaf 2 and Zealand a short distance down the road.
Activities includes:
SOTA Activating – Let others know your activation plans for Summit to Summits.
Friday July 12th – Initial meeting, conversation, campfire, Food and Drink at 6:30pm. Bring your favorite SOTA gear, pictures, videos, etc. to share with others.
Saturday July 13th - Meet at Fabyan’s Restaurant for dinner at 6:30pm. Located 10 minutes from Sugarloaf 2 campground.
Sunday July 14th and Monday July 15th - More SOTA Activating and gatherings.
Some SOTA Summits near Sugarloaf 2 Campground
All suggested trails are designated and maintained except as noted. Other trails to summits are possible.
Listed in order of driving time from campground - source: Google maps:
• Mt. Hale – W1/HA-157-10 points – 8 minute Drive to Hale Brook Trailhead – Hale Brook Trail 2.2 miles to summit 4054ft. - Elevation Gain 2200ft -No view at summit but large open area where a tower was easy to set up antenna.
• Mt Field -W1-HA-018-10 points - 11 min drive to parking lot next to AMC Highland Center Trailhead across railroad tracks - Avalon trail 2.7 miles to summit 4340 ft. -Elevation Gain 2640 ft. – View at lookout and small open area for antenna.
• Mt. Martha-W1/HA-020- 6 points – 12 minute drive to Cherry Mtn Trail 1.8mile hike to summit 3563 ft. – Elevation Gain 1800 ft. – Open area at summit with nice view of Mt. Washington.
• Mt Washington-W1/HA-001- 10 points – 17 minute drive to Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead - Ammonoosuc Ravine and Crawford Path Trails total 4.5 mile hike to summit 6288 ft. – Elevation Gain 3750 ft. – This is one of many trails to open rock summit. Can also take the Cog Railway or drive up for a fee.
• Mt. Garfield-W1/HA-095-10 points -17minute drive to Garfield trailhead 4.8 mile hike to summit 4500 ft. – Elevation Gain 3000 ft. – Great view at summit easy to set up.
• South twin-W1/HA-022- 10 Points – 21minute drive to Gale River Trailhead - Gale River and Garfield Ridge trails 5.6 miles to summit 4902 ft. – elevation Gain 3300 ft. – Great views stop at the AMC Galehead Hut for water break.
• Stairs Mtn-W1/HA-214- 6 points – 20 minute drive to parking lot at GPS 44.1185 -71.3546 Davis Path 4 miles and short off trail to summit 3463 ft. – Elevation Gain 2500 ft.
• Mt Nancy-W1/HA-061- 8 points – 21 minute drive to Nancy Pond Trailhead 44.1043 -71.3525 – Nancy Pond trail to Norcross Pond then take a rough non-maintained trail to summit 3926 ft.- elevation Gain 2900 ft. – Long day hike I camped overnight at Norcross Pond.
• Cannon Mt.-W1/HA-113- 10 points – 22 minute drive to trailhead or Tramway. Kinsman Ridge Trail 2.0miles to summit 4100 ft. – Elevation Gain 2100 ft. - Tramway takes you to restaurant and a short hike to summit. Lookout tower and lots of antennas make it a bit noisy on some bands.
See info and fees at: www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/aerial-tramway.aspx
• Mt. Lafayette -W1/HA-002 – 31 min. drive - 10 Points - Elevation: 5260ft Elevation Gain: about 3350ft. Great 360 views from open rocky summit. Trailhead at Lafayette Place parking lot: GPS 44.141649, -71.683309 about a 30 minute drive from campground. Hike on the Old Bridle Path for 3.1 miles to the AMC Greenleaf Hut then the Greenleaf Trail for 1.1 miles to summit. Hike back the same way roundtrip: 8.4 miles. You can hike back the same way or if you are in for a longer hike the Franconia Ridge Trail to the Lincoln and Little Haystack summits and descend back to parking lot and campground via the Falling Waters trail. Total 9 mile hike.
W1 SOTA Campout 2019 July 12th Friday to July 16th Tuesday, 2019
We had a great time camping and activating last year with SOTA operators from NH, Maine, CT and SC. This is an opportunity for those who participate in or have interest in the “Summits on the Air” SOTA program to meet each other, have conversation, learn and activate SOTA summits in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Join in for the entire four night campout or for as many nights as you can or just stop by for a while! More details will be worked out as the date gets closer.
Please email me at: bobac1z.nh@gmail.com to let me know if you are interested.
Bob AC1Z Alton, NH
Location: Sugarloaf 2 Campground
This is a rustic campground that has both tent and small RV sites. Some sites can be reserved and others are a walk-in first come first serve basis.
Information: (603)536-6100 White Mountain National Forest U.S. Forest Service
Reservations: This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at Recreation.gov
Fees $18 fee includes site and 1 vehicle. A $5.00 additional fee charged for a 2nd vehicle
Open Season: mid-May - mid-October
Closest Towns: Twin Mountain, NH
Water: Handpump
Restroom: Vault Toilet
Operated By: Pro-Sport, Inc
Activities includes:
SOTA Activating – Let others know your activation plans for Summit to Summits.
Friday July 12th – Initial meeting, conversation, campfire, Food and Drink at 6:30pm. Bring your favorite SOTA gear, pictures, videos, etc. to share with others.
Saturday July 13th - Meet at Fabyan’s Restaurant for dinner at 6:30pm. Located 10 minutes from Sugarloaf 2 campground.
Sunday July 14th and Monday July 15th - More SOTA Activating and gatherings.
Some SOTA Summits near Sugarloaf 2 Campground
All suggested trails are designated and maintained except as noted. Other trails to summits are possible.
Listed in order of driving time from campground - source: Google maps:
• Mt. Hale – W1/HA-157-10 points – 8 minute Drive to Hale Brook Trailhead – Hale Brook Trail 2.2 miles to summit 4054ft. - Elevation Gain 2200ft -No view at summit but large open area where a tower was easy to set up antenna.
• Mt Field -W1-HA-018-10 points - 11 min drive to parking lot next to AMC Highland Center Trailhead across railroad tracks - Avalon trail 2.7 miles to summit 4340 ft. -Elevation Gain 2640 ft. – View at lookout and small open area for antenna.
• Mt. Martha-W1/HA-020- 6 points – 12 minute drive to Cherry Mtn Trail 1.8mile hike to summit 3563 ft. – Elevation Gain 1800 ft. – Open area at summit with nice view of Mt. Washington.
• Mt Washington-W1/HA-001- 10 points – 17 minute drive to Ammonoosuc Ravine Trailhead - Ammonoosuc Ravine and Crawford Path Trails total 4.5 mile hike to summit 6288 ft. – Elevation Gain 3750 ft. – This is one of many trails to open rock summit. Can also take the Cog Railway or drive up for a fee.
• Mt. Garfield-W1/HA-095-10 points -17minute drive to Garfield trailhead 4.8 mile hike to summit 4500 ft. – Elevation Gain 3000 ft. – Great view at summit easy to set up.
• South twin-W1/HA-022- 10 Points – 21minute drive to Gale River Trailhead - Gale River and Garfield Ridge trails 5.6 miles to summit 4902 ft. – elevation Gain 3300 ft. – Great views stop at the AMC Galehead Hut for water break.
• Stairs Mtn-W1/HA-214- 6 points – 20 minute drive to parking lot at GPS 44.1185 -71.3546 Davis Path 4 miles and short off trail to summit 3463 ft. – Elevation Gain 2500 ft.
• Mt Nancy-W1/HA-061- 8 points – 21 minute drive to Nancy Pond Trailhead 44.1043 -71.3525 – Nancy Pond trail to Norcross Pond then take a rough non-maintained trail to summit 3926 ft.- elevation Gain 2900 ft. – Long day hike I camped overnight at Norcross Pond.
• Cannon Mt.-W1/HA-113- 10 points – 22 minute drive to trailhead or Tramway. Kinsman Ridge Trail 2.0miles to summit 4100 ft. – Elevation Gain 2100 ft. - Tramway takes you to restaurant and a short hike to summit. Lookout tower and lots of antennas make it a bit noisy on some bands.
See info and fees at: www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/aerial-tramway.aspx
• Mt. Lafayette -W1/HA-002 – 31 min. drive - 10 Points - Elevation: 5260ft Elevation Gain: about 3350ft. Great 360 views from open rocky summit. Trailhead at Lafayette Place parking lot: GPS 44.141649, -71.683309 about a 30 minute drive from campground. Hike on the Old Bridle Path for 3.1 miles to the AMC Greenleaf Hut then the Greenleaf Trail for 1.1 miles to summit. Hike back the same way roundtrip: 8.4 miles. You can hike back the same way or if you are in for a longer hike the Franconia Ridge Trail to the Lincoln and Little Haystack summits and descend back to parking lot and campground via the Falling Waters trail. Total 9 mile hike.
I really wish I could join you again this year, but it is not in the cards. I had a great time last year and it was a really nice break from the southern heat and humidity. I will do my best to give y’all some S2S possibilities at least.