Monday, September 28, 2020

2020-09-28 Escudilla Fall Colors

Sometimes I do summits on the air SOTA just for the hike and today was one of them.  I’ve done Escudilla this year so I don’t get any more SOTA points but I did get some awesome views.  I just got back from Flagstaff, doing three summits with Charlie, NJ7V and was planning on relaxing today.  When I saw the fall colors as I walked the dog in the forest behind the villa, I decided I really needed to take advantage of the Sunday and do something fall color related so up to Escudilla it was.

I took my usual radio loadout but the trek was really to look at the fall colors and WOW, WOW, WOW, it didn’t disappoint.  Fall came a bit early this year and it’s a good thing because I’m leaving this weekend.  It’s almost like they popped overnight.  The first two miles of the trail are lined with oak and aspen that are changing color.  I snapped a lot of pictures and I’ll put the best in here.
<Click on image for larger>

To make things even better, a crew must have come through and done some trail maintenance because I think I had to step over a total of two very small fallen trees.  It was a massive improvement over my hike up here in May where it was a pain in the ass and a struggle near the top. 

On the radio side, it was Sunday afternoon so only 10 CW contacts.  I tried calling CQ on SSB but got nothing.

I’m still working on past blog entries but I thought I’d get this out out.

Fall colors, a clear trail..... It was like falling in love all over again.



The burned out area is sad but that life.


Expedition Summary

SOTA summit:W7A/AE-006 Escudilla Mountain, AZ
Points:0 (already activated this year
Activation Date: 2020-Sep-27
Unique: No
Activation No: 208
Call sign used: N1CLC
Radios: KX2
Antennas: LNR Endfedz MTR
Band/Modes used: 20m, 40m, CW (morse) SSB (voice)
Cell Data: Verizon
Miles Hiked: 6.17 mi
Hiked Elevation Gain: 1,205


Contacts:

Date:27/09/2020 | Summit:W7A/AE-006 (Escudilla Mountain) | Call Used:N1CLC | Points: 0

Time

Callsign

Band

Mode

22:18

K6RK

7MHz

CW

22:23

NW7E

7MHz

CW

22:23

K9VD

7MHz

CW

22:24

N0DNF

7MHz

CW

22:25

KB9ENS

7MHz

CW

22:32

WB7BWZ

14MHz

CW

22:33

WD8KDB

14MHz

CW

22:39

`KI4SVM

14MHz

CW

22:40

K2JB

14MHz

CW

22:42

K6HPX

14MHz

CW

 

Loadout:

      GoPro Hero8

      Gregory Zulu 40 backpack

      First aid kit.  Make sure it’s a good one... like ability to patch up an impalement wound. 

      Elecraft KX2 10 watt HF Radio

      The K6ARK Spider Thread Antenna

   30’ of coax feed line (not needed

      Slim Jim dual band antenna for my HT.

      3 L of water (8 lb)

      iPhone with All Trails, MotionX GPS and sota goat

      Trekking poles (not today)

     LNR End Fed multi-band antenna

   SOTAbeams Tactical 7000hds Compact Heavy-Duty Telescopic Mast TAC7000HDS

    MFJ MFJ-1714 144 MHz 1/2 Wavelength Antenna for my HT

   AnyTone AT-868UV DMR radio for testing.

   Custom wine bottle cork paddles for CW (crafted by K6ARK)

   American Morse Ultra Porta Paddle for CW

   Delorme Inreach satellite tracker and communicator.

      Jetboil MicroMo cooking system (left at the car this trip)

      Yaesu FT-2DR HT (backup left in the car)

     Packtenna. (did not take)

     CHA MPAS with spike and additional MIL mast (and version 2 of the top section) (left in car)

      Yaesu FT-891D HF Radio at 100 watts  (left this in the car :) )

    Extra LiFePO Battery (not needed)

     Helinox Chair Zero Ultralight Compact Camping Chair.

 

73,

N1CLC

Christian Claborne

(aka chris claborne)

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