Category: SOTA (Page 2 of 2)

SOTA – Summits On The Air. Like I need an excuse to get into the mountains!

SOTA trip report back:December 2014/January 2015

January 6, 2015 / zs2dh

Thankyou to so many of you who stood by listening out for Hennie (ZS2HC) and myself during our recent trip. We emailled out to a bunch of people and it just seemed to go viral with many people listening out for us. In fact we made 21 contacts in a storm at the top of Ben Macdhui – ZS/EC-001, the highest point in the Cape.

I left PE bound for East London (QTH of Hennie) early on Monday 29 December. Very Early. I left my cell phone at home, but managed to contact Hennie who then collected me from the station in East London.

We made a few shopping calls – wire, coax, spade connectors, braai packs and a few snacks. We then headed off to the home of Peter Tottle (ZS2ABF) where we made our multiband diapole. We cut for 10m, 15m, 20m, and 40m. We joined up the cables with spade connectors. The antenna can be seen in some of the photos below. We also put our 2m yagi together – also in some of the photos below.

Tuesday morning we left for Hogsback. While on route our contact in Hogsback contacted us to say “Don’t bother, unless you want to swim”. Swimming was not high on our list of things to do, so we passed on by and headed straight for Rhodes.

Rhodes is a small town miles from anywhere. Well it is closed to some other small towns, but they are miles from anywhere anyway. We got into Rhodes and found the road to Tiffindell ski resort. We were not in a 4×4, but in a normal Audi (as seen in some of the pics below).

We arrived at the ski resort in time to settle in well before sunset – but not without some challenges: We get the tent out of the car and it rains until the tent is pitched. Shortly after the rain stops we decide to start the braai. It rains. Not only does it rain on the fire, it completly wets our matches. The waterproof matches were, well, not dry either. Sigh, we were having fun!

That evening the skies above us had the most spectacular display of lightning you can imagine. We could see for miles and there was lightning for miles around us. It was awesome.

Wednesday, December 31 and our first ascent. It was raining, no, storming. We decided we would leave the cameras in a dry spot and only took what we needed to take to make the activtions. We thought we would go up, get our 4 contacts (as required to activate the peak) and hurry down to where it is dry. Well I guess not! We made 21 QSOs and we were stoked and soaked.

The skies cleared a little toward lunchtime so we went back up the mountain for some photos. The pics of the top of Ben Machdui below were all taken at lunchtime on the 31.

New years eve and we decide to make sure the bar stocks what we need. They do. What they don’t tell us is that they are closed! There must have been some sort of staff party or something, but there I was stone cold sober at the highest point in the Cape. Alone with Hennie the mountain man! Not even a staff member around the empty resort!

Early to bed and early to rise. After another impressive display of thunderbolts and lightning, very very frightning (sorry for the Queen lyrics) we awoke in the new year to the weather from the old year – storming.

We had to leave early today as we had to get down the mountain (back to Rhodes) and then to Hogsback to do Meinziesberg in the afternoon. We snapped up some contacts and headed for the bright lights of the Rhodes metropolis below us. But the trip would not be without some lessons.

One of the smaller bridges had washed away. Well not away, just out of the road. Some 4×4 vehicles climbing up to the top (fishing is popular at the dam) simply turned around. One family stopped to chat to us and I was given some sound advice…

“Ek so nie daar in gaan nie oom” (I would not go in there uncle) from a strapping young man in his mid twenties. I then pointed out that not only were we at the top and needing to go down, but that I also did not sleep with his aunty. We decided to rebuild the road and Hennie drove across where 4x4s feared to tread. Yay! Our very own superhero!

Due to the road building – which was new for me – we arrived much later than expected. We made it through to Hogsback and onto Menziesberg in time to activate by 8pm local time. What was very exciting was that on just 5W we chatted into Namibia. Let me say that again: On 5W we chatted to Namibia!

After activating Menziesberg (ZS/EC-010) we headed off with the fairies at a local camping site. Some welcome beer broke the then year-long dry spell. Some pizza for supper and we slept well. Too well!

Friday morning, 2 January 2015. Time to get up Tor Doone (ZS/EC-012). We slept late and were a little late getting up to the summit. We got there and once again (although this time by sked) we chatted to Namibia. It was also nice to chat to Andrew (ZS2G) my usual activation partner as well.

About lunchtime we left Hogsback and travelled home. Tired, but having really enjoyed ourselves. I learned a lot – from Peter and from Hennie so a big thank you to both of you!

A basic list of the activations:
31 Dec 2014 – Ben Macdhui (ZS/EC-001, 3001m)
01 Jan 2015 – Ben Macdhui (ZS/EC-001, 3001m)
01 Jan 2015 – Menziesberg (ZS/EC-010, 1645m)
02 Jan 2015 – Tor Doone (ZS/EC-012, 1565m)

Guess who? Guess where? Guess why?

Hennie – bigger the Tiffindell itself!

View on the way to Tiffindell

Mountains near Tiffindell

Audi 4×4 legend!

Trust me it was still in Tiffindell

Welcome to Rhodes – the middle of nowhere
Ben Macdhui is 3001m!

A lot of water all over the area

Guess who just spoke to Namibia on 5W?

SOTA Antenna

The view from tor Doone

Theft is rife in hogsback, so everything in the boot!

Hennie talking on his radio

The view from Menziesberg

More bad weather: Menziesberg

Rhodes

4×4 road from Tiffindell

A little challenging, but overcome

The legendary Audi 4×4

A shameless advert for the best skimming service in East London 😉

An early start – sunrise over Tiffindell ski resort

Anyone can camp, but to camp in the rain you need to be nuts!

Tiffindell under water 😉

The 2m Yagi we never got to use!

Our Tiffindell home base

The highest pub in SA and closed for new years eve!

Tiffindell as seen from Ben Macdhui

The view from Ben Macdhui

Hangklip ZS/EC-003 2014

December 10, 2014 / zs2dh

Hangklip is a 6 pointer outside Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. As the highest peak in the area, you can spot Hangklip from many places around Queenstown, but it was only in Queenstown that Mandy (ZS2AV) pointed it out to Hennie and myself.

“Are we mad? ” was the question struck across our faces.

Mandy contacted the farmer on who’s land the little bump existed and we were given directions.

We left Queenstown on a gravel road filled with gates, pot holes, and some splendid scenery. After some time we arrived on the farm. It is conveniently located at the end of the road.

Hospitable is an understatement! We were expecting to camp in tents on the lawn but were invited in to sleep in the house – and supper was on the cards too! A quick trip to the foot of the mountain was injected full of bits of “tour guide” information about forts from the Xhosa wars and lookouts for the Queenstown airport and so much more.

We had a look at the climb and decided it was not only do-able, but that it was going to be easy. Back to the house for a good nights sleep.

The early morning start had us all energized. Getting to the foot of the mountain again was easy – we just followed the tracks and recalled our guided tour from the previous evening. We parked the Jimny in mist and tried to find our way to the foot of the mountain from the tracks. Well the mist had us lost and disorientated for a while, but the start of the climb put us firmly in our place!

What can I tell you about the climb? It is a lot of hard work with several (ok, a lot of) breaks. In fact, climbing like this is a lot like Jazz – its not the notes (or climbs) it is the rests in between that make it truly worth the effort. To stop and catch your breath while looking at breath-taking scenery is hard to comprehend isn’t it?

We climbed following the fence up about two thirds of the way. Here there are some waterholes where English soldiers carved their names. We decided to look at them on the way down – which proved to be a mistake!

At the “three big rocks” we turned left and bolder hopped over the rocks to the top.

Now most summits I’ve been on have a rather small area – the proverbial “top of the mountain” but Hangklip is more like a soccer field on top. We made our way over to the repeater tower and trig beacon which we assumed would have been the highest point.

Here we set up the radio and chatted to a bunch of really nice people!

Just to explain our rather strange behavior while operating on the “nets”, let me point out that we use a single radio and so the operator is always changing. So when ZS2ABZ (the usual task master) gives out an order of xx then hand it to yy and then on to zz, we get lost completely. It’s not that we are ignoring you or not listening to Uncle Bill, we just get confused.

The walk down got us in the sun and we all had a little more “tan” by the time we reached the bottom. Near where we had parked the Jimny were some strange buildings (see pics below) but of course now the mist had lifted, so we had a look.

Mandy and I decided that we had not yet had enough exercise and decided to walk back to the farm house rather than take the ride in the back of the Jimny.

Hardly had we arrived back at the farm house when the farmer wanted to feed us! It was like growing up in my parents home: You look hungry – have some food.

Skillfully we avoided lunch without appearing rude, but we did have to get on the road. This is one we will do again!

Some strange rock building

Hangklip

Still alive and at the top of Hangklip

Compassberg ZS/EC-002 2014

November 13, 2014 / zs2dh

Compassberg SOTA activation: Sunday, 9 November 2014

I was late getting to the Compassberg farm and Mandy had me on death row or at least due for a public flogging had I not arrived. My arrival not only brought me a reprieve, it also brought them instant joy – with the realization that the heavy load would now be split three ways. All was forgiven, thankfully.

Saturday evening in the Compassberg farmhouse was spent packing, checking, repacking and rethinking everything. Failure was not an option! Forgetting something behind would result in a fate worse than death! Carrying something we did not need was almost as bad, but we would rather err that way.

With everything finalised we set the alarms for 3am hoping to get a good night’s sleep and an early start to make the summit in time for the PEARS bulletin.

As you can imagine, 3am arrived far too quickly. How many of you got up that early to make sure you did not miss the bulletin?

We drove for a few kilometers along the 4×4 track to the point at which we were allowed to park, after which it was a 4km walk to the foot of the mountain. Wild horses on the slopes near the foot of the mountain seemed amused by our presence as they watched us walk by, headlamps lighting our way.

Toward 5am the sun started to rise and the headlamps were turned off. (Yes, there is a 5am, why do you ask?)

At this point we still had warm clothing on, but we soon warmed up as we started the climb. We climbed and climbed and climbed. Then we rested for a few minutes and climbed some more. For the sake of brevity, we will leave it at that.

The actual climb was about 600m vertical taking us
to a height of 2503m above sea level. To put that into perspective, Kilimanjaro is 5895m above sea level and is the highest point in Africa. We climbed to a height of 42% of that
of Kilimanjaro – and that in our own back yard!

Mandy (ZS2AV) led the way with Andrew (ZS2G) and I (ZS2DH) trying to keep up. The load: radio, antenna tuner, 17Ah battery, 4m mast, antenna, coax, and safety kit was getting heavy. The water was getting lighter, but not nearly fast enough!

We were blessed with the weather – a cool calm morning with the wind only picking up near the summit, which we reached just after 8 am. Weather can really make or break a climb like this and we were lucky to have no wind or rain and a temperature suitable for climbing.

The summit of Compassberg is like many other summits I have seen. You think you are nearly there from about half way up! Compassberg seemed to always be a little further up.
Having reached the top and taken the required photos (just touching the trig beacon, no pole dancing pictures allowed!) we set up the station and caught the familiar voice of Chris ZS2AAW reading the news.

We tried to make some 2m contacts into Queenstown, but to no avail. We had (intentionally) left the 2m antenna at the farm and brought only the rubber duckie antennas.

As soon as the post bulletin net was opened by ZS2ABZ we jumped all over the radio making contacts into Bloemfontein (ZS4N), Hout Bay in Cape Town (ZS1KM) and a bunch of the local crowd including ZS2ABZ, ZS2BO, ZS2VDL, and ZS2ZA. Signal reports were all between 57 and 59 and we were very happy with that!

I don’t think I have ever seen Andrew smile quite as broadly as he did when he had his 4 contacts.

Talking over the radio is always a wonder – a miracle of science, but talking over a radio at the top of a mountain is something very special indeed. A sense of freedom, independence, and awe.

Personally, I was worried about the descent. It was steep – I knew that already, but the wind picking up to about gale force and the temperature dropping slightly was enough motivation to move. Following the cairns is a must. Not only for safety, but for motivation too. While they are small milestones, you realise the progress you are making when you get to one and sight the next.

About half way down, the hills around us seemed to grow and the entire perspective changed.

We reached the bottom of the mountain just in time with a few spots of rain being reported by those with enough energy left to do so.

The relatively short 4km walk we had made before sunrise seemed decidedly longer on the way back. As if to torment us, the wild horses ran to and fro across the fields proving they had more energy than we could possibly muster.

The day was wonderful, tiring, but safe and rewarding – and for that we are all grateful.

Given the scientific definition of work being force times displacement (W=Fs), and the fact the we returned to our starting point making the (final) displacement zero, then from a scientific point of view we did no work all day. I assure you, this was not the case.

To the chasers out there who make it fun for us – Thank you! Please keep an ear out for the simulSOTA on 6/7 December – there will be SOTA activations all over the country. More details on the SARL forums.

Andrew and Mandy just hanging around Compassberg

Mandy and I on the radio

The view from Compassberg

Compassberg awaits

Yes, Andrew: 2503m!

Mandy in her element!

Mandy is determined!

Andrew – on higher ground!

Our mast holding the trig beacon up

Hey! It’s a geocache too!

Everfresh Mandy after the climb

Beware the edge!

The view from Compassberg

SOTA trip report back

November 10, 2014 / zs2dh

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:–

The weather Saturday evening over Northern Cape!

The view from the top of Compassberg

A short walk to the hill

Tiny little hill!

Compassberg – So small but far away!

Compassberg – “that silly little hill”!

Getting close to the top now…

Mandy made me touch the trig beacon!

Hill for ever!

Mast – as straight as the trig beacon!

Its a GEOCACHE too!

CQCQCQ SOTA

Careful of the edge!

Quite a view

Quite a climb

Clouds with a chance of Hogsback!

Hello Hogsback!

Tor Doone: Still not clear!

Tor Doone: Is it clear yet?

Tor Doone

Tor Doone: Does size count?

The view at Haartbeespoort

My SOTA trip up North

October 28, 2014 / zs2dh

I am planning a SOTA trip up north (to Johannesburg) in early November. Ok, its actually a business trip, but I plan on doing some SOTA activations on the way.

At the moment the basic plan is to leave on Tuesday 4th November and travel to Hogsback where I shall attempt to activate Tor Doone (ZS/EC-012) and Meinziesberg (ZS/EC-010) on Wednesday morning.

I then travel north through Bloemfontein activating Naval Hill (ZS/FS018), probably in the late afternoon/early evening.

On Thursday I will travel to Hartbeespoort dam (west of Pretoria) and trying Magaliesberg (ZS/GP-008) before going into the office for two days.

Saturday 8th I leave heading home again. At the Suikerbosrand Reserve Perdekop (ZS/GP-001) and Suikerbosrand (ZS/GP-002) await my activations. I was hoping to do these on the way up but unfortunately this will not be possible, so the way home it is. Bronberg has also fallen away.

After the reserve, I hightailing it back to the Eastern Cape (Graaff-Reinet) to meet up with Andrew Gray (ZS2G) and Mandy (ZS2AV) to attempt the mighty Kompasberg (ZS/EC-002) on Sunday 9th November.

All being well I will be on 2m (145.500) and 40m (7.098) and calling CQ SOTA! Please bear in mind that I am traveling and that the itinerary is subject to change at any time. Also bear in mind that I will be QRP! So listen out and spare a thought for my little 5W signal among the big waves out there.

To keep up to date, check back here regularly.

Dave

SOTA Activation – Strydomsberg

October 21, 2014 / zs2dh

For a two pointer, this was a lot of work!

Strydomsberg is in the Groendal nature reservation near Port Elizabeth. There are two options really – a three day strenuous hike, or a one day strenuous hike. We chose the latter.

Strydomsberg on google maps.

On 11 October 2014, way before the birds started to sing Andrew Gray and myself made our way down to Scott Rollo’s home in Central from where we would leave for our adventure. We parked our vehicles and left in Scott’s 4×4 a big-ass Toyota which I subsequently named Cody. Long live Cody!

We traveled to Klein Rivier on the Cockscomb road and began our 10Km 4×4 trail up the hill to Stone Lodge. You can stay at Stone Lodge if you like, but we felt it was a bit pricy. We parked near the lodge and started our walk to the summit. It is not even a 5km walk, but it has it’s ups and downs!

Yes we made it!

What do you do on a SOTA activation if you don’t need points?

Upon arrival at the summit we started setting up the inverted-v antenna with the hope of some 40m QSOs. We made two and then switched to 2m and made some more. Working initially with Andrew’s radio as my little handheld for some reason did not seem to get out. I could hear ZS2TED from Jeffery’s bay, but no one could hear me. Then Andrew noted that not even HE could hear me and we figured out the rookie mistake: My radio was not transmitting on the frequency I was listening on. *Blush* We fixed the problem and then went on to chat to ZS2U quite nicely for a while (using the hand held).

The trip back to the car seemed a lot longer even though it took less time. We stopped and had a lovely refreshing drink from a water hole on the way – amazing what you can find if you know where to look! Thank you Scott.

Being the adventurous lads we are, we decided to take “the other road” out and that presented some challenges (not the least of which was the setting sun) but we made it out alive and in reasonable time.

Scott put the entire trip together and the most expensive part was the 4×4 petrol. R150 per vehicle for access to the road and R25pp to walk over the land from Stone Lodge to the summit and back.

SOTA is off!

June 30, 2014 / zs2dh

…as in to a good start that is!

Yip I climbed the massive mountain and got my 1 point! But there was much more than that…

The plan was to get up there about mid day and make a summit-to-summit contact with Andrew and Mandy who were doing the real climbing thing up Cockscomb. So there I was ambling up the hill admiring the view when Colin (ZR2CRS) gets hold of me to say the Andrew (ZS2G) is trying to get me on the radio. They summited early and the weather was bad so they wanted to go.

And so I ran. “I think I can, I know I can”

And then I stopped, gasping for breath, a quick view and off again. “I think I can, I am almost sure I can”

It came to pass that I summited that peak and made contact with both Andrew and Mandy and we got our first points all round! Activator points (me 1 point for Lady’s Slipper, Andrew and Mandy 4 each for Cockscomb), Chaser points (4 for me and 1 each for Andrew and Mandy) and 5 a piece for summit-to-summit.

I went on to make 9 contacts in all, chatting to many for the first time ever!

Now the planning for the next outing.

Category: SOTA (Page 2 of 2)

SOTA trip report back:December 2014/January 2015

Hangklip ZS/EC-003 2014

Compassberg ZS/EC-002 2014

SOTA trip report back

My SOTA trip up North

SOTA Activation – Strydomsberg

SOTA is off!

Solar Information

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Some useful links

SOTA trip report back:December 2014/January 2015

Hangklip ZS/EC-003 2014

Compassberg ZS/EC-002 2014

SOTA trip report back

My SOTA trip up North

SOTA Activation – Strydomsberg

SOTA is off!

Solar Information

Pages

Whats hot and whats not

Pages

Some useful links