[AK-VHF] CQ VHF and . . . SOTA?

[Brandon Clark]

Hello group,

As Ed mentioned yesterday, next weekend is the CQ WW VHF contest. For 
this one I usually take a break from roving (mobile) and go portable 
from a high point on Saturday. A little background . . . the CQ WW VHF 
has a category specifically for _on-foot_ portable, whereas the ARRL 
contests consider "portable" to more broadly mean "away from home", 
regardless of how much gear you take or how you get there.

This one is a fun chance to get outside, set up in a park or on a high 
point, and do some relaxing operating. Even an Ht can cover a lot of 
ground from high up - I regularly work Ed in Nikiski from the Flattop 
parking lot using five watts. So get outside, log a few contacts, and 
set a personal best so that you can beat yourself next year!

Something that has become popular over the last few year is for people 
to combine the contest Saturday with a SOTA peak activation (this works 
for ARRL contests too). All the VHF/UHF-band contacts count for the 
contest, but you can also include some portable HF operating for the 
SOTA side, which is what I do.

Since "weather forecast" is still a contradiction in terms here in 
Alaska, I'm going to finalize the location later this week. If we have 
crappy weather then I'll  activate a single peak above Anchorage that 
got away from me once before. On the other hand, if the weather looks 
good then I have a two-fer in mind up above the Eklutna area. Stay tuned.

Brandon