[PaQSO] Hiking/Radio Trip, Isle Royale (National Parks on the Air, NPOTA)

[Mark Schreiner]

Many of you know me from operating in the PA QSO Party going QRP portable
from somewhere, usually a rare county.

I will be hiking across Isle Royale National Park (ISRO), located in Lake
Superior near Thunder Bay, ON, during the week of June 25 - July 2.  The
planned hike is 65 miles while carrying a backpack weighing about 45
pounds.  It is 7.5 to 10.5 miles per day as planned.  I do have a few
places to cut off if needed, but I do have to get to the other end of the
island one way or the other.  I will be carrying an extra approximately 10
pounds that other hikers don't carry, radio gear to operate from a few of
the summits and from the campgrounds along the way.


A map of Isle Royale can be found here for anyone interested to follow
where I plan to be:


http://npmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/isle-royale-map.jpg


Here is a schedule of the planned campgrounds where I will be:



   - Saturday, 6/25, Arrival at ISRO ~ 9 AM (1300Z) at Windigo Lodge (via
   sea plane) on the western end
   - Saturday, 6/25, Feldtmann Lake
   - Sunday, 6/27, South Lake Desor
   - Monday, 6/28, Hatchet Lake
   - Tuesday, 6/29, McCargoe Cove
   - Wednesday, 6/30, Three Mile
   - Thursday, 7/1, Rock Harbor Campground (or the Lodge where I will meet
   my brother-in-law and his family)
   - Friday, 7/2, Depart ISRO from Rock Harbor at the eastern end of the
   island via the Ranger III ferry service from ISRO to Houghton, MI

The above is a plan and can change due to weather or other unforeseen
circumstances.  I have alternate plans as well, but in any case need to get
from the western portion of ISRO at Windigo Lodge to the eastern portion at
Rock Harbor Lodge, approximately 45 miles.

Enroute and based upon the above campsites I plan to use my Elecraft KX3 to
operate from the four named summits that are significant enough to be in
the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program.  Only one of the three summits has
been activated as part of SOTA and I plan to do a "clean sweep" of all four
of them.  If the weather is questionable when I first arrive at Windigo I
would cut out the first summit, Feldtmann Ridge, which is one that has
previously been activated.  The other three are all along the main "spine"
of the island along a hiking path called the Greenstone Trail.  In any
case, my plans for SOTA operations are as follows:



   1. Sunday, 6/26*, noon - 2 PM EST (1600 - 1800Z), Feldtmann Ridge, SOTA
   designator W8M/UP-057, 10.113 MHz (CW, +/- for QRM)
   2. Monday, 6/27, 2 - 4 PM (1800 - 2000Z), Mount Desor, SOTA designator
   W8M/UP-042, 14.063, 7.033 & 10.113 MHz (CW, +/- for QRM)
   3. Tuesday, 6/28, noon - 2 PM EST (1600 - 1800Z), Ishpeming Point, SOTA
   designator W8M/UP-043, 14.063, 7.033 & 10.113 MHz (CW, +/- for QRM)
   4. Thursday, 6/30, 2 - 4 PM (1800 - 2000Z), Mount Ojibway, SOTA
   designator W8M/UP-059, 14.063, 7.033 & 10.113 MHz (CW, +/- for QRM)

*Note:  This is during Field Day so I made a decision to NOT operate on FD
bands but instead opted for 30m only.


The SOTA activations should also count for NPOTA status as well.  The NPOTA
designator is NP31.  Isle Royale has only had one operation from it this
year so far (during the week of June 7 - 9 about), somebody that came in
from Duluth, MN with a sailboat for a couple of days.  I also plan to
operate for NPOTA from the campgrounds in the evenings (0100Z - 0300Z)
after I have had dinner and am settled in for the evening and early
mornings before I break camp (1200 - 1300Z) on the same frequencies as
listed above (6/25 and 6/26 may likely only be on 30m due to Field Day).  I
may have a microphone with me so possibly could work some SSB as well, but
I prefer CW.  There was an activation planned for FD weekend but it has
since been removed.  If you have never made contact with a ham on Isle
Royale National Park, I may be the only opportuntity you have for a while!
Also, for those who enjoy trying to work all the counties, it is located in
Michigan's largest county, Keweenaw, which has a very low population
density and even fewer of hams.  It is the largest county as it is mostly
over Lake Superior waters to include ISRO.


All of the times/frequencies are tentative.  Much of my schedule will be
dictated by my travel, which I will try to control as best as I possibly
can.  As I've never hiked on ISRO previously I may be underestimating or
overestimating how long it will take for me to get from Point A to Point
B.  Weather is also a key factor and things like fog or choppy water may
force a different arrival time than anticipated, rain during the trip may
cause me to alter my plans to take a shorter route, etc.  I will do my best
to be on time, but while my hike is almost an episode of "Survivor" I hope
to be much better equipped and prepared, yet Mother Nature is the biggest
variable.


I would love to get you in my logbook so please look for me as per above!
If you hear me or work me, please post my operation to SOTAWatch.org other
spotting networks such as DXWATCH, QRP SPOTS, etc.


Mark, NK8Q