[QCWA] SOTA + NPOTA

[TwelveVDC at aol.com]

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:

Sunday, 6/26*, noon - 2 PM EST (1600 - 1800Z), Feldtmann Ridge, SOTA designator W8M/UP-057, 10.113 MHz (CW, +/- for QRM) 
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) 
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) 
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 

QCWA Life Member # 33780