2018-08-07 - Four Summits In One Day. Summits On The Air with the Ham Ninja
Given yesterday’s failure, more on that in a
moment, I had to make up for lost peaks.
I wanted to do about two a day while from my summer home. Some are good hikes, others are almost a
drive up with great views. Today
Jeanette and I tackled the following:
●
W7A/AP-020
- Escudilla Butte (a tough 1.6 out and back hike)
●
W7A/AP-037
- Coyote Hills (a 1 mile out and back hike)
●
W7A/AE-009
- Greens Peak (a drive up)
●
W7A/AE-022
- Antelope Mountain (a drive up if you have a monster 4X4, so 1
mi hike)
We set out at 0630 this morning and I packed
an extra LiFePO battery just in case.
What’s an extra pound or two in the pack :). Since we had just been out there, we knew the
route to the ingress point, parked, and headed out. The hike up from where we parked the car is
.8 miles but it’s pretty good climb all the way to the top. I really enjoyed walking over the spongy
earth covered in pine needles. It was a
lot cooler today as well. When we hiked
up yesterday, we didn’t get started till after 10 and it was a hot climb.
I setup exactly at the same place as
yesterday, but was careful to keep everything in the shade. Also, I pulled the front face plate off to
ensure that the fans could get a good air flow through the unit. I backed it down to 85 watts and it ran
fine.
Since I didn’t have cell service or APRS I
first tried to contact someone on the Greens peak repeater, which is networked
all the way down to Phoenix. My hope was
that I could find someone to place a spot for me.
I guess it was too early, 0730 local time, as I wasn’t able to contact
anyone. I did a little calling for CQ to
see if I could raise someone on HF with no luck. I then tuned around and found a conversation
going on. I was able to make contact
with the net control for a group in Oklahoma and asked him to spot me on sotawatch.org. My “spot” was placed somewhere else but I it did
get me some traffic. One of my contacts
did place a SOTA spot for me and I quickly created a pileup.
Once I had given all of the chasers a chance to get points, we exfilled
out of the area. One down, three to go.
There was an area right near us that Jeanette
wanted to check out and do a little rock hounding. We drove over and Jeanette and I searched the
area. Jeanette found where people had
been digging and did take home a few rocks but she wasn’t impressed.
Once the rock hounding was complete, we headed
out to Coyote Hills, near springerville.
I decided to head back to Alpine and then drive around to Springerville. We could have gone strait around Escudilla
and possibly saved some time but they are putting some new gravel on the road
in that direction and we ran into them yesterday, where we had to wait a while
behind the dump trucks. It was mega dusty
and given the time of day, they were in full swing. In addition, the drive back
to Alpine presents a bit of a different view so that was actually a bonus.
We arrived at Coyote Hills at about 9:30 and
it was hot. The road was very rough jeep
trail. This is high desert at about
7,500 feet and scabby plain. We summited
after parking and a quick hike, with Sulu the SOTA dog going from shade to
shade. She was not a happy camper. I started setting up and Jeanette decided to
take her book to the car given there was nothing but low scrub for shade at the
summit (which Sulu found).
Now that I had cell service, I was able to
spot myself using an app and contacts came in quickly. I gave all the chasers a chance to pick up
some points and then bugged out of there as quickly as I could.
We thought about stopping for lunch but
decided to just push on for Greens Peak, which is close to 11,000 feet. I expected it to be cool (and it was) and it
looks like you can drive all the way up.
It was a pretty drive up and the views were fantastic. I setup next to the car, still using my pack
battery. I self-spotted and was up and
running making contacts from Texas, Oregon and to the east coast.
Last up is Antelope Mountain. This was going to go down as a bit of an
adventure. It’s just down the highway
back toward Springerville and I thought it would be an easy double with
Greens. The road from the highway to the
summit was a real bugger. I drive a
Highlander with all-wheel-drive but it’s not a locked in four-wheel-drive like
a 4Runner and it doesn’t have a truck suspension, and the road clearance is
just 7.3 inches to the 4Runner’s 9.6.
The last section of road was very, very steep. I had the AWD button in (not sure what that
does since it’s supposedly all-wheel-drive all the time. I was actually impressed with the traction
performance I was getting slip out of the
front and rear tires. The road had very
deep cinder gravel and other volcanic material.
I got to a point where the size of the rocks was just too big and I
didn’t want to chance having a flat so I shut it down. Also, the last section looked like I could
possibly high-center, which would have been a bitch getting off of or tearing
up the underside of the car.
I loaded up and set off to complete the last activation of the day while Jeanette walked
back to look for places to turn around.
Sulu wasn’t moving and I didn’t want her to cut her feet up going up
this terrain.
Once I summited and started setting up, I
noticed that the connector between one of my antenna segments was jammed down
into the pole. I have a multi-tool on my
pack so I had to spend some time trying to pull it out. I had the same problem on the first summit
but it came out easier. Not this
time.... That problem fixed, I moved onto coming up with a solution to keep the
counterpoise wire off the ground (I think it performs better that way). Once that was solved it was on to erecting
the antenna in high wind. There was a
metal pole that I lashed onto and I then fired up the radio. I was up and running. For some reason, I couldn’t spot myself with
my phone but I did raise someone on VHF via the Greens peak repeater who
offered to spot for me. I was tired and
it was nice to have contacts start rolling in.
A lot of the hams were following me all day so many of them were
familiar. I got two husband and wife
teams, the Burns and the Auchards which quickly allowed me to legally active
the summit. I got a few more for
insurance and packed it in. There was
just one more task, backing the car down a very steep slope to some point where
I could turn around.
I made it back to the car without wiping
out. Jeanette found a spot that might
work and I popped the back window open so I could see out (there was a lot of
dirt on the window from the day’s travels).
I love the backup camera and large screen on my SUV. It allowed me to not have to have to crane my
neck back to see where I was going. With the guidelines and center marker it
was easy to keep the Highlander on the road and not go over the side. The initial place Jeanette picked out wasn’t
big enough. We went about another 100
yds and found a spot that would work.
With about a 6 point turn we were turned around. Now it was just surviving the rough road to
the highway.
Ohhhh, how sweet the pavement felt!!! We weren’t far from Springerville and we were
both very hungry since the only thing we’ve had to eat since the light
breakfast was jerky. I was hankering for
some chili rellenos at Booga Reds. We
dropped Sulu off, picked up in-laws and headed to dinner. These were probably the best chili rellenos
I’ve ever had! The green chili was from
Hatch, New Mexico, and the sauce was fantastic.
Oh, I was satisfied. We played
all day today in the mountains and... I’m ready for bed.
Tomorrow, possible Middle Mountain and then we
will see.
<<<Youtube
Video goes HERE... when it’s done>>>
Contacts for W7A/AP-020
- Escudilla Butte
|
Own
Callsign
|
Date
|
Time
|
Summit
|
Band
|
Mode
|
Station
Worked
|
Notes
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:25
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
W9JDW
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:30
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KC4LRR
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:36
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
AA1VX
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:39
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
W8ZST
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:42
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KB9JJF
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:43
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
N6JNL
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:44
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KE0LRD
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:45
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
N5UOV
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:46
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
N6AZY
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:48
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
WD5CSK
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:49
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KN4OK
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:50
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
WD0ACB
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:51
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
K8RDG
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:52
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
K6SFU
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:53
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
WA9LEY
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:54
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KB9AIT
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:54
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
K9BBQ
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
15:56
|
W7A/AP-020
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
W5FKN
|
Contacts for W7A/AP-037
- Coyote Hills
|
Own
Callsign
|
Date
|
Time
|
Summit
|
Band
|
Mode
|
Station
Worked
|
Notes
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:34
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
NS7P
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:36
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
K7DJL
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:37
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KF7NOZ
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:39
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
W0MNA
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:40
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
AC7P
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:40
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
AC1Z
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:41
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
WI4T
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:41
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
W0ERI
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:42
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
N5PBR
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:42
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
W9MRH
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:43
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
K6EL
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:44
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
NE4TN
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:44
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
VA2MO
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:44
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
K0LAF
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:45
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
AA1VX
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:46
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
WD9F
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:47
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
N7KRN
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:47
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KF7TCK
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:49
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
AF7MD
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
19:49
|
W7A/AP-037
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KD0MQO
|
Contacts for W7A/AE-009
- Greens Peak
|
Own
Callsign
|
Date
|
Time
|
Summit
|
Band
|
Mode
|
Station
Worked
|
Notes
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:37
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KD0QO
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:38
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
WA2USA
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:39
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
W0MNA
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:40
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
VA2MO
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:40
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
W0IRA
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:41
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
AE7PV
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:42
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
K1LIZ
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:44
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
AB4PP
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:44
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KG6OGF
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:45
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
N4EX
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:46
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KH2TJ
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:47
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KI4TN
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:47
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
W7GJF
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:48
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KC4LRR
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:49
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KG5RUY
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:50
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
WD0ACB
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:53
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
K2ZP
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:54
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
K6EL
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:55
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
K0LAF
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:55
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
N0EMU
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:56
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
W0CKI
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:57
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
VE7JH
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:58
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KC0PBR
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
21:59
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
AF7MD
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
22:00
|
W7A/AE-009
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
NQ7R
|
Contacts for W7A/AE-022
- Antelope Mountain
Own
Callsign
|
Date
|
Time
|
Summit
|
Band
|
Mode
|
Station
Worked
|
Notes
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
23:29
|
W7A/AE-022
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
W0MNA
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
23:36
|
W7A/AE-022
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
W0ERI
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
23:37
|
W7A/AE-022
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
VA2MO
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
23:38
|
W7A/AE-022
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
K0LAF
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
23:38
|
W7A/AE-022
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KI4TN
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
23:40
|
W7A/AE-022
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
K1LIZ
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
23:41
|
W7A/AE-022
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
NS7P
|
|
N1CLC
|
07/Aug/2018
|
23:42
|
W7A/AE-022
|
14MHz
|
SSB
|
KG5MDS
|
Loadout for today:
●
30’ of coax feed line
● 3 L of water (8
lb)
● SOTA Dog
● iPhone with All
Trails, MotionX GPS and sota goat
● Treking poles
●
Extra LiFePO Battery
73,
N1CLC
Christian Claborne
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