SOTA trip report back

Hi all.

Just a note to say I am home safely having had a very mixed trip.  Very bad weather was to blame from the start with what must be a record of some sort – at least for me!

Hogsback was rained out completely, I got a lot of static when in Bloem (was I doing something wrong it sounded like I was getting a security firm on 145.500 but could not really make out over the static).

Friday night was going to be Magaliesberg (only 30 odd km from where I was staying) and late afternoon brings in a thunderstorm!  It almost killed our braai which we got done in the nick of time:)

Saturday morning was an early start, but I had to work late – got to bed about 12:30 and up and outta there by 5:30 am.  I guess the shortest way from Haartbeespoort to Suikerbos is NOT via Pretoria, but I missed a turn somewhere and the GPS was flat – a great way to start the trip home ;(  I arrived (along with what must be almost every cyclist in the area) at the gate and chugged through the queue to enter.  Got going to GP-001, an easy climb (well, stroll) to the top.  I could hear the AWA guys on 40m but that was about it.  I heard a little on 2m but not enough to make out any contacts.  Same at GP-002 (Suikerbos itself).

So I left Gauteng very down – over 2000km, and a total points collection of 0/22 possible – in fact not a single contact!  Not happy at all – and only Compassberg in the Northern Cape left it looked like a doomed trip.  Compassberg is huge – 2503m high.  I was to meet Andrew (ZS2G) and Mandy (ZS2AV) on the farm and start the climb 3am Sunday morning.  And IF we made it up and IF we did not forget anything and IF we got some contacts and IF … with my state of mind at the time I nearly just drove on home!  But I did not.

Saturday night we packed out equipment, sorted out the best from what we had – and packed accordingly.  Sunday morning came FAR too quickly.

We climbed and climbed and climbed and then climbed some more.  Then we had a break and climbed some more!

Well, I’ll cut out a few hours (it was about 3 hours climbing up) and we summited just after 8 am and setup.  We listened to the Pears bulletin and joined the post bulletin net and made contacts from Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, and the Western Cape.  Signal reports varied between 57 and 59.

I  made 6 contacts – for the TRIP and all from the top of “that silly little hill”.

If I was able to make contacts in Suikerbos I’d have had 8 points for VERY little work.  Instead I worked @#$%@#$% hard for my 8 points on Compassberg.   Just saying  😉

I think I may have something wrong with the mic on my X1M – but for a QRP rig I think there was just too much rain and static.  Better luck next time!  I have made contacts from PE into northern KZN, so I know the rig can do it!

What I did learn from my trip is that SOTA has it’s ups and downs (no climbing pun intended).  The SOTA downs are measured by how long it is before you attempt the summit again.  SOTA ups, however, are measured in meters above sea level!  Compassberg was a high UP!

Thank you all for trying and putting up with me and my dodgy schedule.  I will make another trip up North again as I still have scores to settle with some of those peaks!

For those not yet aware of it – check out on the sarl forums for simulSOTA – a collaboration country wide for SOTA summits on a combined weekend.  The next one is scheduled for 6/7 December.

73,

Dave ZS2DH

Herewith some pics:–