[PPRAANet] SOTA Goat Alert

[Raymond Gierlach]

This posting is an “Alert” for PPRAA Summits-On-The-Air chasers.

 

In the past, I’ve posted an Alert on the PPRAA Reflector when I was planning
to activate a SOTA peak that gave me a good line-of-sight with the Colorado
Springs geography.  Then, during my activation I would call CQ on 146.52 MHz
to make 2m, FM, simplex contacts.  Thanks to those of you that chased me!
This activation and posting is different from past ones.  I’ll be activating
a peak called The Pulverizer, W0C/SP-092, with my SOTA buddy Shane/N0QLR.
It’s located just south of Wilkerson Pass and Badger Mountain.  So, I won’t
have a line-of-sight to the Colorado Springs area.

 

But this activation is special.  After 3+ years of activating 160 different
summits I’m at 997 activator points.  I need three more points to earn the
coveted SOTA Mountain Goat trophy.  Shane is also at 997 points, and we plan
to activate our Goat mountain together this Thursday, April 3rd
(successfully activating The Pulverizer earns us 4 points).  I’d love to
work all my PPRAA friends and chasers during my SOTA Goat activation, so if
you’d like to chase me here’s what I think will work.

 

This Thursday, April 3rd, go to the aprs.fi website and enter the callsign
“N0QLR-7” into the search field, and hit [Enter].  This search will show
were Shane and I are at as we summit the mountain.  You’ll be able to track
our progress (I think Shane’s HT will send an APRS beacon every 3-5
minutes).  We plan to leave the trailhead at the Wilkerson Pass Visitor’s
Center parking lot at about 7:30am, and reach the summit about 9:30ish am.
The Pulverizer has a reputation for lots of deadfall, and when I drove past
it recently, the north side that we’ll be hiking up was covered with snow.
So, it may take us a little longer to summit, but that’s why being able to
monitor our progress on aprs.fi is such a good idea.  Once on top, I’ll need
about 30 minutes to set up.  Then, I’ll start calling CQ on 146.52 MHz.
Those in the South Park region of Colorado should be able to hear and
respond to my calls.  Then, to give my European chasing friends the best
window of opportunity for chasing me, I’ll Spot and Activate on 10m SSB.
Then, I’ll Spot and Activate on 40m SSB (I’m guessing around 11:00am) .  I
think 40m will be our best chance of working each other.  Here is the
SOTAwatch website where my Spot will be posted in real-time.

 

https://sotawatch.sota.org.uk/en/

 

You do not need to be logged-in to use it.  It will show
 in real-time

every activator’s callsign, the summit they are on, the band, frequency and
mode they are using, and any comments they make.  Watch for my spot on 40m.
Then, go to my frequency (I’m usually on or near 7.220 MHz) and see if you
hear me.  If so, chase me, and I’ll get you in the log!

 

Also, WG0AT and KF0RIG will be with me, so you’ll be seeing their Spots as
well.  Shane and Steve/WG0AT will be on CW, Matt/KF0RIG and I will be on
SSB.  Chase all of us!  And if you want to join us for our Après Activation
Celebration, watch for my QRT Spot on the SOTAwatch3 website, and meet us at
Russ’s Place in Divide about 2 hours after the QRT Spot is posted.

 

Thank,

 

Ray / KD8EQA