TIP #11 - Site Safety & Respect

What

Ensure that your SOTA site is safe for you and others.  Don’t setup on unstable cliffs, or anywhere near powerlines.   In addition we share mountaintops with others so we should make the least amount of impact possible so others can enjoy the summit as well.

Why

Recently, a POTA operator died in a tragic accident when part of his station contacted high voltage power lines.  Failing to notice high voltage power lines near your operating position can result in severe injury or death.  The danger is NOT limited to direct contact.  Setting up an antenna too close to high power transmission lines can still result in a shock.

We also want to ensure that others can enjoy the summit and be safe as well, leaving a favorable impression with the public.

What I And Others Do

Survey the operating position for your safety and its impact to others who are also trying to enjoy the mountain.  Look at where you are setting up to avoid accidents with power lines as well as unstable cliffs and falling rock hazards.

Also, if you are setting up a mast, survey the area where it might fall and ensure that others will be outside the “mast fall zone”, and can’t trip over guy lines.

Don’t put up your antenna directly under or near high power transmission lines.  Transmission lines may be too high for your antenna to come into direct contact with, but the high electromagnetic fields of transmission lines can induce a voltage and current in the antenna. 

Setup in an area away from where others might want to visit.  Not only is this safer for everyone, people are there to enjoy the outdoor views.

Look for snakes in rocky areas. 

Use earbuds/headphones to listen to your radio.  People usually venture out of the city to get away from all the noise, and although we think our radio is cool, they may not.

Consider setting up below the summit.  If the area at the top is small, setup below the summit so that others can enjoy the summit, and / or use a small loaded antenna (I’m thinking about the Elecraft line of AX antennas here).

Pickup trash, even if it isn’t yours.  

My condolences to the family and friends of Tripp Owens (N4NTO).

If you’ve read this far, thank you.  I’ve enjoyed writing this series of safe tips for the SOTA community.

Visit HamNinja.com/safetytips to see all the tips as they are published. 

The Ham Ninja’s SOTA Safety Tips

SOTA Safety Tips is a weekly series of quick tips to remember to improve safety of the hobby.  This was inspired by the SoCal SOTA group’s meetings on this topic and will be sourced from my own and others' experience.  Don’t forget, you also need to support your group and others with this knowledge.  I’ll keep these as short as possible.  You probably also noticed I’m a pilot, steeped in the culture of safety, AKA try not to kill yourself.  Send feedback to safetytips@HamNinja.com.

TIP #10 - Avoid Sky Sparks

What

Don’t get injured by lightning.

Why

You’ll be shocked to know, but getting hit directly or being close to a lightning strike can be deadly.  According to NOAA.gov, each year in the United States, lightning kills 20-30 people on average and injures 100s more.

Studies have shown that most people struck by lightning are struck not at the height of a thunderstorm but before and after the storm has peaked. Most people are unaware of how far lightning can strike from its parent thunderstorm or what to do. Lightning can strike more than 10 miles away from the location of rainfall.  In addition, putting up an antenna when thunder storm activity is close can increase the risk of a lightning strike.

SOTA Safety TIP #9 - Layer for Safety and Comfort

What

Use the layering method when packing for an expedition to ensure you can survive unexpected cold conditions.

Why

Hypothermia can be life-threatening and it doesn’t have to be super cold to start cooling your body below 95 degrees f. Even in the summer, summits can be much colder than you think, especially when it’s windy.

The temperature drops 3.5 to 5 degrees f  per thousand feet of elevation gain.  Our hobby means you’ll most likely be climbing up in elevation and it will probably be cooler than the trailhead.  The weather can change unexpectedly; arriving on a windy summit while covered in sweat will cause you to chill fast. Additionally, you could be stuck on the mountain longer than expected if you or someone else gets hurt, you become lost, or other unforeseen events cause a delay. 

SOTA Safety TIP #8 - Reduce Your Navigation Risk

What

Build redundancy into your navigation capabilities and execution.

Why

As to the “why”, well, getting lost is no fun and could be deadly.  Our phones are super capable, and with GPS navigation, it takes the work out of figuring out where you are and how to get somewhere.  It also makes us a little too dependent on our phones.  Breaking your phone, or running out of power can put you in danger if you don’t have a backup plan. 

If your hike is on a well established trail, like the PCT, you may feel like your navigation risk is low but if a fire sparks up, or a flash flood closes off your return route, that won’t be the case.

Hikes that seem simple can look completely different on the way back under different lighting or become a real adventure if you are forced to take a different path.

SOTA Safety TIP #7 - Tell People Where You Are Going

What

Tell people where you are going before you start your hike.

Why

If you leave and don’t come back, hopefully people will start looking for you.  If you don’t tell anyone where you are going, they will have no idea where to start. You could be lost or injured and unable to ask for help.  (See my earlier tip on having backup emComms)